K.C. state tourney is pegged a success

The 604-team tournament concluded Sunday in Jackson.

Southeast Missourian

Thousands of horseshoe pitchers and fanatics endured high temperatures Sunday for the conclusion of the Knights of Columbus state horseshoe tournament at the K. of C. Council 6405 in Jackson.

The competition, which began on Saturday with 604 two-person teams, marked the largest tournament in the event's 25-year history.

"It's great," first-year tournament director Tim Beussink said Sunday during the action. "Everything's going real well. It's been a big success. We're tickled to death."

The tournament consisted of eight men's classes, four women's classes and a men's senior division.

In the top men's division (Class A), Gary Grass and Kevin Grass of Ste. Genevieve, Mo., defeated Brad Miller and Jeff Miller in the championship match. Another Ste. Genevieve duo, Marcia Meyer and Donna Meyer won the top women's division, while James Kleffner and Hgo Bisges of Argyle, Mo., won the men's senior division.

Irvin Vandeven, an 85-year-old Leopold resident, teamed up with Joe Schreckenberg to claim the second-place spot in the men's senior division on Saturday. He returned to Jackson on Sunday to see the conclusion.

"I came back to watch, see friends and see who wins," he said.

Vandeven, who sat out of the tournament for several years due to an arm injury, began pitching again in last year's tournament after a senior division was introduced. The seniors pitch only 30 feet, as opposed to 40 feet for all other men's classes.

"I'm pleased to get a trophy," said Vandeven, who thinks he was the oldest participant. "My partner helped me quite a bit."

The tournament paid its third visit to Jackson, which hosted the tournament in 1985 and 1996, and while the weather was slightly warmer than desired, it didn't stop over 1,200 horseshoe pitchers.

"Everyone in this tournament is from Missouri," Beussink said. "Everyone knows that August in Missouri is going to be hot."

Beussink said the council began preparing for the tournament over a year ago.

"It's a lot of work, but it's worth it," he said. "A lot of people are involved in putting it together, and we couldn't ask for any better people anywhere.

"It works out real well. A lot of guys know people from the other councils, and when K.C. members get together, they can't help but start talking and having a good time."