STATE HORSESHOE TOURNAMENT CONVERGES ON JACKSON

Nicki Jett of Bloomsdale pitches a horseshoe at the recent state horseshoe tournament held at the Jackson Knights of Columbus grounds.

C.J. Seyer of Cape Girardeau lines up a horseshoe at the state tournament held Aug. 17-18 in Jackson.

The Bishop Timon #6405 Knights of Columbus Council of Jackson hosted the state Horseshoe Tournament Aug. 17-18.

There were 1086 horseshoe pitchers that registered for the tournament. They made up 425 men's teams and 118 women's teams.

St. Genevieve had the most teams at the tournament, according to the tournament chairman Ennis Hinkebein II.

Hinkebein chaired the tournament along with co-chairs Bob Thele and Tim Buessink, grand knight of the Jackson Knights of Columbus.

The last time Jackson hosted the event was in 1985. Then the tournament only had 145 teams, Hinkebein said.

There were four places in each class that received awards and there were 10 classes.

Two teams from Jackson placed in their classes.

In Class A Women, Marilyn Landewee and Rosalie Burnett finished in third place.

In Class B Men, James Stoverink and Jerry Stoverink took fourth place.

Teams from as far north as Edina and as far west as Independence and Branson came to the tournament, according to Hinkebein.

The southeast region of the state had the most teams present at this year's tournament.

The competition began with opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. on Aug. 17 and at 9:30 the pitching began in 63 horseshoe pits.

The first day ended at 5:30 p.m. and mass was celebrated and then supper was continued after church until the food ran out, Hinkebein said.

Sunday's activities got underway at 9:30 a.m. and most of the classes had champions by 5 p.m., but the class B women pitched until a champion was determined at 9 p.m. on Sunday night.

There was a mixer held on Friday night that was the largest ever for the state horseshoe tournament with about 700 people in attendance.

There were more than 3000 people at the event on Saturday, according to Hinkebein.

The money raised from the tournament was raised for the Knights of Columbus and the Parrish Community and also the Boy Scouts held the Sunday morning breakfast to raise money.

"This was an experience. If you get through it and everything works out fine, you feel good about it," Hinkebein said.

"I would like to thank all the members of the Jackson Knights of Columbus and all the ladies that helped and anyone else that helped for all of their hard work," he added.

The tournament is set up on a bid process, but money isn't a factor. The facilities, proximity of hotels, transportation to the event, layout and presentation of the tournament are the factors that decide which Knights of Columbus council gets the state tournament, according to Hinkebein.

On Nov. 2 at 11 a.m. everyone will meet in Jackson to decide where next year's tournament will be held. By the end of the day a decision will be reached.

In March, the Jackson Knights of Columbus will have to transport the equipment to set up the tournament to the Knights of Columbus council that will host next year's tournament.