This darter took advantage of the fact that his family was involved in the bar business and , as he said , “ I have been shooting pool and throwing darts for as long as I can remember .” Today , like so many darters , he juggles his playing time with his job as an Information Technologist and his wife , Beth and his 15 year old stepson , Dylan . They currently have houses in Auburn , Alabama and Columbus , Georgia where Trint works . He laughed when he told me , “ We just got married September 20th and we ’ re still settling in .”
Trint Sumner
Pacer : Congratulations on your marriage . Another dart romance ? Trint : We met at a dart tournament years ago and I liked her from the start . Pacer : It ’ s always nice when your significant other is involved in the game . Trint : Yeah , we travel and play together a lot . If there are tournaments where she is unable to compete , she either comes and cheers me on , or sends me off with best wishes . I ’ ll tell you , having Beth behind me means everything in the world . Pacer : Tell us about growing up around the bar business .
Trint with his wife , Beth & James Eldridge after they won 1st place in Mixed Triples at the Tennessee BullShooter Regional .
Trint : The family bar was named C & JT ’ s , in Columbus . I started playing pool when I was about 12 . I think I was about 15 when darts started to get really popular , and I started throwing a lot . I know I was still pretty young , because I started hitting the local Blind Draws and always had to catch a ride . I wasn ’ t old enough to drive ( both laughing ). I went to my first big tournament when I was 16 or 17 . I think it was about ‘ 96 or ‘ 97 when everyone was switching to Arachnid boards and they had a BullShooter Regional here . It was amazing . Pacer : I think everyone remembers their first major tournament . Just how did it play out ? Trint : I can rememer it was really exciting with all the boards and players and Team Arachnid running everything . It was a lot different than the local Blind Draws I was used to . I shot with Goz and we won the Blind Draw and later that weekend I took a 3rd in the Singles . Pacer : Here you are , about 16 , and you ’ re not only com- peting , but competing very well . That ’ s amazing . Trint : Well Tom , I really was a pretty good player already , but that ’ s because of all the hours I spent on the dartboard at C & JT ’ s . I played a lot of darts . Pacer : If I ’ ve said it once , I ’ ve said it a thousand times , you have got to pay your dues . You paid yours by pounding the dart boards in your family bar . Trint : You know it ’ s funny how things go in this game . I met your son , Dan at that Regional all those years ago . Now , if we can work it out , I may be shooting with him and his wife , Stacy at the BullShooter in Chicago this year . Pacer : That would be a strong team . I haven ’ t competed in years , but , in all honesty , I would have to say I miss the friendships as much as the competition . The level of play that has been attained by the men and women in today ’ s game is nothing short of staggering . But it is still the people , the friendships , the big dart family that is the glue that holds everything together . Trint : I couldn ’ t agree with you
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