The sport of darts has endured more
than its fair share of sombre moments recently. Now it is coming to grips with
the passing of another storied hurler.
Long-serving member of the Cayman
Islands Darts Association Trevor Lloyd passed away earlier this month. Lloyd,
60, apparently succumbed to a heart attack while competing in the 2010 Barbados
Darts Festival. The UK native was there alongside Hank Ebanks in what was believed
to be an annual trek. His funeral was slated to take place over the weekend.
Lloyd’s passing marks the second
death of a darts association executive committee member in the last 16 months.
Last July former association Vice President Philip Parsons passed on from a
heart attack at the age of 46. Lloyd served a term as President of the
association back in 2001.
The impact of Lloyd’s death is
two-fold. On one hand the annual Mickey Mouse darts tournament has been
postponed from its usual slot at the end of Pirates Week to this Sunday 28
November. On the other hand his passing is a sad time for all local players.
Among those in mourning is Martin
Bodden. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service officer had a unique
relationship as both organized the Vivian Rankine memorial darts tournament
late last month, which wrapped up a few days before Lloyd’s death. Bodden
states his passing was a sudden one.
“It’s very tragic, sudden and
shocking for me,” Bodden said. “It’s so unbelievable that he’s gone. Trevor
seemed to be in the best shape of his life. He went to the gym every morning
and looked good for his age. His death has really affected me. I didn’t sleep
for four days. He’s a great person and he will be sadly missed.
“He had so many plans for darts and
he was really dedicated to the Vivian Rankine tournament. He was a true
sportsman for playing in this last one, especially on short notice. What will
stay with me the rest of my days is that after the awards presentation he gave
me a medal for all my work as an organizer the last decade. I didn’t expect
that and it was really touching coming from him.”
Lloyd had an impact on many local
players. He helped in the development in local figures such as current
president Paul Anglin and vice president Richard Campbell and assisted the
various members of the executive committee such as immediate past president
Arthur Ebanks and Treasurer Michelle Cullen.
Bodden points out his link to Lloyd
goes beyond the organizer and sponsor level (Lloyd’s company International Map
Services has sponsored the Vivian Rankine tournament over the last few years).
The two have been friends dating back to Bodden’s days as an up-and-coming
darts player.
“We were close, we’ve been friends
the last 28 years. He was instrumental in taking me to Trinidad in 1989 to
represent Cayman at the Caribbean Championships. In my opinion losing him is
like losing the godfather of darts. It was synonymous with Trevor. If there was
a tournament, whether he was playing or not, he would be there rubbing
shoulders with the rest of the guys.”
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