Schedule Update!

All of the Grottoes events listed on the schedule with the exception of the last event will be held but at the Churchville courts, due to conflicts with the Grand Caverns facility. The Grottoes Open August 23rd is the only event that will be held at Grand Caverns.

Summer Fun
Newberry, SC
May 23, 2008
By Kevin Snelgrove

What a way to kick off the Summer!
Even Sonny and Cher arrived unexpectedly showing up to watch the excitement this event generates.      Treating the crowd to a special performance!

The Summer Fun event may have moved to beat the heat, but the heat came with it. Friday evening was hot and sticky, Saturday very pleasant and on Sunday gorgeous, the heat turned on in the 30 and 40 foot champion classes. (more on this with tons of photos)

2008 Doubles Championship
 Passes On!
By Pat Snelgrove
 

Hall & Hall took the title each year
Doubles Champs twelve times ya hear.
“Will this year be different, will someone else win?
We’ll do our best to earn it ag’in.”

Talking quietly they approached the court
“Doubles is fun stuff – I love this sport!”
Opponents prepared, round robins in hand,
Team by team they took their last stand.

Ringer by ringer, shoe by shoe,
when the dust settled we were left with two.
Brown & Harper, Hall & Hall -
each had played and won them all.

Undefeated, the teams squared off,
Brown & Harper won the toss.
Right from the start they turned on the steam,
both sides confident about their team.

Ringer by ringer, shoe by shoe,
the score crept up by one then two.
Lead shifting this way, lead shifting that,
on the pin, shoes landing flat.

Thirty shoes stood 38/34,
Halls ahead, then Harper scored more.
38/37. …Pitching back, “four dead” was the call,
To Herman & Ricky – “GIVE IT YOUR ALL”.

Ringer by ringer, shoe by shoe,
what is a Doubles Champ to do?
Repeat to yourself “No pressure” “Just Focus”
yeah right. ringers don’t come like hocus-pocus

It was anyone’s game, now do-it-or-die,
Ricky pitched points, Herman let fly.
That was it! The Title switched hands.
On the last throw, that’s how it stands.

One ringer did it, two nailed it shut.
Brown & Harper earned it, now they can strut.
“Its been a long twelve years, congrats” from the Halls
“And by the way, we’re coming back next year to challenge y’all.”

July, 26, 2008, 38-08-018, Portsmouth Summer Classic
July, 26, 2008, NonSanc, Sweet Dreams Horseshoe Tournament
August, 02, 2008, 38-08-019, Mountain View Singles
August, 02, 2008,NonSanc, Coast Guard Day
August, 09, 2008, NonSanc, Grottoes Classic Moved to Churchville
August, 16, 2008, 38-08-020, Fire Cracker Classic
August, 23, 2008, NonSanc, Grottoes Open at Grottoes
August, 30, 2008, 38-08-021, Virginia State Singles
August, 31, 2008, 38-08-022, Virginia State Singles Championships
September, 06, 2008, 38-08-023, 42nd Raymond Frye Memorial
September, 06, 2008, NonSanc, Denny Davis Open
September, 13, 2008, 38-08-024, Dublin Fall Classic
September, 20, 2008, 38-08-025, Fall Potluck
September, 27, 2008, 38-08-026, Hill City Fall Ringers
October, 04, 2008, 38-08-027, Frostbite Classic
October, 10, 2008, NonSanc, Suffolk Peanut Fest - Doubles
October, 11, 2008, NonSanc, Suffolk Peanut Fest - Singles
October, 18, 2008, NonSanc, Virginia State Business Meeting
October, 25, 2008, 38-08-028, ButterBall Classic
November, 08, 2008, NonSanc, Suffolk Open & Veterans Memorial

2008 Virginia State Doubles
June 21, 2008
By Kevin Snelgrove

Harper and Brown sat with the Halls
Harper and Brown said they would fall.
All the ringers that Harper and Brown spend.
Would make a dynasty end!

Richmond area members sweep all the classes at the Virginia State Double event held this past weekend at the pitching complex in Stuarts Draft, 25 teams competed for the prestigious State Double Champions and State Doubles Class champions.

Twelve years is a long time, and the team of Rick and Amy Hall have been the Virginia State Doubles Champions all that time. After knocking off the rest of the competition in A class, they faced off undefeated with the team of Richard Brown and Herman Harper, both from Richmond. (continued on the next page)
 

OUT OF TIME

Writing takes a lot of effort combined with producing a web site and all the associated files I am working on it.

I'll will update this posting over the next few days. I needed to get the message about the Grottoes event posted before it passes.

More coming!

Kevin

Tornadoes Rip through
 the Sleepy Hole Area
By Kevin Snelgrove

The Sleepy Hole pitching complex was spared the devastating tornadoes that ripped through the Suffolk / Driver area on April 28th. I spoke with Tom Bunting, one of the members of the club and he said ”The courts made it through, but one half mile away the home of Jim and Crystal O’Quinns, suffered a bit. Their fence blew down and they lost a lot of the shingles on the roof. The house is intact and livable.”.

 As far as Tom knew none of the other members suffered any losses. The damage in the area is extensive, many houses destroyed totally.

Club members are working with the local government assisting in the clean up efforts.

Developing the new help desk earlier this year I sent out an email to many of you in Virginia asking you to consider switching from what we have used in Virginia for scores sheet to the NHPA Form. The responses have  exceed my expectations. 70% of the clubs have made the switch not only in tournament play but in league play as well.

The league is a great way to teach people how to use the sheet. If you still need help check out the new HsMaster help desk, there is a video on filling out the sheet along with a "Test" on line you can take.

My sincere thanks to all that have switch, I know our friends from out out state will appreciate it as well. Kevin

Hill City Spring Ringers
May 3, 2008
By Kevin Snelgrove

Miller Park in Lynchburg may see its last event of the year on May 3rd. On short notice Marty Coleman informed the VaHPA that he was cancelling all the events posted for Miller Park. However, Mark Bunch has stepped up to be TD, and with the help of the VaHPA Executive council will take over the Spring Ringers for this year. A few of the Stuarts Draft Club members agreed to help.

It is the hope of the council that others from the area will step up and help Mark lead Miller Park into a successful organization and continue on the great effort  that Marty has resurrected.

For now the fall event is on hold.

The Richmond Open
April 19 , 2008
By Carl Otto
 

The tournament championship was won (continued on the next page)
 

5th Annual “LET UM RING CLASSIC”
By Sherwood Brown
April 26, 2008

The 5th Annual “LET UM RING CLASSIC” was a great day for pitching horseshoes. This was the first official sanction horseshoe tournament at the new Sleepy Hole Park Courts. Their were 27 players participate in the tournament. We had one (continued on the next page)
 

Hs Master Training Classes
is now available on line at
HsMaster Help Desk.
By Kevin Snelgrove

In the process of teaching Virginians how to use HS Master , Pat and I have developed a training web site that is open to anyone. It has short video clips of the processes use in HsMaster Program. Lots of little tricks about your PC, the NHPA score sheet and more.

We still have a long way to go with the site, but all of the basic skills needed to use the program are on line. As we record new sections and topics the site will be updated.

May 03, 2008, 38-08-007 Hill City Spring Ringers
May 10, 2008, 38-08-008 Draft Doubles
May 17, 2008, 38-08-009 43rd Annual Apple Capital (pre register 5/3)
May 24, 2008, 38-08-010 Steel Away Classic
May 31, 2008, 38-08-011 Old Dominion Summer Classic
May 31, 2008, NonSanc Churchville Open
Jun 06, 2008, NonSanc 25th Annual Virginia State Moose Tournament
Jun 07, 2008, 38-08-012 Xtrials Team Tournament
Jun 14, 2008, 38-08-013 Earl Linkous Memorial

6th Carl Frye
April 12 , 2008
By Bobby Burke

The tournament director’s delight of the day, final results (more on the next page)

2008 Chesapeake Spring Fling
April 12 , 2008
By Scott Fencil

Spring has sprung and it's time for the Spring Fling.

Mentally we were ready to get the season started, physically we weren't all there. Tony Webb was at the local hospital recuperating (continued on the next page/photos)
 

Chesapeake Club pulls together
By Kevin Snelgrove

The Spring Fling was a challenge in many ways. Yes, Mother Nature played a big part in the event as a cold front full with thunderstorms approached. The morning was very comfortable temps in the 70’ties, but the warnings on the TV did not look good(continued on the next page/photos)

OK! I was accused of having an insider’s connection with Mother Nature on January 12! The past month’s weather reached daily temps of 16 degrees, and next week is scheduled for more of the same. But today? The best we’ve had in a long time, and everyone loved it!

Creaky muscles and rusty joints limbered up, while all of the pitchers caught up with each other about happenings since fall. Edward Thompson arrived with a splint on his arm, and amazed all of us with his story about an accident with a mirror in his house. New member to the VaHPA, Stanley Friend arrived, and seemed impressed – even in January – with the abilities of the other players. He’s looking forward to visiting other courts as the season gets rolling.

By 11am, we had 24 pitchers signed up, and we were raring to go! The big grill was lit, heated up well, and by noontime, some of the pitchers were stripped down to (continued on the next page with photos)

Hs Master Training Classes
 

HS Master training classes are readily available for anyone that wants to attend. Please contact either Kevin or I to let us know you’re interested. Late in the fall, when we held the last training class of the year, on finalizing league play, we had 8 students who all said they wanted refresher courses early in the spring before the season kicked off.

Taking our cue, we’re in full gear already, starting off the year with a class in Portsmouth January 19. Sherwood Brown hosted, and DeForest Mapp graciously provided the facility and sponsorship. 10 students attended, and we extend our sincere thanks to both for their hospitality and contributions.

Training classes for running tournaments and leagues are now scheduled for these locations.
Seating is limited, so please contact either Kevin or I if you’d like to attend:
March 1st , 10am, in Front Royal, at the Samuels Public Library.
March 8th , 9:30am in Mechanicsville.
March 29th, 10am in Stuarts Draft

As a follow-up to the January class, Sherwood Brown is holding a “Hands On” class March 1st, in the Portsmouth area- call him for info – (757) 487-6426

See you soon!
Pat, Secretary, VaHPA

Up coming events

May 10, 2008,  38-08-008 Draft Doubles
May 03, 2008,  38-08-007 Hill City Spring Ringers
April 26, 2008,  38-08-006 5th Annual "Let 'Um Ring" Classic
April 19, 2008,  38-08-005 Richmond Open
April 12, 2008,  38-08-003 Chesapeake Spring Fling
April 12, 2008,  38-08-004 6th Annual Carl Frye Memorial
March 15, 2008, 38-08-002 Ruther Glenn March Invitational
February 23, 2008,  38-08-001 Ruther Glenn February Invitational