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PITTSBURG —
Brandon Graham, Pittsburg, saw a flyer in a fast-food restaurant for the Fourth of July horseshoes tournament. He asked his daughter, Alexxiz, 9, if she wanted to play. Little did he know that she would end up beating him. It was also her first time playing.
“She’s having a blast. She’s never played before,” Graham said. “I haven’t played in probably 10 years. I just thought this might be fun.”
The horseshoes and bocce tournaments are popular parts of every year’s Independence Day celebration. Each involves a relaxed atmosphere and the ability to throw.
It’s that unique ability for even a 9-year-old to pick up the game and compete that makes both sports particularly attractive to competitors.
“They’re unique sports,” said Kim Vogel, Pittsburg Parks and Recreation Director. “They’re lifetime sports, really. Horseshoes and bocce, both. You can do them from the time you can walk until the time you can’t.”
It’s the love of games like horseshoes that draws competitors from all over, not just Pittsburg.
Darrell Cupp drove all the way from Carterville, Mo., just to compete in the traditional Independence Day horseshoes tournament. This year’s tourney had eight competitors, but it was still worth the drive for Cupp.
“I started out here years ago. There was a chili cookoff years ago and they had horseshoe pitching nearby. Come to find out it was the state tournament,” Cupp said. “I thought at least I could go do something for a while. I think that was at a Little Balkans Days in the 80s. But I come out for this when I hear about it, and I got a flyer this year. This is the only place I have to play.”
Both games involve tufts of dust being kicked up by the thrown items. Horseshoes whas been played for hundreds, if not thousands of years, but the first tournament was held nearby.
Bronson, located in Bourbon County, was the home of the first “world tournament” in 1910, won by Frank Jackson. Jackson received a world championship belt with horseshoes attached to it, according to several sources.
Bocce originated with the Italians and probably made its way to this area with immigrants during the mining years. The game involves throwing a smaller, often wooden ball called a pallino, then each team or individual throwing larger bocce balls to try to get closest to the pallino.
Brandon Graham, Pittsburg, saw a flyer in a fast-food restaurant for the Fourth of July horseshoes tournament. He asked his daughter, Alexxiz, 9, if she wanted to play. Little did he know that she would end up beating him. It was also her first time playing.
“She’s having a blast. She’s never played before,” Graham said. “I haven’t played in probably 10 years. I just thought this might be fun.”
The horseshoes and bocce tournaments are popular parts of every year’s Independence Day celebration. Each involves a relaxed atmosphere and the ability to throw.
It’s that unique ability for even a 9-year-old to pick up the game and compete that makes both sports particularly attractive to competitors.
“They’re unique sports,” said Kim Vogel, Pittsburg Parks and Recreation Director. “They’re lifetime sports, really. Horseshoes and bocce, both. You can do them from the time you can walk until the time you can’t.”
It’s the love of games like horseshoes that draws competitors from all over, not just Pittsburg.
Darrell Cupp drove all the way from Carterville, Mo., just to compete in the traditional Independence Day horseshoes tournament. This year’s tourney had eight competitors, but it was still worth the drive for Cupp.
“I started out here years ago. There was a chili cookoff years ago and they had horseshoe pitching nearby. Come to find out it was the state tournament,” Cupp said. “I thought at least I could go do something for a while. I think that was at a Little Balkans Days in the 80s. But I come out for this when I hear about it, and I got a flyer this year. This is the only place I have to play.”
Both games involve tufts of dust being kicked up by the thrown items. Horseshoes whas been played for hundreds, if not thousands of years, but the first tournament was held nearby.
Bronson, located in Bourbon County, was the home of the first “world tournament” in 1910, won by Frank Jackson. Jackson received a world championship belt with horseshoes attached to it, according to several sources.
Bocce originated with the Italians and probably made its way to this area with immigrants during the mining years. The game involves throwing a smaller, often wooden ball called a pallino, then each team or individual throwing larger bocce balls to try to get closest to the pallino.
Both youth and adult bocce tournaments were held on Wednesday, but the horseshoes game was open to all ages. The games are an annual event for some families.
“All our activities this week have been centered on working so we could be here and not do anything all day,” Todd Biggs said. “It’s an important tradition for us.”
Although it was a new tradition for the Grahams, Graham said it is also a good workout for the arm and shoulder. Especially on a newbie like Alexxiz.
“She’s getting a little tired already. I don’t think she’ll want to swim later in the week,” he said.
For others, these recreational activities are perfect for keeping active and keeping competitive.
“This is the only game I’m any good at,” Cupp said. “I’m not any good at basketball or golf. In golf, all I do is hit it in the pond. They’ve got some good guys pitching well out here. Even if I don’t win, it’s been fun just to see all the different people out here.”
Andrew Nash can be reached at andrew.nash@morningsun.net or by calling 231-2600 ext. 140.
