SAINT PETERSBURG, FLA – Bob and Linda Marshman have spent the past decade or so wintering in sunny Florida, where they have honed their skills in the popular game of shuffleboard. It was approximately five years ago when the couple started a shuffleboard club in Oxford, where they both reside for the warmer New York months.
The Marshmans have been able to climb the competitive ranks with their ability to play the sport both in the sunshine state and in Oxford when they are in the area. It has recently been announced the two will represent the United States in the International Shuffleboard Association’s (ISA) World Singles Shuffleboard Championship.
The competition is set to take place Oct. 20-25 in St. Petersburg, Fla. and includes more than a dozen participating nations. In addition to the US, individuals from Japan, Australia, Germany, Brazil, Norway, Canada, England, Ireland, Holland, South Korea and Egypt are all set and confirmed to compete. Players from both Russia and India are awaiting travel visas so they are able to enter the US to play.
This 32nd World Singles Championship has an unprecedented number of players, according to reports from the ISA. There are currently 80 men slated to play – and 72 women – and the format of play includes round robin and knockout rounds.
According to Linda Marshman, the group in Oxford consists of mainly seniors, who are busy during the day, so the members opt to play during the evening hours. The group’s final session for the season was Tuesday night at the Methodist Church in Oxford.
“Up until this year we have always played in the middle school in Oxford, they are under renovation so we had to look elsewhere,” said Marshman. She added the group spent one month playing in the Parish Hall of the Episcopal Church before playing in the basement of the Methodist Church.
Marshman added the players just enjoy getting together, having a good time and playing shuffleboard.
The group would meet to play two evenings a week, on Tuesdays and Sundays, for approximately two hours.
“Our group has been fun for us since it’s not as competitive as our Florida play,” stated Marshman, “but it keeps us practiced up and in touch with the game in the summer months.”
Approximately 20 of the Oxford players went out for pizza Tuesday following their final night of summer play.
“It’s really a good group, we have a great time and they all told us that if we do well down in Florida they will be taking some of the credit,” Marshman added jovially.
This year is the 100th anniversary of the advent of the game of shuffleboard, which Marshman said started in St. Petersburg, so she deems it fitting the competition be held where the sport got its roots.
The couple has increased their strategy and skill set throughout the years and said they have been able to qualify for the international championship in previous years but hadn’t been selected until this year.
“It is approximately a one hour trip from our home down there,” added Marshman. “We’ll be staying over a couple nights of the tournament and we’re close enough that we can drive home others. There are events such as the parade of countries and a special banquet ... it should be a lot of fun.”
The couple is heading to the sunshine state a week early so they can get some more practice time and be set to go for the tournament in October. – Ashley Biviano