June 5, 2025
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Holiday Park
1701 Railroad Ave
West Des Moines, IA 50265
Chris Jordan
515-669-3085
1973unipanther@gmail.com
Event Regulations:
1. Horseshoes are not available for those unable to bring their own.
Format:
1. Format will be a 100 shoe pitch.
2. Participants will have a three-hour window in which they can arrive and pitch 100 shoes. You may practice before you begin.
3. A scorekeeper will be at the court and will record the scoring. Players will be assigned a court and scorekeeper in the order that they arrive and sign in. When the scorekeeper is ready, the player will be allowed four practice shoes (if they desire) before beginning their 100-shoe pitch.
4. The player’s points will be recorded and compared to other participants in their age group. The highest scores in each age group will earn medals. Tie Breakers: Having scored the same number of points in 100 shoes, award placement will be determined by the player who has pitched the most ringers during the 100-shoe pitch. If a tie still remains, duplicate awards will be given.
5. Results will be posted and medals can be picked up at the event.
6. ISG reserves the right to change the tournament format for any age division based on entry numbers, space restrictions, or other circumstances.
1. All matches will be conducted in accordance with National Horseshoe Pitcher’s Association rules, except as modified herein. For a copy of these rules, please write or call:
Jim Kinney Jr.
NHPA Secretary/Treasurers
P.O. Box 205
Drexel, MO 64742
(816) 738-0868
sec.treas@horseshoepitching.com
www.horseshoepitching.com
2. Each participant gets only one chance to pitch his/her 100 shoes.
3. Women 50-74 will pitch a distance of thirty (30) feet and observe the 27 foot foul line. Women 75+ will pitch at a minimum distance of twenty (20) feet and observe the 20 foot foul line. Men 50-69 will pitch a distance of forty (40) feet and observe the 37 foot foul line. Men 70+ will pitch a minimum distance of thirty (30) feet and observe the 27 foot foul line.
4. Observe the foul lines. Stepping on the paint is a foul and the shoe pitched is to be removed from the pit after it is pitched. Shoes landing first on anything outside the clay is a foul shoe also and has to be removed if in the scoring area.
5. Pitching – The pitcher must stand on one of the pitching platforms. A contestant may deliver the shoes from either the left or right pitching platform, but in only one inning, both shoes must be delivered from the same platform. The pitcher will pitch two shoes from one end and then walk to the other end where the scoring is to be determined and recorded by the scorekeeper. Feet must stay behind the foul line until the shoe has left one’s hand. Once thrown, shoes may not be moved or touched until the scores have been decided. Such an offense incurs loss of score in that inning.
6. Foul Shoes: Live shoes (a live shoe is one that lands entirely in the clay area) already in the pit area that may be disturbed by a foul shoe (or other live shoe) are not to be removed, unless they are knocked into foul territory and then come to rest in the scoring area. ( Live shoes being one that is delivered into the pit and hitting another shoe )
7. Scoring – Count all scoring will be used. Shoes must be within six (6) inches of the stake to score one point. A shoe that first strikes the ground outside the target area cannot be scored, nor can any shoe thrown from an invalid position. A shoe landing in the area and breaking is not scored; it is removed and another pitch taken. A “ringer” is a shoe that encircles the stake so that a straight edge could touch the two prongs without touching the stake. A ringer counts for three points.
888.777.8881