Alberta Players Represent Canada at the America's Cup
August-09-12
Author: Tammy Murschell, Darts Alberta Youth Director
This past July, I was asked by the NDFC to be an official youth chaperone/coach for the America's Cup in Belize. This was an experience of a lifetime. Two of our own players, Cindy Pardy and Dawson Murschell had qualified for the team to represent Canada. From the welcome at the airport, where we got to skip through the customs lines and baggage inspection, to the greeting of a huge banner at the airport this experience was one I'll not soon forget.
The Team bonded very quickly and I think I can say on behalf of all the adults involved with Team Canada, the youth entertained the adults rather well!
Team Canada from Left to Right: Tammy Murschell, Alberta (Coach); Mary Dezan, Quebec/NDFC (Team Manager/Coach); Robin Curry, Ontario; Cindy Pardy, Alberta; Robin Barnes, Newfoundland & Labrador - Youth; Dawson Murschell, Alberta - Youth; Chris Steiger, Nova Scotia; Troy Hanlon, Newfoundland & Labrador
The first night of darts was a fun blind draw where both our youth team members Robin Barnes from Newfoundland and Dawson decided to play, along with them their younger siblings decided to have some fun as well. And fun they had. The room was alive with excitement and noise. The players of the America's such as Bermuda, Trinidad, Barbados, Belize and Brazil take their darts and their fun to the next level! This was an exciting event to witness. The cheering and the comrade were something I'll always treasure. The way the people from these countries treated all 4 of the Canadian youth players was amazing. The encouragement and fun the kids had been definitely worth the trip.
As for the America's Cup event itself that too was amazing. Team Canada had a fantastic run right up until the final where they fell in a hard fought battle with Team USA. It was definitely a nail biter! I can tell you I was proud to be Canadian!!
As for our two Alberta players they did us proud in their individual events as well. Cindy made the semi-final, falling in a tight match to the eventual winner Marilyn Popp of Team USA. Dawson came out on top in the youth final on stage. While youth participation numbers were low the level of darts he and fellow countryman Robin Barnes showed on stage was definitely high quality!
Other Team Canada members also did very well. Chris Steiger of Nova Scotia and Troy Hanlon of Newfoundland made the men`s individual final with Troy coming out as victor. Our other female member Robin Curry of Ontario also made the semi-finals.
I would like to thank the NDFC and especially Mary Dezan for everything and mostly for the opportunity of a lifetime.
Dawson and Cindy
Team Canada celebrating by the pool :)