Another great world tournament is in the books, and congratulations go out to all of our crowned world champions and individual class champions!

Bob Knudtson Elders F  - Champion

Jerry LaBrosse Mens C2 - Champion

Jerry Zastrow Mens L1 - Champion

I strongly encourage all of you to make plans to attend the 2015 World Tournament in Topeka, Kansas next July. I can tell you that the Topeka staff already has their act together. They are well organized and energized. This could be a very large world tournament!

It's a one-day drive, interstate all the way. If you buy a World Tournament Raffle ticket, you might win the grand prize package worth over $1,500 and is truly a 2015 world tournament experience! If you need a ticket, contact me.

The Annual Convention was held on Sunday in the Carousel Building. The 2016 world tournament was awarded to Montgomery, Alabama.  All of the proposed NHPA bylaw changes passed except Number One, Section G about the forum conduct, and Number Eight, which would have made the Secretary an appointed position.

Dave Sidles won the election for NHPA Secretary/Treasurer. NHPA Vice Presidents Tina Hawkins and Jerry LaBrosse were re-elected to three-year terms by acclimation.

MGSHPA President Rick Wright

In closing, I wish our next president the best of luck. If I could give that person any advice, it would be to listen to the members and your officers, they do have some good ideas.

Thanks for letting me your president, it has been an honor and I will remember my time forever. I will continue to boast about our state because it is about the people and you guys are the best.

PS: I hope this year's state tournament will be a rewarding experience for everyone. Good pitching to you all. 

As I write this, the World Tournament is half complete. We need to congratulate our own Alexandria member Jerry Zastrow on his first place finish! Way to go! I hope that the World Tournament coverage is getting everyone excited for our 2014 Minnesota State Tournament here in Alexandria. There is a lot to see in the Alexandria area when you are not pitching, so please check out the Alexandria website for places to go and things to do while you are here.

THINGS TO REMEMBER FOR STATE

We have a couple of reminders that need your response. 

#1) We have arranged for on-site camping and need to have you register by August 14th. Please email Gary Boots ([email protected]) or contact Al Larson (320-808-1525; you can call or text) to reserve a site. Fee for camping with water, electric and sewer hookups will be $25 per night. Tent camping is also available for $10 per night. 

#2) Is anyone interested in doing a fun-doubles tournament Friday evening? Please contact Janet Larson ([email protected], or 218-731-5987) if you are interested in this.

HATS, RAFFLES, SWEETS and BANQUETS

We will be selling hats this year instead of t-shirts. We will be having 50/50 raffle drawings between shifts. Also, bring your sweet tooth and enjoy some baked goods again this year. Our fundraising profits will be going to our new courts in Alexandria that you can check out when you are here. The banquet will be picnic style, featuring steak or chicken, at the Alexandria Shooting Sports Park southeast of MN 29 and I-94.

I am pleased to announce that we will have live music for the banquet. The three-some group is accurately called Vintage Blend with some vintage 60s and a little country style music. I am excited about being able to book them and hope everyone will enjoy listening and maybe do a little dancing. We also plan to have some yard games going on outside.

MN 29 ROAD CONSTRUCTION

Speaking of MN 29, if you will be entering Alexandria from that direction, heading north, you will notice a lot of construction signs. You can pretty much ignore them. You will need to detour one block west, at 7th Street and then head north again to County Highway 82 where you will turn left to get to the RCC. 

We look forward to seeing everyone at the tournament! 

Wow, can you believe how fast the summer is going? It seems like we just started summer leagues and it is now only a little over a month until the State Tourney!

The Fridley Horseshoe Club is like many others in Minnesota, membership numbers go up and down through the years. 2014 was a boom for new membership for Fridley with 12 new or returning members! We are playing one night per week, Thursdays, and play a team format.  It has been great introducing so many new and returning pitchers to our club. The teams are very competitive and everyone seems to be enjoying throwing shoes and being outside.

We did host our annual Jim Holland Memorial Open in June. Like so many tournaments held in June, we did need to relocate our tourney to the West St. Paul courts because of rain. We did manage to get in the morning session, but needed to cancel the afternoon session due to straight-line winds and torrential rain. We always look forward to hosting this tournament and work hard to ensure the courts are in great condition -- so be sure and sign up for next year!

The annual year-end banquet and league tourney will be held September 6.