UPDATE- The VI’s Annual Poker Run Gains Worldwide Exposure on CNN
Journalist and news anchor Erin Burnett spoke about the VI’s Poker Run on her CNN news show Erin Burnett Out Front. Several clips of the BVI’s clear blue waters, sleek colourful boats and excited participants and on-lookers were shown during Ms. Burnett’s broadcast. She told viewers about her Poker Run encounter and explained the process and routes of this anticipated annual event. This process included collecting a card from five different islands in the BVI, with the goal of making the best poker hand.
“It was a lot of fun to watch,” said Erin Burnett. “Since 2002 the event has raised$86,000 for a local children’s charity,” Ms. Burnett added.
Ms. Burnett stated that during her visit to Scrub Island, she had the opportunity to see the most anticipated nautical event in the British Virgin Islands as boaters roared into the harbour at Scrub Island. Ms. Burnett also expressed her delight in meeting Mr. Richard Branson, who she referred to as “the BVI’s most famous resident.”
Ms. Burnett also gave worldwide recognition to the winner of the event, BVI local Joseph Smith as well as the persons who placed second, Bob Barnhart and third, Troy Barzey. As a part of her announcement she showed a clip of the names of the three individuals along with that of their boats, their winning hand and the prize they received.
The BVI’s 2012 Leverick Bay Poker Run coincided with the start of this year’s World Series of Poker, which kicked off on the 29May. A total of 150 boats participated in this year’s event, with over 2,700attendees. Participating boats came from the BVI, St. Martin, USVI, Puerto Rico, USA, Dominican Republic, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Canada and USA.
“We at the BVI Tourist Board take great pride in seeing the BVI once again highlighted in such a well known and watched medium as CNN. The Leverick Bay Poker Run is an anticipated yearly event which has been a major draw for tourists from our neighbouring islands Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as the USA and much more. We are very pleased to see the exposure, which the event received and hope that it will generate even more participants locally and abroad for future Poker Runs,” said Malcia Smith-Hamilton, Ag. Director of Tourism.
Erin Burnett Out Front news show is an hour long programme that is hosted by Erin Burnett and is aired weeknights at 7 p.m. on CNN. Erin Burnett Out-front is aired during the much sought after evening primetime. The total ratings for the demographics that viewed Erin Burnett Out Front on 30 May were 581,000.
Over 2000 people participated in this year’s poker run on 150 boats, voyaging around the Virgin Islands collecting face down tickets in hopes to draw that perfect hand to win that grand cash prize.
Mr. Joseph Smith, resident of Virgin Gorda came out victorious on May 27,2012 Poker Run, where he was lucky enough to pick his face down cards amounting to a ‘Running Flush’.
A Running Flush in poker jargon is where a hand containing three cards of consecutive value and the same suit in three card brag, it is equivalent to a straight flush in poker.
Mr. Smith, travelling on ‘Chilli Water’ boat of Mr. Ashton Hopkins, was awarded $7500 for his winning hand.
In second place Bob Bearnhart owner of ‘Predator’ with four kings received $4000, leaving 3rd place to owner of the ‘Passcifire’ Troy Barsey where he was awarded $2000.
Organiser of the event Mr. Nick Willis informed this news site that two charities were given a donation on behalf of this year’s Poker Run.
Virgin Gorda Charitable Trust Company received $4000 along with the Animal Rescue and Control in Virgin Gorda receiving $1000.
In addition to giving back to the community Mr. Willis added that the Poker Run committee will also be building a swimming pool for the kids in Virgin Gorda at the Bregado Flax Educational Centre.
Willis stated that from the birth of the Leverick Bay Poker Run in 2002, the event has raised $86, 000.
The event started at 8: 30 a.m. where the route for the participants were from Leverick Bay to Scrub Island then down to Village Cay, over to Norman Island, Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour then back to Leverick Bay for their sixth and final card.
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