The Stuarts Draft Clinic and Open Horseshoe Tournament

April 8, 2006 

The finer points of pitching, OPEN EYES stay focused!.

Hearl Kelly defeats Yougie Guyer to become the Open Champion.

The weather prediction of 80% chance of rain kept many pitches at home for the Stuarts Draft Clinic and Open Tournament, but 10  took the chance and attend. With the brief exception of a shower right at noon the rains held off.

The pitchers started the day watching a video on “The basics of horseshoe pitching.”. At the conclusion of the video Hearl Kelly 2005 State Champion shared his experiences and techniques with the fellow pitchers. Even as the tournament was under way Hearl as he pitched paused to help the other pitches with techiques.

The tournament was set up with two five man classes pitching 25 point games. Edward Thompson and Hearl Kelly were both undefeated going into the last round of their class. Edward jump off to a commanding 18 to 2 lead over Hearl, Ed letting his guard down, could only watch as Hearl focused on the peg racking up ringer after ringer. Hearl can back and defeated Edward 26 to 23.

As Hearl and Ed were pitching the other class pitching had it own excitement. Yogie Guyer and Glenn Bouley faced off. Yogie had not lost a game. If Glen could beat him it would have meant a 3way tie for 1^st Place. Knowing that, Yogies calm cool manner and focus was too much for Glenn taking him out 25 to 18., setting up the championship round.

The odds were stacked high against Yogie facing the 2005 Champ. The game began just as a huge thunderhead approached, halfway into it a very cold down draft fell on the courts. It was at that point Yogie scored 4 points against Hearl, it was not enough to stop Hearl from winning the game 25 to 4. Yogie enjoyed the opportunity to pitch the Champ.