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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