The Trina Trail
The Trina trail Southam, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
Report by Holly Whitmill, Leamington Courier. Issued in 2009
Southam's Golden Girl of darts will be celebrated with a 'Trina trail' around the town.
Plans to mark the achievements of the seven-time ladies darts world champion Trina Gulliver have been in the offing for some time. One idea mooted was the erection of a seven-metre-high dart sculpture on a roundabout, but after that suggestion failed to win support another has taken its place.
In the next few weeks, the Trina Gulliver Tribute Group will submit an application to Stratford District Council asking it to help fund the creation of seven special benches that will be placed at landmark locations from the darts player's life.
A final list of sites has yet to be drawn up, but Southam College, Linley Road ‘where she grew up' and the Bowling Green Inn are expected to feature.
Group chairman Mike Stanley said: 'Anybody who is a world champion in their chosen sport deserves to get some recognition and Southam needs a hero or heroine'.
'The benches will commemorate every year that she has won the world championship and have a darts theme.'
'We haven't worked out exactly where they will go, but there will definitely be one outside the Bowling Green Inn that her mother and father used to keep and where she learnt her craft.'
Trina started playing darts for Warwickshire County Youth at the age of 14 and turned professional in 1996. She attended the former Southam High School at 12 and when 16 went on to Mid-Warwickshire College. The trail will be supported by a leaflet that residents and visitors can follow as they stroll around the town from bench to bench.
Mr Stanley added: 'It will include information about Trina, the town and other historical figures and events. The idea of the walk is to incorporate health, community and tourism'.
'The group has already secured £5,000 towards the cost of the seats from the town council and other sources. And Reeves Boatbuilders who sponsor Trina, agreed to make the metal benches'.
Town mayor Les Hewer is also a group member. He said: 'Trina was brought up in Southam, went to Southam College and worked in the town. She is also supported by businesses in the area. Winning the ladies darts champion title seven times (to date) is no mean feat and this will help recognise the fact.'
Funding the trail will come from £25,000 secured from 'Advantage West Midlands' and Market Towns Initiative investment secured for Southam by the district council.
This money will also be used to install 'finger' signposts and information panels on buildings such as the Old Mint and the Elizabethan pharmacy
The trail and bench locations
Bench 1 - The Bowling Green Inn
Bench 2 - Brewsters Corner
Bench 3 - Browne Bridge
Bench 4 – Abbey Lane Juction
Bench 5 – Park Lane
Bench 6 – Southam College
Bench 7 – Merestone Park
The Trina Trail Map
Illustrated and directional map features all seven benches
Trina won seven consecutive World Champions Titles 2001 - 2007. To date (2016) Trina has won a total of ten World Titles plus hundreds of other dart titles. In 2013 Trina was also awarded the MBE for services to darts and charitable fund raising. Her achievements in the sport of darts continues today as her dart title haul increases each year.
The trail map was first produced in 2009 to help tourists and dart enthusiasts find their way to all seven bench location. You can now download the Trail Map from here.
The map also includes the original leaflet outer cover that gives detail about Trina’s dart achievements (2007). It also details of the seven bench locations and the significance of each location chosen.
Leaflet map cover
