Horseshoe Players Get Ready to Ring Up Wins at 38th Annual Tournament

Starting early Saturday morning, folks will start lining up for a chance to participate in the township's 38th Annual Horseshoe Tournament at Harry Wright Lake.

The history of how this event began apparently has been lost, but Cassandra Colgate of the township's recreation staff said the tournament continues to be very popular.

There is no registration before the event; it's all done on-site, she said.

"Everyone shows up at 6:30 in the morning and stands online
 until we get we get to a certain number, which is 88 max, this year," Colgate said. "Then registration closes."

Both singles and doubles compete in this event, said Colgate. Participants receive T-shirts and winners are awarded trophies, and the winners' names are also published in the paper, she said.

The tournament is scored and regulated by township employees. 

“Prior to the last two years, different township employees were running the tournament on behalf of the recreation department,”  Colgate said.

Advertising and funding for this event is done by the town Recreation Department, but is not necessary.

“This event advertises itself; 38 years of word of mouth advertises this,” she said. “It is a town tradition.”

If you've never seen a horseshoe tournament, come watch. You might decide to try it yourself in 2012.