Norwich resident places third in world horseshoe tourney
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – As the two-week World Horseshoe Pitching Championships draw to a close this weekend, one Norwich resident has already returned home with a top-three world divisional place finish.
Ernest Stagaman, in his second year competing in the world championship, took home third place in the men’s open L1 division. Stagaman tied for second-place, but lost the tiebreaker to Dave Eschenfelder of Illinois based on ringer percentage.
“You pitch for three days and they put you in a division,” Stagaman said describing the tournament format. “They count up your wins and losses in your division, and placing is determined.”
Stagaman was hot early in the tournament starting with 10 wins and no losses. One of those victories was over eventual Division L1 world champion Don Jones of Illinois. Stagaman stumbled a bit on the final day, and attributes his fall into a tie for second due to a “lousy game.”
Nonetheless, it was a fine turnaround for Stagaman, who entered last year’s world championships in York, Pennsylvania, but was unable to compete after the first day. He fell ill, and ultimately was hospitalized because of the sickness.
Stagaman was determined to return to the World Championships based on his success on the state level. He has 10 state division titles including back-to-back victories the past two years.
A member of the South New Berlin Horseshoe Club, Stagaman took a train – along with fellow SNB Horseshoe Club member Roger Chase – to the Illinois tourney. Once there, he saw competitors from all parts of the country, and several players from outside the country. In 2008, for instance, one man traveled all the way from Japan to Pennsylvania.
“When you go to worlds, you don’t see the people you would normally see in sanctioned tournaments around here,” Stagaman said, noting you see just the cream of the crop.
Over, 1,300 competitors appeared in Springfield this year competing in junior, women’s, elder men’s, and open men’s divisions. The prize money is rather meager considering the participation. Alan Francis, a multiple world champion in the highest possible division, claimed this year’s top overall prize of $4,000.
“We went out there on our own expense, and you don’t compete for the money,” Stagaman said. “It’s a great game, and it’s not as easy as you might think.”
Whether or not it’s easy, Stagaman is doing his part to continue the family horseshoe pitching legacy. His 14-year-old son took up the sport last year, and he proved that the “apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
“He won the junior boys states last year,” Stagaman said, always the proud father. “He just loves it.”
Just like his dad.
Ernest Stagaman, in his second year competing in the world championship, took home third place in the men’s open L1 division. Stagaman tied for second-place, but lost the tiebreaker to Dave Eschenfelder of Illinois based on ringer percentage.
“You pitch for three days and they put you in a division,” Stagaman said describing the tournament format. “They count up your wins and losses in your division, and placing is determined.”
Stagaman was hot early in the tournament starting with 10 wins and no losses. One of those victories was over eventual Division L1 world champion Don Jones of Illinois. Stagaman stumbled a bit on the final day, and attributes his fall into a tie for second due to a “lousy game.”
Nonetheless, it was a fine turnaround for Stagaman, who entered last year’s world championships in York, Pennsylvania, but was unable to compete after the first day. He fell ill, and ultimately was hospitalized because of the sickness.
Stagaman was determined to return to the World Championships based on his success on the state level. He has 10 state division titles including back-to-back victories the past two years.
A member of the South New Berlin Horseshoe Club, Stagaman took a train – along with fellow SNB Horseshoe Club member Roger Chase – to the Illinois tourney. Once there, he saw competitors from all parts of the country, and several players from outside the country. In 2008, for instance, one man traveled all the way from Japan to Pennsylvania.
“When you go to worlds, you don’t see the people you would normally see in sanctioned tournaments around here,” Stagaman said, noting you see just the cream of the crop.
Over, 1,300 competitors appeared in Springfield this year competing in junior, women’s, elder men’s, and open men’s divisions. The prize money is rather meager considering the participation. Alan Francis, a multiple world champion in the highest possible division, claimed this year’s top overall prize of $4,000.
“We went out there on our own expense, and you don’t compete for the money,” Stagaman said. “It’s a great game, and it’s not as easy as you might think.”
Whether or not it’s easy, Stagaman is doing his part to continue the family horseshoe pitching legacy. His 14-year-old son took up the sport last year, and he proved that the “apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
“He won the junior boys states last year,” Stagaman said, always the proud father. “He just loves it.”
Just like his dad.
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