August 1, 2008
2008 World Horseshoe Champions - Canada
2008 World Horseshoe Tournament
64 participants from Canada
The 83rd Annual World Horseshoe Pitching Tournament was held in York, Pennsylvania from July 7 through 19, 2008.
There were 1323 entries with 46 States and 4 Countries represented, including Norway and Japan.
There were 64 from Canada: 2 from B.C., 3 from Alberta, 48 from Ontario, 10 from Quebec and 1 from N.S.
See the list of entries by State, Province.
World Champions were crowned in 8 divisions. Here they are:
Men: Alan FRANCIS, Defiance, OH 19-0 89.35
Women: Sue SNYDER, Madisonville, KY 19-1 86.30
Elder: Herschel E. WALTERS, Bourbon, IN 10-1 77.37
Senior Men: Ron DECKARD, Tampa, FL 10-1 65.95
Senior Women: Rivers PREWETTE, Eden, NC 5-0 80.97
Junior Boys: Michael BOWMAN, Archie, MO 10-1 72.60
Junior Girls: Abby GREEN, Adamsville, OH 5-0 59.89
PeeWees: Brian KNUPP, Blairsville, PA 6-1 39.92
With new equipment developed (courts, walkways), and soft clay, the playing conditions were excellent.
Several records fell: in the Men’s division, Alan Francis broke a few, extending his winning streak at 86 (previous record was 69 by Fernando Isais),
pitched 2 perfect games (24 and 20 shoes) and set a new record for a complete tournament average with 89.3%.
Previous record was 88.2% set by Elmer Hohl in 35 games and 2964 shoes pitched. Alan broke it in 826 shoes, easily recording his 14th Men’s title. Among other records set by Alan is the high average for one day: 93.5%.
We had 3 Canadians in the top group, 3 Ontarians (more than any other state or province): Drew Becker, the youngest at 19-years old, was impressive as he took 4th place with 70.1%. Tom Gallina got 8th with 68.3% while Stan Leis forfeited after two days due to a sore arm.
Missing the top group were Andre Leclerc (23rd), Duncan McKenzie (26th) and Louis Prudhomme (28th).
In the Women’s division, Sylvianne Moisan recorded the high average (87.3%) helped by 7 games over 90% but lost a playoff to Sue Snyder for first place 33-40 in a great 124 shoe-game. They had 35 fourdeads and percentages were 86.3% vs 88.7% for Snyder.
Eleven world records fell in the game between Sylvianne and Joan Elmore which lasted 140 shoes. They include 43 fourdeads and a losing percentage of 87.9% while Sylvianne shot 90%.
We had 3 other Canadians in the top group: Sandy Janssens placing 6th with 74.3%, Lyne Pineault taking 14th with 69.8% and Lucy Thibault ending in 20th position. Joan Elmore recorded the longest string of doubles as she started her game against Lyne Pineault with 18 consecutive doubles. Sylvianne had two strings of 17 straight doubles (in her games va Maxine Griffith and Judy Curtiss).
We also had a Canadian who made the Senior Ladies Championship as Lucille Leis finished 6th with 60.8%. Rivers Prewette set a new record by taking 1st place with 80.97%.
Three Canadians won their group. They are: Tom Gallina (Men’s A-2), Lucille Leis (Women’s B) and Gaston Dallaire (Senior Men’s G).
The youngest competitor was Matthew Trader, ND (7 yrs old) and the oldest was Eino Wiitala, MD (91 yrs old). The inductees into the NHPA Hall of Fame for 2008 are Len Lipovsky and Curly Seibold.
For more details, see the 2008 World Tournament Report Main page.
Congratulations!
(by Andre Leclerc)
Canadians in Class-Play at the 2008 World Tournament:
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Elders F: 10.John Jansen ON 46.58 7 8 245 600 40.83 393
Elders G: 7.Roy Hartman ON 45.44 8 7 222 600 37.00 394
Elders G: 9.Chester McDermott ON 44.46 7.5 7.5 222 600 37.00 385
Elders G: 12.John Murphy ON 44.71 6 9 220 600 36.67 347
Elders H: 3.Bob Heron ON 43.61 9 4 221 520 42.50 409
Juniors F: 4.Shivonne * Arnold ON 04.24 4 6 22 400 05.50 107
Juniors G: 4.Nicholas Arnold ON 03.48 3.5 6.5 8 400 02.00 85
Men A-1: 7.Andre Leclerc PQ 66.72 8 7 369 600 61.50 354
Men A-2: 1.Tom Gallina ON 66.38 15 0 441 600 73.50 541
Men A-2: 3.Drew Becker ON 65.96 9.5 5.5 398 600 66.33 427
Men A-2: 6.Stan Leis ON 65.68 8 7 376 600 62.67 430
Men A-2: 7.Duncan McKenzie NS 66.33 8 7 362 600 60.33 399
Men A-3: 8.Louis Prud'Homme PQ 59.89 8 7 361 600 60.17 411
Men B-2 : 14.Jean Marie Laliberte PQ 52.14 4 11 208 600 34.67 288
Men B-3 : 9.Gilles Roy ON 49.55 7 8 314 600 52.33 452
Men C-3: 15.Ken Drury Jr. ON 44.30 3.5 11.5 188 600 31.33 314
Men D-1: 13.John Taylor ON 43.57 5 10 208 600 34.67 311
Men D-2: 7.Ray Schermerhorn ON 42.05 7 6 210 520 40.38 362
Men D-3: 10.Ric McIvor ON 41.25 7.5 7.5 234 600 39.00 376
Men E-3: 8.Dan Jolley ON 37.87 8 7 205 600 34.17 402
Men E-3: 12.Wally Arnold ON 38.26 6 9 195 600 32.50 368
Men F-2: 15.Dave Burrows AB 36.00 5 10 180 600 30.00 349
Men F-3: 7.John Thomas ON 35.89 8.5 6.5 219 600 36.50 449
Men G-3: 9.Doug Evers ON 32.89 8 7 155 600 25.83 386
Men J-1: 2.Ted Rayner ON 28.18 13 2 162 600 27.00 492
Men J-2: 15.Doug Whitton ON 27.36 3 12 125 600 20.83 268
Men J-3: 2.Darren Davis ON 26.17 11 4 182 600 30.33 428
Men J-3: 11.Dean Turvey ON 26.21 5.5 9.5 123 600 20.50 312
Men K-2: 13.Gary Johnson ON 25.35 5 10 114 600 19.00 307
Men K-3: 8.Grant Ritchie ON 24.36 9 6 113 600 18.83 336
Men K-3: 13.Mike Holley AB 24.32 5 10 110 600 18.33 293
Men L-3: 9.Thomas Slaney ON 22.61 8 7 111 600 18.50 353
Men M-3: 12.Glen Rideout ON 18.58 6 9 79 600 13.17 281
Men N-3: 7.Roger Despres ON 15.02 8.5 6.5 82 600 13.67 303
Sr Men B: 16.Charlie Fromm ON 48.94 3.5 11.5 266 600 44.33 323
Sr Men D: 14.Fernand Brodeur PQ 44.16 3 12 185 600 30.83 289
Sr Men E: 14.George Brouwer ON 40.00 3 12 189 600 31.50 323
Sr Men E: 15.Earl Vanderhart ON 39.84 1 14 139 600 23.17 256
Sr Men F: 3.Bud Davis ON 35.26 10 5 216 600 36.00 466
Sr Men F: 16.Walter Leis ON 34.28 0 15 146 600 24.33 220
Sr Men G: 1.Gaston Dallaire ON 30.65 13 2 226 600 37.67 497
Sr Men G: 3.Andy Janosik ON 32.40 11 4 186 600 31.00 400
Sr Men H: 11.Herb Boschman BC 28.35 8 9 149 680 21.91 407
Women A: 2.Sylvianne Moisan PQ 81.65 13 2 511 600 85.17 465
Women A: 11.Sandy Janssens ON 80.00 7 8 438 600 73.00 288
Women B: 1.Lucille * Leis ON 72.27 13 2 401 600 66.83 468
Women B: 4.Lyne Pineault PQ 70.92 10 5 405 600 67.50 392
Women B: 9.Lucy Thibault PQ 71.71 7 8 397 600 66.17 362
Women C: 7.Angeline * Moisan PQ 59.47 8.5 6.5 342 600 57.00 398
Women D: 14.Marie * Hartman ON 53.70 5 10 262 600 43.67 339
Women E: 2.Ida * Boschman BC 52.74 12.5 2.5 333 600 55.50 531
Women E: 3.Carolyn Smoke ON 49.07 12 3 296 600 49.33 488
Women E: 9.Tamara Becker ON 47.86 7 8 267 600 44.50 398
Women E: 13.Melanie Cote PQ 48.41 5 10 265 600 44.17 327
Women G: 2.Nicole Brodeur PQ 41.96 10 5 263 600 43.83 516
Women G: 4.Debbie Despres ON 39.56 10 5 229 600 38.17 454
Women H: 2.Loretta Nadeau ON 36.68 10 3 199 520 38.27 456
Women H: 3.Marg Evers ON 37.00 10 3 193 520 37.12 434
Women I: 4.Terrie Singbeil ON 35.46 9 4 170 520 32.69 396
Women J: 10.Mary Holley AB 25.95 7 6 93 520 17.88 265
Women L: 13.Sheryl Arnold ON 10.40 3 10 36 520 6.92 150
Canadians in Championship Divisions at the 2008 World Tournament:
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Women 2.Sylvianne Moisan PQ 85.17 18 2 1147 1314 87.29 807
Women 6.Sandy Janssens ON 73.00 11 8 853 1148 74.30 626
Women 14.Lyne Pineault PQ 67.50 9 10 761 1090 69.82 570
Women 20.Lucy Thibault PQ 66.17 0 19 350 730 47.95 215
Men 4.Drew Becker ON 66.33 14 5 701 1000 70.10 650
Men 8.Tom Gallina ON 73.50 11 8 705 1032 68.31 661
Men 20.Stan Leis ON 62.67 0 19 328 626 52.40 244
Sr Wn 6.Lucille Leis ON 66.83 1 4 175 288 60.76 123
NHPA convention:
Held on Sunday July 13, Andre Leclerc and Wally Arnold were present for Canada. Here are the items of interest for us: The next World Tournaments will be held in:
2009 – Springfield, Illinois (July 27th to August 8th)
2010 – Cedar Rapids, Iowa (July 26th to August 7th)
2011 – 11 locations interested
In Springfield, there will be 50 courts in the same area and padded seating for the spectators at the Convention Center, site of the tournament, connected to the Holiday Inn by a (pedestrian) tunnel.
The Amtrak station is located 6 blocks away from the Convention Center. No onsite camping. It will be an excellent occasion to visit the NHPA Hall of Fame located about 80 miles from Springfield at Wentzville, Missouri.
The 1.5M$ asset includes 16 indoor and 16 outdoor courts. Springfield’s Bill Marvin will participate at the “Deal or no deal” show.
Five (5) by-law changes were adopted. Among them, the NHPA membership dues went from $12 to $17. The minimum bid to host the World Tournament went from $15000 to $21000. The bylaws will be amended if necessary every third convention (instead of every two years). Among election results, the only change is Tina Hawkins (Oklahoma) replacing Casey Sluys (after 14 years) as 2nd V.P. Bob Dunn was appointed Historian (replacing the late Gary Kline). Courts sanctioning: some clubs were granted extensions. Extended platforms (for 30’ pitchers) are not a basic requirement but should be a priority. On the format for the 2009 World Tournament there was a suggestion to enlarge the Senior Ladies championship division. We obtained copies of the RGS book for each province, containing the NHPA rules, guidelines and specifications.
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