This weekend (July 11-13) sees the 2014 Americas Cup.  The event is held in even years, compared to the World Cup, which is staged in odd years.  Introduced in 2002, the Americas Cup replaced the Pacific Cup, and is open to all WDF member countries in North, Central, and South America.

Tampa is the venue for this year’s championship, and the United States – and Florida – becomes the first nation to host the event twice; the first time was in 2004.  Other hosting nations have been Cayman Islands (2002), Barbados (2006), Trinidad (2008), Bahamas (2010), and Belize (2012).

The U.S. have a superb record in the Americas Cup, lifting the trophy five times, only missing out to Canada four years ago in the Bahamas.

Four American men have triumphed in the Men’s Singles, with John Kuczynski (2004), Scott Wollaston (2006), Gary Mawson (2008), and Chuck Pankow (2010), finishing top of the pile.  We have brought home the Women’s Singles title on four occasions also, thanks to two players!  Stacy Bromberg (2002 and 2006), and reigning Champion Marilyn Popp (2010 and 2012) being the victors.  Marilyn is the only player to complete a successful defense of a singles title in the history of the Americas Cup.  Canadian Troy Hanlon was the 2012 Men’s Singles Champion.

Countries competing in the 2014 event are :

Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Cayman Islands, Jamaica (not confirmed), Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos, U.S.A.

Representing the U.S. in Tampa will be :

Sandy Hudson
Brenda Roush
Tom Sawyer
Jim Widmayer

All four have plenty of international experience, each having competed multiple times in the World Masters in England, and three of the four have been members of previous U.S. World Cup teams.

There is also a Youth Event this year, with the competing nations being :

Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Cayman Islands

Good luck to all players and nations!

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