Horseshoe Tournament Heats Up

For some people, horseshoes is more than just a game played at family get-togethers.

More than 40 men, women and children gathered at Sarbaugh’s Indoor Horseshoe Courts in Adamsville on Saturday.  Owner Elden Sarbaugh said his league moved to this facility in 1997, where horseshoe tournaments have been held ever since.

"I really got involved back in 1982, and I just liked it so much," said Sarbaugh.  "I’ve always wanted a large building.  This was originally going to be a shop, but we had enough horseshoe pitchers that wanted to pitch over here, so that made it good, because in our old facility, we only had four courts, and we had to run two shifts."

Saturday’s sanctioned tournament was open to members of the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association of America.  Some of the game’s greatest legends participated in the tournament, including two-time Senior World Champion and four-time World Champion Runner-Up John Brown.

"I really never went out on the court to win, which sounds odd, but I always went out there to enjoy myself, have a good time and pitch the best I could," said Brown.  "If that turned out to be a win, that was great, and if it didn’t, I was still out there accomplishing what I was out there for in the first place, enjoying myself."

The first and second place winners received plaques for their achievement.