NEWSLINE STORY

published July-August 2016

Press Release: World Tournament Takes On Montgomery, AL

by Tina Hawkins, 2nd Vice President and Publicity/Promotion Director

The National Horseshoe Pitchers Association is pleased to announce the 2016 NHPA World Horseshoe Pitching Championships to be held July 25 - August 6 in Montgomery, AL.

Up to sixty portable horseshoe courts will be installed in the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl for the competition and practice.

This two-week event is held once each summer to crown a World Champion horseshoe pitcher in each of eight divisions - Open Men, Open Women, Senior Men, Senior Women, Elder (short-distance) Men, Junior Boys, Junior Girls and Junior Cadets (12-years old and under).

This year's entrants hail from the United States, Canada and, for the first time, Switzerland - all vying for titles of World Champion and a share of the over $160,000 in prizes. Previous years have seen competitors from Norway, South Africa, Namibia and Japan.

Current Men's World Champion, Alan Francis of Defiance, OH, earned his twentieth world title in the 2015 Men's Division and will be vying for number twenty-one this year with his 89.25% ringer percentage. Hoping to block Alan's charge are previous World Champ, Brian Simmons, who boasts a 79.8% ringer average; Charlie Meredith, KY, posting 81.50%; Dan Watson, AL with 78.9% and Gale Greene, VT, with 74.12%. Also carrying ringer percentages above 70% are Austin Bailey, IL, and Rick Howe, MA.

The Women's Division should prove exciting as well, with the top five contenders posting ringer averages above 70%. The number one seed is 7-time World Title holder, Joan Elmore, with an 84.61% average, who will be striving to regain the championship. Challenging her are Shalee Cason, FL; Marlene Ray, TN; Debra Odum, TX; and rounding out the top 5, Kathy Brazier, AL.

The top four contenders in the Elder's Division all hold averages greater than 80%. They are defending champion, David Holmes, WV; Virgil Rife, OH; Russ Phillips, WA; and David P. Jagers, FL; they will not have an easy time, as the entire class of top-seeded players in their division holds averages in excess of 70%.

Final championship rounds for Men, Women and Elders begin Thursday, August 4 and continue through Saturday, August 6, when the overall World Champion will be decided in each of those divisions.

Adding to the excitement of the event are the Junior Boys, Girls and Cadets. Their competition begins Thursday evening, July 28, with champions in the three divisions being decided on Saturday, July30, beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Other competitors of note are Marcus Dubach and Patrick Fischer, who are members of the American Horseshoe Pitching Association of Switzerland. Participating in both the American and German disciplines of the sport, Marcus is the current Swiss titleholder at the American discipline.

Competition will begin by 8:00 a.m. each morning through the preliminary rounds, starting Monday, July 25, with a break for NHPA convention and Hall of Fame banquet on Sunday, then will resume at 8:00 a.m. Monday, August 1.

Spectators are encouraged for all levels of competition. Concessions and souvenirs will be available.

To follow the event online via live webcams, or to learn more about the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association, visit www.horseshoepitching.com or contact NHPA 2nd Vice President, Tina Hawkins.