Name:&nbsp;Laura&nbsp;&#39;The&nbsp;Aura&#39;&nbsp;AbbottUniversity:&nbsp;University&nbsp;of&nbsp;LeedsWalk-on&nbsp;Song:&nbsp;“I&nbsp;Love&nbsp;it”&nbsp;-&nbsp;Charlie&nbsp;XCXFavourite&nbsp;Professional:&nbsp;Luke&nbsp;HumphriesHonours:&nbsp;Northern&nbsp;Singles&nbsp;2025&nbsp;ChampionFor&nbsp;Laura,&nbsp;darts&nbsp;wasn’t&nbsp;part&nbsp;of&nbsp;her&nbsp;university&nbsp;plan&nbsp;-&nbsp;at&nbsp;least,&nbsp;not&nbsp;until&nbsp;a&nbsp;spontaneous&nbsp;visit&nbsp;to&nbsp;a&nbsp;“Give&nbsp;It&nbsp;A&nbsp;Go”&nbsp;session&nbsp;during&nbsp;her&nbsp;second&nbsp;year&nbsp;changed&nbsp;everything.“I&nbsp;instantly&nbsp;loved&nbsp;it,”&nbsp;she&nbsp;recalls.&nbsp;“Even&nbsp;though&nbsp;there&nbsp;weren’t&nbsp;many&nbsp;girls,&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;most&nbsp;welcoming&nbsp;and&nbsp;inclusive&nbsp;sports&nbsp;society&nbsp;I’d&nbsp;experienced&nbsp;at&nbsp;uni.”Her&nbsp;passion&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;sport&nbsp;runs&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;family.&nbsp;“My&nbsp;Grandad&nbsp;played&nbsp;a&nbsp;lot&nbsp;of&nbsp;darts&nbsp;and&nbsp;was&nbsp;really&nbsp;passionate&nbsp;about&nbsp;the&nbsp;sport.&nbsp;He&nbsp;had&nbsp;loads&nbsp;of&nbsp;trophies,&nbsp;which&nbsp;always&nbsp;stuck&nbsp;with&nbsp;me,”&nbsp;she&nbsp;says.&nbsp;“He&nbsp;encouraged&nbsp;me&nbsp;to&nbsp;get&nbsp;involved&nbsp;in&nbsp;sports,&nbsp;especially&nbsp;male-dominated&nbsp;ones&nbsp;like&nbsp;golf&nbsp;and&nbsp;darts.&nbsp;He&nbsp;never&nbsp;made&nbsp;me&nbsp;feel&nbsp;limited&nbsp;because&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;a&nbsp;girl.”That&nbsp;supportive&nbsp;mindset&nbsp;carried&nbsp;over&nbsp;into&nbsp;her&nbsp;own&nbsp;approach&nbsp;to&nbsp;competition.&nbsp;Growing&nbsp;up&nbsp;with&nbsp;two&nbsp;older&nbsp;brothers,&nbsp;Laura&nbsp;learned&nbsp;to&nbsp;thrive&nbsp;in&nbsp;competitive&nbsp;environments&nbsp;where&nbsp;skill&nbsp;mattered&nbsp;more&nbsp;than&nbsp;strength.&nbsp;“That’s&nbsp;made&nbsp;me&nbsp;comfortable&nbsp;in&nbsp;competitive&nbsp;environments&nbsp;and&nbsp;motivated&nbsp;me&nbsp;to&nbsp;challenge&nbsp;the&nbsp;stereotype&nbsp;that&nbsp;girls&nbsp;always&nbsp;lose&nbsp;to&nbsp;boys&nbsp;in&nbsp;sport.”Although&nbsp;her&nbsp;Grandad&nbsp;never&nbsp;got&nbsp;to&nbsp;see&nbsp;her&nbsp;play,&nbsp;Laura&nbsp;says&nbsp;his&nbsp;influence&nbsp;still&nbsp;drives&nbsp;her.&nbsp;“Knowing&nbsp;how&nbsp;proud&nbsp;he&nbsp;would&nbsp;be&nbsp;pushes&nbsp;me&nbsp;to&nbsp;keep&nbsp;improving.&nbsp;I’d&nbsp;love&nbsp;to&nbsp;build&nbsp;the&nbsp;confidence&nbsp;to&nbsp;enter&nbsp;open&nbsp;events&nbsp;and&nbsp;really&nbsp;test&nbsp;myself.”Growth&nbsp;Through&nbsp;Project&nbsp;57Like&nbsp;many&nbsp;players&nbsp;across&nbsp;the&nbsp;university&nbsp;circuit,&nbsp;Laura&nbsp;has&nbsp;seen&nbsp;the&nbsp;positive&nbsp;impact&nbsp;of&nbsp;Project&nbsp;57.“It’s&nbsp;been&nbsp;so&nbsp;encouraging&nbsp;to&nbsp;see&nbsp;more&nbsp;women&nbsp;getting&nbsp;involved,”&nbsp;she&nbsp;says.&nbsp;“The&nbsp;increase&nbsp;in&nbsp;female&nbsp;attendance&nbsp;has&nbsp;definitely&nbsp;made&nbsp;me&nbsp;more&nbsp;excited&nbsp;and&nbsp;motivated&nbsp;to&nbsp;attend&nbsp;UDUK&nbsp;competitions.”But&nbsp;it’s&nbsp;not&nbsp;just&nbsp;about&nbsp;the&nbsp;numbers&nbsp;-&nbsp;it’s&nbsp;about&nbsp;the&nbsp;support.&nbsp;“There’s&nbsp;such&nbsp;a&nbsp;strong&nbsp;sense&nbsp;of&nbsp;community&nbsp;within&nbsp;women’s&nbsp;darts.&nbsp;Even&nbsp;though&nbsp;we’re&nbsp;competing&nbsp;against&nbsp;each&nbsp;other,&nbsp;everyone&nbsp;is&nbsp;constantly&nbsp;cheering&nbsp;one&nbsp;another&nbsp;on.&nbsp;It’s&nbsp;such&nbsp;a&nbsp;positive,&nbsp;uplifting&nbsp;environment.”A&nbsp;Moment&nbsp;to&nbsp;RememberWhen&nbsp;asked&nbsp;about&nbsp;her&nbsp;standout&nbsp;moment,&nbsp;Laura&nbsp;doesn’t&nbsp;hesitate:&nbsp;winning&nbsp;the&nbsp;Women’s&nbsp;Northern&nbsp;Singles&nbsp;last&nbsp;November.“In&nbsp;my&nbsp;previous&nbsp;competition,&nbsp;I&nbsp;didn’t&nbsp;even&nbsp;make&nbsp;it&nbsp;out&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;group&nbsp;stages,”&nbsp;she&nbsp;admits.&nbsp;“So&nbsp;to&nbsp;go&nbsp;from&nbsp;that&nbsp;to&nbsp;winning&nbsp;a&nbsp;title&nbsp;felt&nbsp;surreal.&nbsp;It&nbsp;was&nbsp;one&nbsp;of&nbsp;those&nbsp;moments&nbsp;where&nbsp;all&nbsp;the&nbsp;practice&nbsp;and&nbsp;persistence&nbsp;suddenly&nbsp;felt&nbsp;worth&nbsp;it.”Looking&nbsp;AheadLaura’s&nbsp;next&nbsp;goal&nbsp;is&nbsp;clear&nbsp;-&nbsp;the&nbsp;upcoming&nbsp;Canvas&nbsp;Big&nbsp;Weekender.&nbsp;“I’d&nbsp;absolutely&nbsp;love&nbsp;to&nbsp;win&nbsp;it,”&nbsp;she&nbsp;says.&nbsp;“There’s&nbsp;some&nbsp;tough&nbsp;competition,&nbsp;but&nbsp;that’s&nbsp;what&nbsp;makes&nbsp;it&nbsp;exciting.&nbsp;It’s&nbsp;definitely&nbsp;my&nbsp;main&nbsp;goal&nbsp;right&nbsp;now,&nbsp;and&nbsp;I’m&nbsp;putting&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;work&nbsp;to&nbsp;give&nbsp;myself&nbsp;the&nbsp;best&nbsp;chance&nbsp;possible.”Her&nbsp;Advice&nbsp;for&nbsp;Future&nbsp;PlayersHer&nbsp;message&nbsp;to&nbsp;other&nbsp;young&nbsp;women&nbsp;thinking&nbsp;about&nbsp;picking&nbsp;up&nbsp;darts&nbsp;is&nbsp;simple:&nbsp;“Just&nbsp;give&nbsp;it&nbsp;a&nbsp;go.&nbsp;It&nbsp;can&nbsp;seem&nbsp;intimidating&nbsp;at&nbsp;first,&nbsp;especially&nbsp;if&nbsp;you&nbsp;don’t&nbsp;see&nbsp;many&nbsp;other&nbsp;girls&nbsp;playing,&nbsp;but&nbsp;the&nbsp;university&nbsp;darts&nbsp;community&nbsp;is&nbsp;one&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;friendliest&nbsp;and&nbsp;most&nbsp;encouraging&nbsp;spaces&nbsp;I’ve&nbsp;been&nbsp;part&nbsp;of.”And&nbsp;with&nbsp;a&nbsp;laugh,&nbsp;she&nbsp;adds,&nbsp;“Plus,&nbsp;it’s&nbsp;the&nbsp;only&nbsp;sport&nbsp;where&nbsp;having&nbsp;a&nbsp;drink&nbsp;while&nbsp;you&nbsp;play&nbsp;is&nbsp;completely&nbsp;acceptable!”

A dive into the experiences and insights of female university darters

Project 57 Profiles: Laura Abbott