GREENVILLE – Known as the Horseshoe Pitching Capitol of the World, Greenville hosted more than 70 pitchers to the Ohio Horseshoe Pitching state tournament with 28-time World Champion Alan Francis winning the men’s state championship tournament.
“I don’t take it for granted,” Francis said of his win. “I enjoy my time here pitching against all the guys and gals I pitched against this year.”
“The City of Greenville and the City Park department has been behind horseshoe pitching here at the park forever as far as I know,” added Francis. “I’ve known 28 years of it, but everybody who preceded me always talked about how the city has been behind the horseshoe pitching here, so that’s a great thing.”
Amy Francis, three-time World Champion runner-up and wife of Alan Francis won the ladies’ tournament, giving the Defiance, Ohio couple a sweep of the annual tournament held each Labor Day weekend at the city park courts in Greenville, OH.
“It’s always a pleasure to come to Greenville and compete,” Amy said. “I’ve been coming here since I was a kid. I am grateful that we have this family here so that we can come together, the competition doesn’t get close to the people that are here and that’s what it’s all about.”
Pitching divisions for the annual weekend holiday event included Men’s A, Women’s A, Mixed Class A, Ohio State Doubles Class A, Men’s B, Women’s B, Ohio State Doubles Class B, Men’s C, Ohio State Doubles Class C, Men’s D, Elders Class A, B, C, D, E, F, and Juniors Class.
Ohio Horseshoe Pitchers Association (OHPA) President Darryl Miller, from Plain City, Ohio, appreciates the warm welcome the City of Greenville gives the horseshoe pitchers each year.
“This means a great deal to me because this is where my family has pitched for many years,” Miller stated. “A lot of years before I started, my grandfather threw and it means so much to be able to come back here year after year and see all my friends, a lot of people I consider family now because I have seen them for so many years – just a great group of people.”
“Horseshoes is a fun backyard sport that people can play, but to get good, you have to practice, get out there in the hot sun and put a lot of effort into it,” he added. “It’s definitely harder than corn hole but the people that you run into are such good people that it makes me keep wanting to come out. It’s a great group of people and family type of atmosphere.”
Greenville’s Jim McCombs, a member of the Horseshoe Pitching Hall of Fame celebrated his 89th birthday with his wife Jenny and many horseshoe-pitching friends at the weekend event.
“Mr. Greenville, we think of him because he’s been the spark behind the Darke County Horseshoe Club and everything that goes on here, bringing world tournaments here,” Alan Francis said of his longtime friend. “It’s great to see him every year when we come to Greenville.”
“We’re happy to be here with another state tournament in Greenville, Horseshoe Pitching Capitol of the World,” said Darke County Horseshoe Club President Bryan Fisher.
The association honored the late Gary Roberts of Beaver, OH. Roberts was a member of the Ohio and National Horseshoe Hall of Fame and served as the International Horseshoe President and Ohio Horseshoe Pitchers Association President.
The OHPA established the Annual Gary Roberts Memorial Award, which will be presented yearly at the Ohio State Horseshoe Pitching Tournament.
“The Gary Roberts family is here to receive the first Gary Roberts Memorial Award,” Fisher noted. “We are giving the first Gary Roberts award to Gary, very fitting.”
