Comments From First Vice President & Regional Director

The 50^th Anniversary of the State Tournament was a great success and brought some surprises by crowning 4 new State Champions for the first time. Congratulations to first time State Champions, Pam Maples the new Women’s State Champion, Ray Hood the new Elder Men’s State Champion, Justin Maples the new Junior Boys State Champion, and Megan Polski the new Junior Girls State Champion. Thanks to all of you who participated in the State Championship Tournament and congratulations to all the State Class Champions, Mixed Doubles Champions, and Doubles Champions. It was great to see everyone again at the State Tournament and meet some of the new members in the state association. I had a great time and was fortunate enough to win the Men’s State Championship.

Congratulations to Bob Marks on earning the Player of The Year award which is very difficult to win. Congratulations to Byron Jarrett on being inducted into the FSHPA Hall of Fame, and to all of the other special award winners. Joe West received a well deserved appreciation award for his 35 years as the Winter Haven tournament director. Thanks also to Joe’s wife Mary West for all her years of service running the concession in Winter Haven. John Peplinski received a well deserved appreciation award for his 10 years as Sec/Treasurer and 5 years as a VP on the executive council. John will be missed. I look forward to serving with our new Sec/Treasurer, Marcela Santoyo.

I want to thank the members of the Brevard County Horseshoe Club for all of their hard work to make the State Championship tournament a success. The horseshoe courts looked very good and were in excellent playing condition. Thanks also to all the volunteers that worked during the state tournament to provide meals, post results, take care of the courts, etc. Many of these volunteers don’t pitch horseshoes so we are very thankful and very grateful for all of your help.

The NHPA officer in charge of Regional Directors is asking that all of the horseshoe courts in each of the horseshoe pitching facilities be re-certified again in 2011. This means that each club will have to make sure each court at a minimum meets the conditional court sanction requirements in the RGS book. Even though we just went thru this in 2007 it will still be a major task for each club and for the RD and ARD’s. I wanted to let you know so your club can be prepared.

Florida’s adult membership in the NHPA decreased from 386 in 2008 to 348 in 2009. This is a -9.84% decrease. I want to encourage everyone to work hard this year at recruiting new members to our association. Horseshoe pitching is a lifetime sport that can be enjoyed by all at a minimal expense.

Have a great summer and I look forward to seeing you all next season. Practice may not make you perfect but it will make you better. I hope to see some of you at the World Tournament this year. Good Luck and Good Pitching.

Ron Deckard