A.H.P.A.
POINTS OF HISTORY
HISTORY
OF THE
AMERICAN HORSESHOE PITCHERS ASSOCIATION
The first ruling body of the sport was formed at Kansas City, Kansas, May 16, 1914, under the name of the Grand League of the American Horseshoe Pitchers Association. The organization adopted a set of rules, by-laws, and a constitution with elected officers. It granted charters to clubs and state leagues, and the rules were accepted as standard and official in all leagues and tournaments.
The weight of the horseshoes was limited to not less than two pounds and not over two pounds and three ounces. Stakes were raised to a height of eight inches and the pitchers box was six feet square. As far as tournaments were concerned, no record was kept. The first tournament in which competition was held and open to the world was in the summer of 1909 at Bronson, Kansas. Frank Jackson was the winner of this contest.
At a convention held May 21, 1921, in Lake Worth, Florida, the name was changed to the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association of the United States of America. After 28 years of limited growth and limited participation, Arlo Harris of Indiana, President of the National Association in 1949, asked the convention to provide a way to give incentive, recognition, and benefits to all pitchers, regardless of whether they were professional, average, and/or beginners, giving the Association a chance to grow.
The proposal was rejected because tournament play and the making of a world's champion was foremost in their minds.
To recognize all horseshoe pitchers in the United States, the American Association began, reinstating the name and providing a charter to promote leagues and tourneys, and adopting the count-all system of scoring.
To recognize all horseshoe pitchers in the United States, the American Association began, reinstating the name and providing a charter to promote leagues and tourneys and adopting the count-all system of scoring.
Under the new system of scoring, more emphasis could be placed on local leagues and league memberships, reaching out for those players who never had played in tourneys, but played for the pleasure and fellowship the game affords.
Later the handicap system was added to provide even more incentive, recognition, more membership, and the finest leadership.
Today, the count-all system through league play has become universal.
The AHPA was first incorporated in 1949. The Secretary of State was Charles Flemming.
The first Pointer A.H.P.A. Newsletter was published in 1957 by William Christy of Bloomington.
The first Indiana State Champioship held during the state fair was in 1958.
The first Tournament Of Champions was in 1987. It was designed by Ron Holliday of Sheridan and held by the Sheridan Mixed League at the Camp Atterbury Indoor Courts. In 1996 the Sheridan Mixed League decided to stop sponsoring the event. The AHPA, at the request of some members established a TOC Committee and started holding the event in 1997
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