The next two Canadian Championships have in common the fact they'll be hosted by their province's largest club: Victoria in 2010 and Blainville in 2011.
The dynamic Blainville horseshoe league will be starting its 38th season this week (May 12-13). Regrouping more than 130 pitchers,
there's a league on Tuesday and another one on Wednesday using the same format. They play doubles and the 16 permanent courts located in Parc Blainville (municipal park) can
accomodate a maximum of 64 players. They are divided into two separate classes: "A" regrouping the top 32 averages; and "B" with the next 32.
The classes remain the same the whole season and won't be playing against each other.
Every week, teams (duos) are formed in each classes with the players present on that evening. They are formed using a draw, but
the top 5 or 7 can form a duo only with the bottom 5 or 7. A new draw is made every week, in order to play with a different partner mostly every week.
A round-robin schedule is used but only 5 rounds are played per night. The wins are compiled for each individual, determining the winners (most total wins) at the end of the season.
It concludes with a tournament using the same system but where classes A and B are remodeled according to the averages compiled during the current season. Two sections per class are created, playing 5 rounds and playoffs between the two section winners.
Although the teams are already well-balanced, an handicap system is used: Five 30 point games are played per evening. The team with the highest overall average gives (in points) half of the difference between the lower team.
Example: team one has 74% and team two has 64%. The difference is 10% which divided by 2 gives 5 points of handicap.
There is also singles play on Monday, every two weeks, opened also to non-members. The players present are placed into classes generally made of 5 or 6 players.
Each class playing a round-robin, usually five 30-point games. The same handicap system is used.
The stats from the 2009 season can be seen here. The year end party is quite an event.
Usually held early September, there is golfing, for those who want on Friday morning, games in the afternoon, a karaoke night.
After these prelims, games are organized on Saturday (darts, shuffleboard, beanbags or cornholes, etc), followed by a supper, awards night and party with music and dance.
Members are in for memorable moments.
see the previous picture of the month.
