The Greater Victoria Horseshoe Pitching Association will be throwing its weight around with a couple of major tournaments in August. The GVHPA will host the National Horseshoe Pitching Championships starting on Aug. 17, a four-day event that draws competitors from across the country.
The GVHPA, which is one of the largest in Canada with more than 125 members, has been a staple on the horseshoe pitching circuit for more than 80 years, said Sharon Daly, media co-ordinator for the event.
One of the competitors this year from the local club is Lindsay Hodgins, a two-time junior world champion competing as an adult for the first time.
“We have Sylvianne Moisan, a 17-time Canadian women’s champion from Quebec competing as well,” Daly noted.
This year marks the fifth time the GVHPA has hosted the national event at its club at 620 Kenneth St. in Saanich.
The facility has 28 outdoor pitches, the majority of them covered, as well as washrooms, showers and a kitchen and dining areas. The GVHPA also has lighting for evening play.
The national championships will be preceded by a couple of local tournaments, with the Victoria Open and Saanich Open on Aug. 13 and 14.
“We’re always looking for new members age six to 96, especially in the 30 to 50 crowd,” he said.
Daly said it’s as much a social outing as it is a sport. “We have lots of couples and parents and grandparents competing in leagues throughout the year, rain or shine.”
For more on the club and the upcoming tournaments, check out gvhpa.org, bchorseshoe.com and horseshoecanada.ca.