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Kickapoo Valley Open horseshoe tournament another roaring success
trophies
THESE TROPHIES, made by horseshoe icon Bun Carley, were handed out to the winners of the Kickapoo Valley Open Horseshoe Tournament, held in Gays Mills.

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.

Pits - Cal Pitel
THE KICKAPOO VALLEY RINGERS are proud of their sanctioned horse-shoe pits. The pits are located in Gays Mills Log Cabin Park.

The tournament drew 25 pitchers, including some horseshoe pitching luminaries such as Ken Heinritz from Colgate, Wis., and Bun Carley from Richland Center. 

Ken Heinritz
KEN HEINRITZ took first place in the Class A com-petition after competing fiercely with Bun Carley.
Bun Carley
BUN CARLEY never fails to entertain the crowd of horshoe enthusiasts, and he did not disappoint, giving Ken Heinritz a fierce run for first place in the Class A competition.

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.
Harry and Marla
VILLAGE PRESIDENT Har-ry Heisz and wife Marla were on-hand to grill up tasty lunchtime treats and help to raise money for repairs to the Gays Mills Swimming Pool.

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
KVO_Class A
COMPETITORS in the Class A division included, from left, front, Rowan Swick, Bun Carley, Dan Lessman; and back, Guy Modor and Bob Klingaman.
KVO_Class B
COMPETITORS in the Class B disvision included, from left, Cal Pitel, Dave Quaid, Al Huizenga, Dave Stackston, Gunnar David, and Doug Bakkus.
KO_Class C
COMPETITORS in the Class C division included, from left, front, Dobie Gutweiler, Russ Brockway; and back, from left, Sandy Anderson, Rondi Mengelt, Kari David, Dan Newkirk, and Dave Volz.
KVO_Class D
COMPETITORS in the Class D division included, front, from left, Josh Cone and Craig David; second row from left, Barb Ramquist, Russ Kozlowski; and B.J. Marty and Mitch Uttech.