Glen Durrant

GLENDURRANT

Durrant backs Selby over mental health battle

By Phil Lanning

GLEN DURRANT has told fellow sporting battler Mark Selby to “stay strong” through mental health issues. 

The three-time World Champ admits to being plagued with psychological problems after a slump in form following a serious bout of Covid. 

Duzza, 51, won the Premier League on his debut in 2020 but has drifted down to 31 in the world rankings after a torrid time on the oche. 

But he leapt to the defence of his snooker pal Selby after he also admitted to his own mental health battle. He said: “I can’t believe he’s been supporting me through my loss in form, always asking how I was and offering help and all the time I never asked about his well-being. Stay strong champ.”

Selby had earlier admitted on Twitter: “I just want to say thank you to all the kind messages and support from everyone! Also happy to see that I have helped a lot of people to speak out also. After speaking out I realise more people are going through it than I actually thought.

“I am trying my hardest to come through this working with a doctor having a couple of sessions a week. It’s a long road but I’m ready for the challenge. Thanks again for the support.”

Images by Taylor Lanning.

GLENDURRANT

Durrant admits he is “battling demons”

By Phil Lanning

GLEN DURRANT revealed he was “battling demons” after pulling out of the ProTour because of a confidence crisis.

The three-times World Champion has endured a shocking 2021 after being relegated from the Premier League as defending champ without a point.

Now Durrant, 50, is taking a few days off after a disappointing week at the PDC Super Series Players Championship in Milton Keynes.

He said: “With regret I’ve pulled out of the Pro Tour. I’m battling my own confidence demons right now and after 30 years in housing I’ve never shirked a challenge, but I’m throwing in a sickie. I’ve apologised to PDC and sponsors but I’m thinking of me right now.”

Durrant hasn’t been the same player since winning the Premier League on his debut last autumn with a final victory over Nathan Aspinall.

The Middlesbrough star went down with Covid-19 soon after that glory and has failed to deliver any sort of form since.

He has strenuously denied that it’s any long-term effects from the virus and has since sought advice from former player Wayne Mardle.

He added: “The Premier League went from the ecstasy of winning it to an absolute nightmare of an experience.

“I have been working on the mentality side of things; my manager very kindly set up for me to chat with someone over a 12-week period. I’m a massive fan of the coaching of Wayne Mardle and he’s sent a few suggestions as well. There’s so many people want to help you get you through this and think it’s a quick fix.

“It’s a technical issue which I’m working on. There’s no quick fix, but I know what the problem is and that then leads to the anxiety and tension in my throw.”

Images by Taylor Lanning.

PLNIGHT9_30

Durrant admits “devastating” league elimination

By Phil Lanning

EXCLUSIVE

GLEN DURRANT admitted it was “devastating” after crashing out of the Premier League.

The Middlesbrough battler was eliminated after seven straight losses following a 7-4 defeat to Jose De Sousa on Tuesday night.

But three-times BDO World Champ Durrant insists he will fight back after an awful run in Milton Keynes – but also pulled out of the Super Series in Niedernhausen.

He said: “It’s devastating for me and it’s been a nightmare seven games. I’ve been working so hard because I know there’s something wrong with my game, and my target now is the World Matchplay. 

“I want to finish strongly in the last two games and take something from this season but it’s been so disappointing for me.”

Durrant, 50, had previously told Oche that he vowed to play in the Super Series in Germany despite his family telling him not to travel.

But on Twitter he revealed that he had changed his mind for some much needed time at home.

He added: “I’m defending lots of money this year but I’ve still made the decision not to go to Germany.

“It could cost me Grand Prix/Players Champs but genuinely feel it’s the right decision. 

“I just want my wife / daughter right now and darts doesn’t seem to matter …for now.”

Images by Taylor Lanning.

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Durrant will keep fighting says RAF niece Zara

By Phil Lanning

EXCLUSIVE

DEFENDING champ Glen Durrant has been backed by RAF niece Zara for a high-flying return to form in the Unibet Premier League.

The three-times BDO World Champion suffered a shock five straight defeats in the opening block and faces Michael van Gerwen on his return to action on Monday night.

But the Middlesbrough thrower, 50, has a strong connection to the military. Brother Bob is an Army major, his nephew is in the services and niece Zara, a mum of three, is a logistics mover in the RAF, currently stationed 8,000 miles away in the Falkland Islands.

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Kind-hearted Zara, above, got together with her RAF Air Movement Flight colleagues in front of a stunning A400M aircraft this weekend to send a message to her uncle  via Oche to keep fighting for his Premier League crown.

She said: “If there’s anything I know about my uncle Glen is that he’s a fighter. He will never give up.

“It’s been hard to watch even from 8,000 miles away but I want him to know he’s got so much support from all corners of the world.

“There’s no doubt that he’s suffering with confidence. However the form is temporary and class is permanent phrase really applies to him. I know he will get it right.

“Even though he’s been having a tough time he still popped into see my three kids in the week and gave them each £10. They were buzzing, how lovely was that. I was sent the pic, it’s quite emotional to see that from so far away.

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“But that sums up uncle Glen. He is always thinking of others, he always puts his family first. 

“That’s why we all stick together as a family. We are behind him 100 per cent through thick and thin. We all know he will come back strong from this dip in form.

“It’s just good to show him that we’re all rooting for him even on the Falkland Islands!”

Images kindly supplied by Zara Durrant and RAF. Not for re-use without permission of Oche.

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GLENDURRANT

Durrant’s washing windows plan for wins again

By Phil Lanning

EXCLUSIVE

DEFENDING champ Glen Durrant reckons that window cleaning can wipe the frown off his face as he bids to save Premier League future.

The three-times BDO World Champ needs a miracle to salvage his PL status after five straight defeats in the opening block of matches.

Now Durrant, 50, admits it’s squeaky bum time taking on Michael van Gerwen on Monday to save himself from disaster.

He revealed: “I’m thinking of taking up window cleaning. It’s not something I was hoping for or anticipating what I’d be doing. But fresh air, being with my friends and not thinking about darts is the three things I need.

“It would only be a couple of hours. But I’m terrified of heights. Thankfully they don’t use ladders these days, apparently you just use a hose. You stand and aim it so I should be OK at that.”

The Middlesbrough battler has looked a shadow of the player that won the league a year ago after going down with Covid-19. 

He admits not feeling the same but refuses to blame the virus, adding: “I did feel rubbish for 10 days. My game has never recovered from then.

“But I still don’t think the reason for my bad form today is because of Covid. I feel fit, I feel OK. It’s psychological and confidence, I’m absolutely certain. 

“My throw, my demeanour, the angle of the darts. I’ve forgotten how to smile, I’m not enjoying the game. 

“I don’t want the sympathy. I’ve got a great life. My job is my hobby. I’m going through a tough time.

“But I’m probably getting sympathy from people who were furloughed, lost their jobs, lost some of their family in this pandemic.

“I don’t want people’s sympathy. I’ve had so many highs in my life. You’ve got to ride the lows sometimes. It’s the latest chapter in the story, a challenge that I will overcome.

“It’s even hard for family. I got a call after my defeat to Dimitri (Van den Bergh) from my 85-year-old mother and she was worried sick about me.”

Duzza admits he fears relegation on Judgement Night next Thursday as defending champion, adding: “It hurts until I’m sick to the stomach. That massive high of winning the Premier League I feel cheated I didn’t get to hold up that trophy at the O2 in London.

“So to go in as the reigning champion and to be relegated after Judgement Night it hurts like hell.

“That’s maybe where the inner demons are, you feel like you are defeated before you play.

“If I am to stay in the top eight I’ve got to beat Michael Van Gerwen, Jose De Sousa, Peter Wright and Rob Cross. I probably need six points at least to survive. That would be a story in itself.”

Images by Taylor Lanning.

GLENDURRANT

Top Gun Duzza’s pride for RAF niece

By Phil Lanning

GLEN DURRANT might be the current Unibet Premier League Top Gun but he’s even prouder of his high-flying RAF niece.

The Boro battler begins the defence of his crown on Easter Monday against Nathan Aspinall, who he beat in last year’s final in Milton Keynes.

But Duzza, 50, admits that his family have even more pride in young mum-of-three Zara who is currently based out in the Falklands.

Plucky Zara, pictured below, is a RAF logistics mover and held a darts event on the islands and was even seen recently on a beach surrounded by penguins – joking that they are the latest fans to be p-p-p-p-picked-up by Durrant.

He revealed: “I am very proud of what she is doing. She had a big Ally Pally night out last week. That went down really well. 

“She loves her darts and will often send me a message. It looked a great night, everyone was singing and shouting. Darts MC John McDonald sent a message. They had a fantastic night.

“She has been dealing with penguins, I thought that was hilarious, the videos are brilliant. There were a few jokes about them being my latest fans. 

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“She is passing through but it’s months rather than days and weeks. The whole family are very proud. She is from that old cliché, that old council estate in Grangetown, Middlesbrough and we are very proud of people that go on and do really well for themselves. 

“She has made a massive commitment, she has three children. She is doing absolutely brilliant. They are with the father. That is how tough it is. Thank God for technology like Zoom and FaceTime. 

“It must have been a really tough decision when you sign up for your country, you will have to make tough decisions. 

“I know she was living in Cyprus for a bit, the kids were living out there and had a fantastic experience living out there. Her next placement was the Falklands and the decision was for the father to look after the children. She is home quite soon.

“My brother Bob (Robert) is a major in the army as well. She is not the only one in the family. Zara was doing whatever was she doing and made the brave decision to into the forces and I must admit I follow her career just as much as she follows mine.

“It puts things into perspective. Why do I beat myself if I have hit a big five? Why do I beat myself when I have family members who are being furloughed, family members out in the Falklands, not seeing the kids? That’s a winners’ mentality sometimes, you can be so focused on your whole sport and whole life. Sometimes you need reminding there are bigger fish out there.

“Zara is big on Twitter. I haven’t seen her for a while, I hardly see any of the family right now. I do speak with Zara, she is in the top three of my supporters. The whole family are proud of her.”

Main image by Taylor Lanning.