New record for Francis! A Canadian is crowned in the Junior Girls division.
The 2013 World Tournament was held from July 22 to August 3 in St.George, Utah. It regrouped 1031 participants including 32 Canadians. There were actually participants from 5 different countries including Norway, Namibia and South Africa.
Alan Francis set a new record for complete tournament percentage with 91.23% in 15 games. He also recorded 2 perfect games of 32 and 28 shoes on route for his 18th Men’s World Title. Brian Simmons from Vermont finished runner-up.
A new champion was crowned in the Women’s division as an opportunist Cindy Hoffman, from Pennsylvania, edged Tennessee’s Joan Elmore. Hoffman’s overall average of 69.6% is the lowest to win the World title since 1963! But she turned it on at the right time, like a champion! Joan Elmore recorded the first perfect game ever in the Women’s division with 26 out of shoes. Previous record for highest game was held by Sylvianne Moisan (97.6%) since 2006. Alberta’s Joan Cordingley was the only Canadian in the top group and she took 5th place with 65.7%.
Besides the two Juniors from B.C. (see next paragraph), Tom Gallina was the only other Canadian to make the championship group. He took second place in the Senior Men’s division, losing a playoff to Ron Deckard. After trailing 37-10 he came back up to 37-30 but finally lost the deciding game.
Lindsay Hodgins Junior Girls Champion:
Lindsay Hodgins of Greater Victoria Horseshoe Club won the Girls World Championship undefeated with 5 wins and a ringer percentage of 56.91. Lindsay joins a select club as she is only the 3rd Canadian to win the Junior Girls World title. Sandy McLachlin (now Hohl) won the title in 1986 and Crystal Curtis in 1993. Ten more Canadians have won titles in other divisions in the past: 4 in the Boys, 2 in the Senior ladies, 2 in the Ladies (one of them is Sandy mentioned above), plus one each in the Men’s and Senior Men’s.
Lindsay’s title is even more impressive considering the fact she’s challenged by autism. Many articles and a great video was edited about the subject. Mathew MacDonald, also from the Victoria club, finished 8th in the Junior Boys division.
The 2014 World Tournament will be held in Buffalo (Hamburg), New York from July 14-26, while the 2015 event was awarded to Topeka, Kansas with dates being July 13-25.
External links:
Results and report
Article about Lindsay Hodgins published in the Island Sports News
Televised report by CHEK-News TV about Lindsay Hodgins
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- Lindsay Hodgins (Junior Girls)
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- Alan Francis in action vs Brian Simmons
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- Cindy Hoffman, new Women’s Champion.
