County to host state horseshoe tourney
By BURLON PARSONS bparsons@journal-spectator.com

Staff Photo by Burlon Parsons Mary Ann Kramr takes a few practice pitches in preparation for the state horseshoe tournament.

The clang of horseshoes striking stakes will soon fill the Bernard River bottom.

Those metallic sounds will be coming from ringers made at the state horseshoe tournament, which will be held at the Riverside Horseshoe Club in East Bernard Friday through Sunday, Oct. 5 to Oct. 7.

It will be hosted on those dates by East Bernard's horseshoe club.

In fact, the club will have four of its members competing with 190 other pitchers from across the state in the tournament.

Horseshoe Club President Louis Engelhardt says it is quite an honor to host the tournament locally.

"It's a big deal," Engelhardt said. "You have to have a certain number of pits, have lighted pits and be fenced for insurance purposes."

Riverside Horseshoe Club was created in 1984 and sanctioned in 1985. It features 20 permanent and four temporary pits, lights and fences. The club has hosted state tournaments in 1986 and 1995.

Of course those 190 pitchers will be bringing family and friends, who will be staying in motels in the Eagle Lake, Wharton and Rosenberg areas.

Engelhardt says a Fort Bend cook-off team has agreed to be on site cooking three meals a day for purchase by the crowds and contestants.

Opening ceremonies will begin at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 5. The mayors of East Bernard and Rosenberg along with the Fort Bend Precinct Commissioner will be part of those ceremonies.

After that the tournament will run into the evening hours.

Pitching starts at 8 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday. Finals will be Sunday afternoon.

Entry to the event is free and spectators are invited by club members to come out and see some great competitors.

Riverside Horseshoe Club holds three leagues each year that run for eight weeks each.

They are in their Fall League right now. Winter brings a break before the spring and summer leagues begin.

Age classes begin at 8 years of age and up. Men above age 70 pitch from the women's 30-foot distance. The pitching pits and surrounding area are leased yearly by the club and club members do the maintenance and take care of the grounds.

Smith said the sport is relatively inexpensive. Memberships to the local club and National Horseshoe Pitching Association run about $40. Then a set of well-balanced horseshoes costs about $50.

The East Bernard club has 29 members this year.

"It's really going to be a fun time," Engelhardt said. "There are lots of great people in this sport. We hope that we can get some folks out to support our members and learn more about the sport."