WINNING has become a good habit for Katie Sheldon, but she insists the growing standard of the ladies game in Ireland means it's not always a given.
That's why the Dubliner was so chuffed to win both ranking events at the INDO Grand Prix in Dundalk last weekend, and why she won't be taking her foot off the gas any time soon.
Speaking to Darts In Ireland just moments after lifting the Grand Prix trophy, Katie said she hopes this will spur her on to more glory throughout the year.
She said: "I'm absolutely delighted as the women's game is getting better and better here every single year.
"There are more players coming in and improving things, so to win two is tough and I'm absolutely delighted with that."
One of the new additions to the Ladies ranking events this year is top Carlow youths player, Rebecca Allen, who Katie faced in both finals over the weekend.
She says 16-year-old Rebecca's progress is a prime example of how the game is improving here all the time.
Katie added: "We have to encourage these girls to move on because when I was that age, Robyn Byrne was encouraging me to go up to the women's, so it's great to see players progressing well into the women's section now.
"It pushes everyone as it makes it all need to play well, so fair play to Rebecca."
Katie is in Wales this weekend competing with the Republic of Ireland team at the Six Nations, which she described as "huge".
"These wins are all a big confidence boost for me ahead of the Six Nations, which is huge for us," she said.
"These INDO tournaments are great practice for us for these international events, so it's great to see both the men and women that will be playing for the Ireland teams doing well at them.
"We have some very strong Ireland teams going away now."
Meanwhile, Katie says she will also be looking to push on at the PDC Women's Series this year and try to make it to the 2026 PDC World Matchplay.
It's a competition that her fellow Ireland player, Robyn Byrne, has qualified through the Women's Series for this year, and will be competing at it next month.
Katie said: "I wish Robyn the very best at that. Everyone in Ireland knows the ability that Robyn has.
"Now that the Matchplay order of merit is back to scratch, I'll be looking to push on in it and hopefully keep the form going and make a good start to it and then you never know what might happen."
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