Darts Fans, The Abaco Darts Association would like to hear from you: darts@oii.net. Let us know when and where you'll be in our Bahamas and we'll suggest where you'll find a match - pack your darts with your bathing suit.

Darts - Bahamas Wins Caribbean Cup - Darts

By Peggy Philip
Team Photo - Please Wait - 60K

Darts is a highly competitive indoor sport, it requires concentration and discipline; It helps to bring out hidden skills and eventually unleashes the mathematical wizardry of the mind.

Two years ago, 7-17th Oct. 1994, The 10th Caribbean Darts Championships was hosted by Trinidad and Tobago Darts Association, and the event was held in Port of Spain. The Trinidad and Tobago team captured the championship, and the Bahamas team placed second out of thirteen Countries.

This year, the Championships were played in Grand Turk, and hosted by the Turks and Caicos National Darts Association, from 12th-20th October. Twelve Countries participated - The Bahamas - Barbados - Bermuda - Brazil - British Virgin Islands - Cayman - Florida - Guyana - Jamaica - St. Lucia - Trinidad and Tobago - Turks and Caicos.

The Bahamas team comprised of players from Abaco - Grand Bahama - New Providence - Mr. Malcolm Spicer, Manager - Mr. Prescott Minnis, Captain - Mr. Byron Johnson, Coach - Kenrick Brathwaite - Donald Burrows - Wayne "Fish" Copeland - Kay Fox - Trudy Johnson - Tony Moree - Julie Nicholls - Barry Payne - Alonzo Rolle - Wilfred "Horse" Saunders - Earl Smith - Pamela Smith - and Ulysses Willis. The Ceremonies opened with grandeur. The Chief Minister, The Honorable Derek Taylor, was in attendance and The Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, The Honorable Clarence W. Selver, gave the welcome address. Mr. Trevor Lloyd of Cayman is President of the Caribbean Darts Organization. He wished all the teams good luck and good darting.

The games commenced. Excitement and anxiety mounted as darts flew and found their marks relentlessly. The matches were intensely competitive and skillful. The Bahamas Team was zealous, they were absolutely indefatigable throughout the entire competition. They "Caned" the former champions, Trinidad and Tobago 8 to 4 and they "Level Pegged" with strong teams like Jamaica and Florida.

There was an explosion in the mixed triples as our girl Trudy Johnson shot 180.

Fish Copeland and Earl Smith teamed up in the men's doubles to convincingly terminate their opponents.

The Bahamas team was so awesome, that the finals of the men's singles was a match between our very own Earl Smith (Caribbean Male Champion) and our own Ulysses Willis. Smith retained his title, but the masterful Willis went on to win the first prize in the open singles, which was the largest cash pay off for the events.

Even though Jamaica won the team games, the Bahamas edged Jamaica by winning the mixed triples, the men's singles, and the men's doubles thus enabling them to win the overall championship to capture the "GOLD". It seemed like trophies unlimited for the Bahamas. The exuberance was intense as the Bahamian Flag waved in the Turks and Caicos Ballroom. Team members and fans were bursting with pride.

Regrettably, the darts team is not as fortunate as other sporting organizations. They received no financial support whatsoever from the former or present Government, even though they represent the Bahamas. These aspiring dart players have to afford their own way and expenses whenever and where ever they t ravel. I take the liberty to nominate them for the National Heroes Award.

Each and every member of this enchanting dart team is to be congratulated. Much more public and National recognition ought to be given to these remarkable men and women, who valiantly and magnanimously put the Bahamas in the Spot Light around the Caribbean and indeed the world. They are noted Ambassadors.

A job admirably done. The cause well effected. Congratulations Team - from your faithful fans, Unk. Bill, Scorpio and the rest of the gang.

The 12th Caribbean Darts Championships will be hosted by St. Lucia Darts Association in October 1998 in S. Lucia.

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