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Ft. Lauderdale, Fl… 8:00 AM…81 degrees and 81% humidity… who could ask for more?
It’s America’s Cup Competition week and teams from the USA, Canada, many
Caribbean Islands and South America arrived ready to vie for the coveted title!
Tuesday morning, July 6th, Captain Laurett Meddis went to the meeting where
the draws were done for the competition. Meddis then called a team meeting to discuss the plan of attack. After a little talk and some confusion,
we had our game plan…“Just Win, Baby!”
Next it was off to the opening ceremony, which was actually quite nice and short!
Humidity is tough when you have to dress up. After a quick change of clothes, everyone took part in the blind draw event, of which 25% of the proceeds went to charity and the Broward County Darts Association offered to match this amount. Giving to charity is always a good way to start any event. So everyone played, met new friends, and caught up with old friends not seen in years.
Wednesday…day 1 of America’s Cup and the schedule was 2 rounds of “league
round robin” and 2 rounds of the singles event. The two team rounds went well. America played Team Trinadad & Tobago ‘TNT’ and Team
Guyana. Team USA only lost 3 points out of a possible 22 points. All the Americans held their own but it was still a day when stars fell and others
rose! Donna Carter went out of the singles in a 5 game thriller to Valerie Hawkins of Team Turks and Caicos. Both #1 seeds Stacy Bromberg and
Canada’s John Part were also eliminated. Nanette Brooks of team Trinidad and Tobago ‘TNT’ bested Bromberg and went on to the finals. John Part went
out to Vivekenand Dyal aka ‘Rabbit’ also of Team ‘TNT’. It seems this was quite an “explosive” group as ‘Rabbit’ went on to meet John Kuczynski in
the singles finals.
Thursday rolled around and it was still Team USA fighting round by round in
the team event of the America’s Cup Competition. First was USA versus Team Turks and Caicos to win the bracket.
Next was Team Brazil to get into the knockout Quarter Finals. Team USA beat Team Brazil 6-0 to secure a position in the semi-finals. Bill Davis and John Kuczynski continued to mercilessly beat the triple 20 racking up 180 after 180. Donna Carter hit a beautiful 142 out. But Friday was still to come bringing with it team semis and finals and both men’s and women’s singles finals.
Thursday evening Team USA invited Team Turks & Caicos to their
"Suite-Laurett". That was Team USA’s place to go to be alone, together, get support, have company, or just get a bite to eat, all courtesy of Capt. Meddis. Everyone laughed, talked, played cards, and in general, just had a great evening with some new friends.
Friday arrived and so did a determined Team USA. Team USA rolled past Team
Jamaica into the finals to meet Team Canada in a ‘cracking’ final. And this match was a thriller! In an 11 point format it came down to a 5-5 match with the entire championship resting on 1 team game of 1001. Everyone from both countries played their hearts out but is was Team USA that squeaked out the victory to claim the 2004 America’s Cup Championship. Nannette Brooks, who took out Bromberg, won the ladies singles 3-2 over Bermuda’s Brenda “Hot Lips” Hutton, but is was USA’s John Kuczynski who beat ‘Rabbit’ of Team ‘TNT’ to win the men’s singles event this day.
All in all, each individual member of Team USA did well …hmmmm… actually they
swept the individual awards. John Kuczynski claimed the men’s high checkout at 167 and he tied with John Part for the low dart game with both men throwing 12 dart 501 games. Bill Davis squeaked out John Kuczynski with the most 180’s thrown by a man with Davis throwing 13 and Kuczynski ‘only’ throwing 12! Donna Carter’s 142 held up as the ladies’ high check out while Stacy Bromberg threw the most 180’s by a lady with 3 and threw the ladies’ low dart game with a 12 dart 501 game. Bromberg and Kuczynski also threw a 12 dart mixed doubles 501 game but their was no award in that category – yet! In summation, it was a brilliant week of darts, fun, and friends – both new and old.
Congratulations Team USA and Capt. Meddis!! And now enjoy your
“Monkey Juice.” You all deserve it!
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