Penhall clears a Path to Success Despite a Rocky Road
By Darts Downunder
As some read the headline ‘Former PDC card holder to return to the big stage’ they jumped to some incorrect conclusions. This story is not one of manipulating paths to get back to the big stage but instead is about triumphing over adversity and opening doors that were thought to be shut and locked forever.
Darren Penhall was Cornish born and bred. His darting career began as so many others, in the pub before going on to play for Cornwall Youths at Under 18s and on to the super league. In 1989 his world view was widened as his sister left the county for Australia. That move would eventually see Penhall do the same, leaving the world of darts (and the cold he disliked so much) behind him. As he came downunder every three years he fell for the lifestyle. He wanted desperately to emigrate and was able to do so in 2008 although Visa issues caused him to go home before finally settling in Australia in 2010.
“I had loved my times in Australia and was upset to have visa issues so when we finally got here in 2010 I was delighted. I became a permanent citizen and was moving on with my life until circumstances in the UK meant I would make the return trip home under not such great circumstances.”
In 2016 his mother became seriously ill and he returned to the UK to look after her, and whilst over there other family members became extremely ill as well. What was supposed to be a relatively short visit home to support his mother became a much longer stay through a difficult family period and then Covid locked the doors back to Australia anyway.
He had taken up darts when he returned to the UK, partially to help keep his mind off other things, and he ended up taking a shot at PDC Q school twice. The first time around 800 people were in the room.
“I literally turned up to the room and thought how I am I going to beat these 800 players, and look at these big names around me? I played alright but not great. The next year I came with the mindset of I need to win eight games and that is all. That year there were 891 players in one room. I only have to beat the players I am drawn against. A couple of days I came close to winning the day and then a poor day put pressure on but a semi-final appearance on the last day which put me 11th with Lisa Ashton coming 12th.”
After winning the card he was immediately faced with difficult choices as first the darts presented challenges before, as he acknowledged to Darts Downunder, life itself had plenty stings in the tail.
“Within two weeks I was playing pro darts and I was working full time and looking after my family. That was tough. I started really well – I got two Europeans straight off but then I lost a lot of close games. It was good to be playing but at home things were becoming more difficult. In 2020 my Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and by now he was on his own and then my wife became very unwell and ended up in hospital for most of 2021. Not only Covid, but my life circumstance ended my darts and once my family circumstances were clearer my wife and I returned home to Australia.”
“The plan had always been to come straight back but then the tour card and covid slowed my plans. I thought about keeping at it but having had a shot at getting back we came back in 2022 to Queensland. I love Queensland and thus I quit the darts. When leaving the UK my wife and I had discussed it and she said this was the choice I was making by going home to Australia but I was comfortable with that.”
“Back to Australia but my best mate Dave, who is now my boss, kept challenging to me to have a go with my darts but I said no because I need to practice and I was not willing to. Then we had a few drinks last Christmas and I said I would have a go at the first DPA event just to keep him happy. I cam along and with just one week practice I won the Sunday event. Everyone was so friendly I had a great time and I could feel the bug was back. I went home and promised Dave I would practice before the next one and thus what I thought was over has turned into an amazing year at the Aussie Oche!”
“It is a better quality of life in Australia, Cornwall is stunning but in Queensland you get the beauty and the weather is amazing. I got a job with my best mate when I got back here, we travel around and have a ball.“
“I had played on four big European stages with my card and had done four walks ons. It is so different to a floor tournament. It is so hot on stage and the noise comes across and the stage vibrates with the cameras. The first two I did not do well but then was much better at the third and fourth one.”
“I committed myself to playing just one year because I had retired and I was doing it so Dave could see me play. Now with my success this year I may have to rethink again. My wife backs me with all the darts I have played but at the lower ranks you don’t make much money so you need to have your family support you. Before we left in 2022 she had said if I wanted to play darts I had to be in England but we decided it was best to return back to Australia because this is our home and we love it so to me that was it.”
Penhall was convinced to have a go once more by his mate and boss and has enjoyed the competition and the success that has seen him top the table for most of the season and win a position on the World Series of Darts stage.
“I did not expect to be playing this year but to be playing such quality players has been incredible. In my opinion this country is the next big thing in darts, the players are amazing here.”
That success means other opportunities could come his way but as he said to Darts Downunder he was not ready to commit to them yet.
“If I do qualify and make a run in the worlds I would have to think about Q school, but in the end this was just about playing to the end of the year so it would have to be a pretty good run for me to decide to up end my family once more. I was retired and it is a big call to do it once again. My bucket list was to do a big walk on, which I did, to get a tour card, which I also did, and make the worlds. Thus if I do that at the end of the year I am happy. At my age you take what comes and I will put the effort in to do my best at the Ally Pally.”
Thus Darren Penhall will have played on TV stages in the country of his birth and the country that has been his home since 2008.
“July 2022 I packed my darts away for the last time. I was back in Queensland and I love that life. I am enjoying the ride this year because I have been playing really well but darts is so up and down and there are large breaks in between so you just don’t know. Practice is different from competition darts so I don’t know what the end of the year looks like, I just know I will put the effort in and enjoy the ride.”
Darren is an excavator driver (thus his workmates gave him the nickname smooth operator for darts) by trade and all of his friends in Australia look forward to him clearing a path for success, even if it is to just be at the World Series of Darts and (if he qualifies) the World Championships.
Courtesy of Darts Downunder
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