"I needed a Stiff one for darts Streak," said the blonde, hairdresser Emma before her
Sunday 7th January 2001 interruption of the Embassy World Championships at
Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green . Emma, 20, had joked to pals for years
about baring all on live TV and a visit to the annual championships in Firmley,
Surrey gave her the perfect chance. "It was something I wanted to do for ages
but I was really nervous so my friends gave me a tequilla."
After making a quick
trip to the ladies room to take off her undies, Emma returned to her seat to wait
for the moment. "I tried to time it between sets because I didn't want to put the
players off. Then I whipped off my trousers and T-shirt and ran out."
Title holder Ted Hankey had just gone 2-0 up in his best-of-five-sets match against
Shaun Greatbatch when the young woman ran on to the Lakeside Country Club stage
and waved her arms. Both players were unsettled and the match was halted while
security staff nabbed her.
After a delay of 20 minutes, the players reappeared on stage
and the break seemed to have done littleto detract from Hankey's concentration as the
32-year-old quickly wrapped up a 3-0 win.
But despite his impressive display, Hankey admitted the incident with the streaker had
taken the shine off his success. "I'd just stepped up to throw when I heard everyone
shouting," he said. "The girl ran across in front of me and then went round the far end
of the arena.
"I was comfortable and wanted to go on playing but I asked Shaun and
he wanted to go off.
"It's taken a lot off the victory for me. Everyone seems to think
it's a big joke and a good laugh, but we wait 12 months to play here and  Shaun's broken-hearted
because it was his first time here and he didn't perform.
It interfered with the game. I won't blame security because the boys do a great job. They might look at it and decide to do something
about it but I certainly won't blame them."
As for how he played, Hankey added: "Everyone tells me I'm playing well but I don't know really. I'll watch myself on television and make a verdict then."
Greatbatch said: "I've been watching darts for 20 years, waited 18 years to play in this tournament and this goes and happens to me.
"I wasn't nervous during the match but the streaker certainly
affected my game. I just wish I'd got her name and address!"
Hankey said, "But Ted played very well and it seemed that every time I got to a double he managed to check out."
A spokesman for the event said: "It was the best double top we have ever seen!"
Sources: http://web.archive.org/web/20060506184600/http://www.sportinglife.com/others/news/story_get.dor?
STORY_NAME=others/01/01/07/DARTS_Embassy_Nightlead.html
http://web.archive.org/web/20060506184600/http://www.ireland.com/
Ananova.com
/td> | 
