WINNIPEG, MAN. - Brenda Moreau of Fort Simpson has become the first person from the Northwest Territories to win the honour of representing Canada at the Americas Cup.

The Americas Cup is a darts competition that will be held this year in Port of Spain, Trinidad, July 23-28. As part of the four-person Canadian team, Moreau will be competing against darts players from around the world.

Brenda Moreau of Fort Simpson will be representing Canada at the Americas Cup darts competition in Trinidad. She won the honor while competing at the National Darts Championships in Winnipeg, Man. earlier this month. - photo courtesy of Stan Milosevic

"I'm nervous, excited and overwhelmed," she said. "I can't really believe I've done it."

Moreau won her spot on the team while competing at the National Darts Championships in Winnipeg, Man., earlier this month.

This is the eighth year Moreau has competed at the nationals. For the past five years she's also been competing in the qualifiers for the World Cup and the Americas Cup, held in alternating years.

This was Moreau's third attempt to make the Americas Cup team. During her previous two tries she tied for third.

Making Team Canada is the fulfillment of a five-year dream for Moreau, who set a goal of making Team Canada or ranking in the top four in the country when she realized she could beat some of the top women in the country.

"I realized I could really go further with this if I put my heart and mind into it," she said.

To win a spot on this year's team, Moreau competed against 44 other women from across Canada during the qualifiers on June 13.

"I had some tough women in my section," said Moreau.

Moreau's competition included Kim Whaley-Hilts, ranked first in Canada, Sally Falhoon, ranked first in B.C., and Carol Shepherd. After playing three games against each woman Moreau finished second in her section.

Advancing to the knockouts, Moreau played longtime rival Ivy Winslow.

"She's taken me out of a few competitions," said Moreau.

Moreau started strong taking the first two games before Winslow took the third. Moreau came back and took the fourth game, allowing her to advance.

After one more game, Moreau played against Bonnie Lapierre of Saskatchewan, who won last year's Canadian National Championship.

"She's a good player," Moreau said.

Despite Lapierre's ranking, Moreau won the first three games against her. At that point Moreau thought she had to play another game but after checking with officials she found out she'd made the team.

"It was only then I realized I did it," she said.

At first Moreau didn't realize what her achievement meant until her boyfriend and mixed doubles darts partner Jason Elgie said she'd be playing against the world.

"My stomach hit the floor," she said.

Moreau was also congratulated by her parents John and Louisa Moreau, who were also at the event. Both John and Louisa purposefully missed Moreau's final games.

"I left the room; I was too nervous for her," said John. "It's phenomenal for someone who came in from the NWT."

Also on team Canada are Kim Whaley-Hilts from Ontario, Gerry Hall from Quebec and Ken McNeil from Alberta.

In the ladies' doubles Moreau and Samantha Antoine from Hay River placed joint 17th.

At nationals, Moreau placed joint 17th in the singles and joint ninth with Antoine in the ladies' doubles. Moreau also competed in the Canadian Open where she placed third in the ladies' doubles with Ann-Marie Coroluick from Alberta.

Moreau said she's grateful for Rowe's Construction for covering all her entry fees to the tournaments.

To prepare for her upcoming challenge Moreau was going to take five days off before getting back on the board to practice two to four hours a day before the tournament. On July 18 she'll travel to Calgary and compete at the Dublin Open in Medicine Hat to get back into tournament play.