Just after the Dublin Tournament June 28th, Tommy French from the Dublin Club had emergency surgery for a ruptured intestine. He is home now and is recovering well, but expects to be in recuperation for several months. Tommy's address is 231 Whitaker Lane, Pulaski, VA 24301    He and Ginny could also use your support while they work their way through getting Tommy back on his feet.

Back in May, Ben Robinson from Vienna, wasn't feeling well while at the National Senior Games, and was taken to the hospital. It was found that he had blocked arteries in his heart. Since then, he has gone through treatments trying to clear up the blockage using medications, and then last month had quadruple bypass surgery. Ben is now home and doing well. Both he and his wife Pat thank the horseshoe pitchers for their continued support. If you'd like to send a note, Ben's address is 8705 Sudbury Place, Alexandria, VA 22309

Delissa Sturtz, Winchester, had hip replacement surgery in early June. She is home recuperating and thankful for her many horseshoe pitching friends that helped out while she was laid up. If you'd like to mail to her, the address is   177 Smith Drive, Winchester, Va 22603

And personally, about a month ago, my back started giving me problems again. Numbness in the leg etc., I still have appointments to meet to determine my course of action. For now I have to take things real easy. Today I'm feeling much better, but not up to pitching just yet. Time will tell..

Arriving on Friday, the day before the tournament, Pat & I were a bit apprehensive that the clay would be clumpy and messy. What a surprise we found. Fresh in the courts and only slightly packed the clay was working up real well. Watching the pitching Friday night you could see the clay was holding together, shoes sinking and holding. Friday night, tremendous thunderstorms hit the area, flooding a few of the courts. Courts 11 and 12 were un-pitchable Saturday morning. Compacting would have saved them but being so new the tightness in the clay was not there, making for soup. The courts were uncovered, and by late in the day they were ok, and by Sunday they were perfect. 

Running the event I kept a watchful eye on the new clay. Very little water was added to any of them and yet very little clay spilled out of the pits.  It looks like it will work up perfectly in a very short time. 

Johny still has at least 20 tons of this clay piled up. It would be worth your trip to Maryland to get some.

From the Regional Director and  Web Master's Desk

This summer has been extremely busy for Pat and I. Traveling around the state promoting the sport and meeting new people. A lot of our effort has been focused on the central and eastern shore and it is paying off for the VaHPA organization. The Portsmouth Club and the Hillside Club are growing and new leads have developed in the neighboring areas.

With all the travel it has left us  with very little extra  time. It takes a considerable amount of time to gather information and write stories for the VaHPA web pages. All of which is volunteered personal free time. You could help out by writing stories about tournaments you attend, or run. Pat & I can only write about those events we are actually at, or that we receive information on. Your stories can be submitted on paper, or via email, either way. It would be greatly appreciated. 

I realize there are several event results not posted yet, and I will get them uploaded as soon as I can. Your patience is appreciated.

Kevin
 

In my April 27th update to this web site, a request was made for horseshoes to donate to a group trying to pitch – 40 kids with only four sets of shoes – the Hillside Boys and Girls Club in Richmond.  The response was great - 20 pairs of shoes, a whole bunch of recycled trophies, and some member sponsorships for juniors. 

With the items collected, Pat and I scheduled a junior clinic at the Gilles Creek Park on Saturday July 12th . With help from Sonya McDowell, we put together a one hour presentation on pitching horseshoes. Pat gave a brief history about the origin of the sport, starting with “quoits” and working through to the present form of pitching. Then Sonya and Pat played a brief game as a demonstration while I kept score on an oversized score sheet. The demo done, the juniors picked shoes from the donations, and were off on the on the courts – they had a blast, and kept score for their own games. At the end of the day, all 11 juniors present voted to form a league – and the Hillside Horseshoe Club came into being.

Wyatt Kingston, Director of that chapter, is really enthusiastic, and is thrilled that  ‘his kids’ now have 10 times more shoes than what they started with. His and our sincere thanks to the Hix Family, Ric and Amy Hall, Chuck Duymich, and Carl Otto for their donations. 

The donations have not stopped, this past weekend Billy and Jamie Morris donated 4 more pairs of shoes. Thank you both!

If you would like to sponsor a child to pitch in this sanctioned league it only costs $5.00 to buy their NHPA membership. A fund is being set up to support this group going forward. If you would like to be a sponsor, please send a check to the Hillside Sponsor Fund, c/o Kevin Snelgrove, P.O. Box 625 Stuarts Draft, VA 24477. If you have horseshoe donatations please give them to Pat, one of the state officers or myself, and we will make sure they are passed on to a needy child. For the children of the Hillside Chapter of the Richmond Boys & Girls club, thank you for your help.

Click here to see more photos

Tuesday night 7:00 PM, August 5: Singles Tournament, Double Elimination, Cash Prizes

Wednesday 7:00 PM,, August 6:  Doubles Tournament, Cash Prizes

Thursday 7:00 PM,, August 7:  Singles Tournament, Double Elimination, Cash Prizes and Trophy

Friday 7:00 PM,, August 8:  Doubles Tournament, Cash Prizes, Trophys

All tournaments begin at 7:00 p.m. (allow time to register).  There will be a $10.00 entry fee.  The Greene County Fairgrounds are located on Route 230, at the Madison County line, three miles from Standardsville.  For more information contact Jeri Allen at JeriAllen@aol.com
 

The Lynch Mob
The 2003 State Team Champions!
Captain Raymond Deal (L), Mark Bunch (TC), 
Nick Matsko(BC) and Marvin May(R)

 The 2003 X-Trials 
State Team Competition
June 14th, 2003
By Kevin Snelgrove

Thanks Mom! I woke up early Saturday morning 4:30 and just like I do every morning took my stroll to get the newspaper. A full moon low on the horizon, clear skies and the birds singing so loud, pausing in the driveway I said a little prayer to my Mom wishing her a happy birthday and asked her if she had any pull with Mother Nature to turn the faucets off for the day.

The message must have got through, because we were blessed with a beautiful day. Bountiful sunshine, so much so we had a table set up that not only held the trophies, but a half dozen or so bottles of sun block. By noon many of the pitchers (continued on the next page)

  The 2003 Senior Olympics

By  Al Sandham, 
Competition Manager
May 26 to May 30, 2003 

Location is everything!

The 2003 National Senior Olympics were the site of many venues spread throughout the region at Hampton Roads, Virginia.

And spread out they were. 

The many venues were scattered about the Hampton Roads area, which made travel between the venues difficult for competitors as well as spectators. I guess spectators are usually competitors waiting to have their turn at competition, but any sport would love to have spectators that have no knowledge of the sport to get a chance to learn the (continued on the next page)
 

The X TRIALS tournament was a good one and I hope it becomes an annual event. As a team captain, I realized right away how important the strategy of pitting each of my team members against the opposing team members was. 

Starting the tournament, name tags with individual pitcher’s stats were handed out. Everyone put them on. They were very useful during the first 2 or 3 games. I noticed other team captains looking at the percentages on the nametags when they were trying to set the line ups when they won the "toss". After several games, people were going up to the result board and seeing what their next opponent was actually pitching. (Thanks to Kevin and his computer program, he could post game-by-game results.)

This tournament had a different rhythm to it than singles, (continued on the next page)

Postponed  due to rain!!! The Virginia State Doubles (PR) from June 21, 2003  New Date:  September 14th, it's a Sunday. Same location, Winchester and still hosted by the Northern Valley Horseshoe Club. Those that have already signed up and can not make it will be refunded. New registrations will be accepted up until September 1st. For more information contact Ricky Hall or Pat Snelgrove.
                 ***********************************
The Stuarts Draft Doubles which also got rained out has been rescheduled to July 27th. It also is a Sunday event. The club is also holding the Draft Classic on the 26th, and both events are open sign ups. If you are traveling and would stay the night there are two campground in Stuarts Draft and many motels in Waynesboro and Staunton, only 7 miles down the road, call Kevin or Pat Snelgrove for more info on lodging.

July 4, 2003 The Fulks Run Draw Partners 10:00 am  Horseshoes ALL DAY! (NS)
July 5, 2003, The D.W. Strickler Memorial 
July 5, 2003 Churchville Draw partners(NS) cancelled
July 12, 2003 Apple Valley Classsic (PR)
July 12 2003 H.C. Eppard Open
July 18,19,20 Chesapeake Open(PR)
July 26, 2003 Draft Classic
July 26, 2003 The Fulks Run Draw Partners 10:00 am (NS)
July 27, 2003 The Draft Doubles
August 2, 2003 TheChurchville Classic
August 2, 2003 The Fulks Run Draw Partners 10:00 am (NS)
September 6, 2003 The Fulks Run Singles 9:00 to qualify, club stats or NHPA stats will be used 10:00 am pitching (NS)
August 9, 2003, The Otto Classic
August 16, 2003, Grottoes Finals
August 23, 2003, The Fire Cracker Classic
August 30, 2003, The State Singles(PR)
September 6, 2003, The Raymond Frye(PR)
September 13 2003, The Dublin Classic
Sepetmber 14 2003 The State Doubles
Check the 2003 Schedule for more details

The Virginia Senior Games
May 9th, 2003
By Kevin Snelgrove

Out of 22 weekends this year we have had 5 without rain, and I can't remember when those 5 were. We were going to (continued on the next Page)

For one tournament at least, the day wore on without rain, despite the forecast. What a relief it was to be able to hold an actual event without mud in the pits, or rain delays. We had   (Continued on the next page with photos)

Donnie Snowden, President of the Portsmouth Club, is doing the right things promoting his club and the sport, but MotherNature has her own plans. The Junior Clinic was held despite the rainy conditions. A low and disappointing turnout did little to dampen the spirit of the club however. 

Kirk Adams, President of the Chesapeake Horseshoe Club and Amanda Tolbert, a Junior member of that club, attended to lend their support and help teach the sport of pitching. Amanda is the bright star in our state this year as a Junior. Only pitching for a year, her average percentage has climbed 20%.  She says she owes it all to 
 (Continued on the next page with photos) 
 
 

The Fulks Run Horseshoe Club has added 7 non sanctioned events to the 2003 schedule. Glenn Ritchie and Jackie Wetzel has brought back the life of the club. They report 12 members active members pitching in thier league. The club is looking forward to raising the funds to making improvements to the courts to bring them up to National Standards and hosting sanctioned events. Your support would be appreciated! For more information call Glenn at (540) 833-4713 or Jackie at (540) 833-6253.
 
 

June 7, 2003 , The Grottoes Classic (Cancelled due to the rain)
June 14, 2003 The Xtrials Club/Team Format(PR) 12 teams have signed up!!
June 14, 2003 The Fulks Run Draw Partners 10:00 am (NS)
June 21, 2003 The Virginia State Doubles(PR)
June 28, 2003 The Earl Linkous Memorial
June 28, 2003 The 12th Top of Virginia(PR)
June 28, 2003 The Fulks Run Draw Partners 10:00 am (NS)
July 4, 2003 The Fulks Run Draw Partners 10:00 am  Horseshoes ALL DAY! (NS)
July 5, 2003, The D.W. Strickler Memorial 
July 5, 2003 Churchville Draw partners(NS) cancelled
July 26 2003 The Fulks Run Draw Partners 10:00 am (NS)
August 2, 2003 The Fulks Run Draw Partners 10:00 am (NS)
September 6, 2003 The Fulks Run Singles 9:00 to qualify, club stats or NHPA stats will be used 10:00 am pitching (NS)

Check the 2003 Schedule for more details

  The Senior Olympics

The National Senior Games
May 26th through June 30th

The Horseshoe Pitching Venue Review
By Kevin Snelgrove
 

Over 13,000 participants overall in the Hampton Roads area! All kinds of events – javelin, bike riding, archery, volleyball, softball, etc… HORSESHOE pitching… More than 300 pitchers had signed up for a one week horseshoe event! 

My wife Pat & I met up with Al Sandham, Competition Manager for the Games, and his wife Iris on Saturday which was a planned sanctioned event. Sunday was a practice day for the Senior Olympics. It gave us time to meet up with Earl & Pat Waggy, Al’s assistants, and discuss plans for the week’s coming events. By the end of Sunday, all was set, we went to our rooms anticipating Monday’s start. 

Monday morning, 7:30am was sign up time for the first flights of pitchers. Pat & I arrived at the courts right on time, only to find  (Continued on the next page with lots of photos)

The view the results posted on the National Senior Games Association! Click here and visit www.nsga.com
 
 

May 10, 2003, The Draft Doubles
May 17, 2003 The 38th Apple Capitol (PR)
May 24, 2003, The Old Dominion Summer Classic
May 24, 2003, The Head of the Mon, W.V.
May 26, 2003 The National Senior Games (NS)
May 31, 2003 The D.W. Strickler Memorial
May 31, 2003 The Mangohick Horseshoe Tournament (NS)(PR5/17)
June 7, 2003 , The Grottoes Classic
June 14, 2003 The Xtrials Club/Team Format(PR)
Check the 2003 Schedule for more details 

I just finished reading the article on the web site and looking at the pictures from the Chesapeake Spring Fling held on April 5, 2003. What an exciting day and what a way to win my first tournament. I have always enjoyed pitching but had never realized until that Saturday afternoon what inner emotions, enjoyment and friendships can develop in just a couple of hours pitching in your class with four other pitchers.

After I lost my first two games, I figured that I was out of the running for one of the trophies. I learnt a valuable lesson that afternoon. "You have to pitch every shoe like it's means something and you can never give up on yourself." You just have to pitch the best you can and sometimes it will be your day to win.

Mike

The 2nd Carl Frye Memorial Horseshoe Tournament was held April 19, 2003 in Winchester, VA The Morning has very cold and a little misty but 46 Pitchers from (Continued on the next page)
 

The power of the Chesapeake Horseshoe Club was very evident at the Richmond Open. Nine members came to pitch and that they did, taking home 7 out of 9 trophies available. This club is excited about pitching horseshoes, and from the moment a few of them arrive, you can hear the banter begin. Get a few more pitchers in the area and the excitement grows. Their spirit is what this game is about, friendship, family and fun!

“Sandamanda” is one to watch out for. At 14 years old Amanda Tolbert is learning the ropes and learning fast. Look out Amy! She’s on the way! Her style is  (continued on the next page)

You may have forgotten about the NHPF fund raising event that Renee Cowan has put together. Find Renee or one of the Hix family members and buy your ticket to one of the many raffled prizes. So far starting with last years state singles this effort has raised 306 dollars and we are only at 6 events. The goal is to raise $1000 by our state singles this year. Can we DOUBLE that goal?

Wyatt Kingston s a counselor for  the Hillside chapter of the Richmond Boy and Girls Club. Devoted to his kids, he has spent many hours teaching them values, skills and sportsmanship. Working with only 6 pairs of horseshoes for 40 or so children, he has taught them the fundamentals of pitching, and would like to start a horseshoe club, but lacks the equipment. Pat and I have agreed to sponsor his kids in the VaHPA/NHPA if he gets organized. Equipment is a big hold up, so we ask you to help us out a bit if possible.  If you have an extra pair of horseshoes ,  a broken pair, or trophies that can be recycled, and you are willing to donate, give them to Pat, Carl or myself and we will make sure Wyatt gets them. If you would like to join us in sponsoring a Junior, $5 is all it takes . A worthy cause, can you help? Let us know!

May 10, 2003, The Draft Doubles
May 17, 2003 The 38th Apple Capitol (PR)
May 24, 2003, The Old Dominion Summer Classic
May 24, 2003, The Head of the Mon, W.V.
May 26, 2003 The National Senior Games (NS)
May 31, 2003 The D.W. Strickler Memorial
May 31, 2003 The Mangohick Horseshoe Tournament (NS)(PR5/17)
June 7, 2003 , The Grottoes Classic
June 14, 2003 The Xtrials Club/Team Format(PR)
Check the 2003 Schedule for more details 

"Let 'em Ring"
By Pat Snelgrove

Is the motto of the newly formed Portsmouth Horseshoe Club. The club colors are Red,White and Blue. Thanks to the local Coast Guard Station the 14 member club has a home. 

They are off to a great start, spearheaded by Donnie Snowden! Communications with the city council are going forward in the hopes the club can find a public park within the city to call home. Donnie's dream "is to find a public place where we can teach our youngsters the sport and have a friendly club competion with our neighbors from Chesapeake." The club has set up it own web page on the Hampton Roads web site

The newly formed Portmouth Horsehoe Club held their "kick off" event on Sunday, April 6, 2003. Kevin Snelgrove (RD), Kirk Adams (Pres, Chesapeake Club) and myself (Sec. VaHPA) had been invited, and we were all glad to attend. What a great kick off!! A large WELCOME banner and balloons - red, white and blue - waved in the breeze as (continued on the next page)
 

Mark Mater, President of the King William Horseshoe Club annouced that the club has found a home in Aylett, VA. The Mangohick Volunteer Fire Department has agreed to let the club build 12 courts behind thier station. A few of the fire company members have joined the club. Four courts are in the process of being built and within the next month the club hopes to have them completed to pitch thier league on. The remaining 8 courts will be built as time and funding allow.

The club wants to express their sincere appreation to the Hanover County P+R Depatment and the County  for allowing them to pitch at the Poor Farm Park Location and with their leaving the location they will do everything they can to find a sucessor to the facilty.

Will be held May 31, 2003 at 10:00 AM, behind the fire station at 3493 King William Rd, (Rt. 30) Aylett, Va. Sponsered by the Mangohick Volunteer Fire Department and the King Willaim Horseshoe Club.

This a non sanctioned event, double elimation tournament, $10.00 entry fee.
Pregister by May 17th.

For more information contact Mark Mater at 804-370-0852 or the MVFD at 804-994-9800.

No one correctly identified the photos. I will dig out some more oldies for the next update, Keep watching! Kevin
 

A bit disappointed that the weather at Petersburg prevented him from pitching his first event, Raymond came to Stuarts Draft to pitch. (More on Champion Deal and the tournament with photo's)

Cathy called for a brief meeting to start the tournament, (continued on the next page with photos)

Also on the Hanover page are some photos of the Petersburg Open event which Pat and I arrived at 4:00 PM. The event half over with, was postpond unitl April 20th.

10,000 Seniors – Age 50 and over – will be in Hampton Roads (Tidewater Area), VA   The dates are May 26th – June 9th, 2003, for the “National Senior Games”. All Seniors had to qualify by finishing 1st or 2nd in their event at their State Games, 2002.

Don Parkes will represent VA in horseshoes having won the State Games in Richmond Va in his age group, in May of 2002.  This year, the venue for horseshoes will be at the Chesapeake Horseshoe Club pits. 

This will be Don’s 4th National, he was in Syracuse NY in 1991, Baton Rouge LA in 1993 and Orlando FL in 1999. At the local and state level, Don has Gold Medals in seven (7) different sports. 

Bring home the GOLD!!!, Don , we'll be rooting for you and the rest of the gang from Virginia!