GAYS MILLS - The Kickapoo Valley Open horseshoe tournament was once again held at the Kickapoo Ringers’ horseshoe pits near the Log Cabin Village, which are National Horseshoe Pitchers Association (NHPA) competition-sanctioned horseshoe pits.
The tournament drew 25 pitchers, including some horseshoe pitching luminaries such as Ken Heinritz from Colgate, Wis., and Bun Carley from Richland Center.
The two competed fiercely for the Class A championship, which according to Russ Brockway, was decided by a playoff between the two. Heinritz took the championship by two ringers.
“Everyone came to this tourney to pitch, and that they did,” organizer Russ Brockway said. “There was good competition and good sportsmanship, and I’d like to thank everyone that was involved for making this event such a success!”
Brockway went out of his way to thank Robert E for organizing a benefit for the Gays Mills Swimming Pool. Village President Harry Heisz was on hand to grill up tasty lunch time treats, and reports that $100 was raised for the pool. The Ringers also conducted a 50/50 raffle to raise funds for the National Horseshoe Pitchers Foundation, which had helped the club to construct their sanctioned pits.Brockway also thanked Shirley Corley and Tammy Newkirk for a job well done conducting the scorekeeping.
Some horseshoe pitching notables that were in attendance include:
• Dobie Gutweiler, Wisconsin Horseshoe Pitching Association (NHPA) President
• Ken Heinritz, NHPA and WHPA Chaplain
• Dave Volz, WHPA Webmaster
• Russ Brockway, WHPA Historian