No Horsing Around
The Western PA
Horseshoe Pitchers
Association takes pride
in its 90-year history and
welcomes new members.
BY W.B. FRESA
12
724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE
❘
icmags.com
H
orseshoes is a game that’s been played everywhere,
from backyards to custom-made courts, for as
long as we can remember. All it takes is a good eye
and a solid pitch to hit the mark. With these two simple
elements, clubs all around southwestern PA and beyond
have year-round games, tournaments and championships
to name the best horseshoe pitcher in the land.
Cathy Ireland, current president of the Western Pennsylvania
Horseshoe Pitchers Association, can attest to the love of the
sport as she manages eight clubs in the region. “There’s never
a dull moment in any of the clubs,” says Ireland. “Anyone can
learn and it’s open to all ages. Just stop in and sign up. It’s as easy
as that.”
The game of horseshoes descended from the ancient
Greek sport of the discus thrower. As the story goes, Greeks
developed a sport where the discus was thrown at a stake. But
many of the poorer people could not afford the discus so they
used cast-off horseshoes instead.
Horseshoes was probably brought to the United States
by early English settlers. The first World Championships of
horseshoe pitching took place in 1910 in Bronson, Kansas, and
the first horseshoe pitchers organization was also established
in Kansas in 1914, making it the home state of American
horseshoe pitching.