137 pitchers from 10 states signed up for the tournament. Those showing included the 2001 State Singles Champions from 
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Upcoming tournaments are,

September 15, 2001  Crozet Fall Closing, Crozet
September 22, 2001  Fall Finals, Stuarts Draft
September 29, 2001 Chesapeake Open

Husband and wife Ric and Amy Hall are champions!! That comes as no surprise to most of us, but yesterday they set a record in Virginia. After winning the State Doubles in June, they set their sights on the World Tournament . All though they were personally disappointed in their finishes at the World, all the practice and preparation paid off in The Virginia State Singles Horseshoe Tournament held September 1. Now, Amy and Ric can claim not only the State Doubles Championship, but they can also now claim the State Singles Championship. Indeed history in this state 

In Women's A class, Amy Hall and Renee Cowan battled it out, with Amy winning the title. This is Amy's 7th year as Women's Champion.

In the Men's A class, Lane Foley went into the 9th round of play with 8-0, looked like he was going to take the title.His last opponent was Ric Hall with a 7-1 record. Toward the end of the day, when most of the pitchers had gone home, the noise level quieted down, and the sun was setting as the class started the last game of the day. By the time the game finished, Lane & Ric were the last two pitchers still on the courts. Towards the end of that game the only noise you could hear was an occasional truck going down the highway and the clank of shoes landing as ringers.After 62 shoes Ric had won the game, forcing the playoff for the Championship.

Very little time was wasted between the regular play and the pitch off. They switched courts, worked the pits a little bit and started. A crowd of about 30 peoples stayed and watched under a full moon. By now only whispering in the crowd could be heard. The lead changed hands back and forth a number of times. Around 56 shoes both had thrown to the far end away from the crowd gathered at the fence. They huddled over the clay with straight edges in hand, digging at a buried shoe. What seemed like 5 minutes later, all the fuss was over a point. Ric emerged with one-ringer-3-points, making the score 38 to 33 Lane. The game was up for grabs at this point.  "4 dead" was the common call. At 60 shoes, Lane got stuck with 38 points. He just couldn't get over that hump. By 66 shoes, the score was 36-38, Lane's favor. The tension of the pitchers was obvious as they took their turns to pitch. Lane pitched first, missing the pin with both shoes. Ric then took a deep breath, concentrated and slammed down one ringer four, ending the game with a score of 40 to 38. He had done it !!     With 44 ringers out of the 66 shoes, his 66% won him the title. 

This is Ric's first ever State Champion Title. It is also, the first time in state history that we have a husband and wife as both Singles and Doubles Champions in the same year. Congratulations to both!!

August 11, 2001  ---Pre register by July 28
           Apple Valley Open. Winchester, Va

August 18, 2001,
           Grottoes Finals, Grottoes Va

August 19. 2001 Pre register by Aug 5th
            X-Trials Team Format, Stuarts Draft, Va

August 25, 2001
          Labor Day Special, Dublin, Va

September 1, 2001--- Pre register by August 19
        Virginia State Singles, Winchester, Va

Although the Winchester club is hosting the event, they have lots of help from the other clubs. It's an evening of family fun and fellowship, with the hopes of encouraging future Big Brothers/Big Sisters and promoting the sport at the same time.

Children aged 5-16 are invited. They will pitch between 6pm and 9pm, depending on their age, in groups of four, pitching to eleven points. The format of play will be informal. Club members will be available to help explain the game and how to pitch, get them started and then help them along. Each child will receive a trophy for participating. Hotdogs, snacks and soda will energize the youngsters as they learn to play the game. Information about the NHPA and the local clubs will be available
to all who attend.

Many of our club members have donated trophies, and Connie Hughes in Stuarts Draft, will engrave name plates for each trophy. The trophies will be numbered, and each child will pick a number out of the hat. The trophy with that number gets that child's nameplate put on it. With sign-up sheets hanging around town, cut off is June 16, only six days before the event - with a lot still to be done!!

You can sponser a Child for  $5. The Winchester Club will pick up any overage of expense. If you would like to sponser a child, please send your check or money order to WHC, Attn.: Debbie Barbour, P. O. Box 2141, Winchester, VA 22604.

We are excited about this event, maybe future Horseshoe pitchers, but the main goal is to have a fun & relaxing evening with the family.

Reported by,

Debbie Barbour, Tournament Director

When we left home early Saturday morning headed for Grottoes, I started looking (Continued on next the page)