HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-08-30, Page 9THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2012. PAGE 9. Local competitorwins big at world
horseshoe tourney
Golden shoes
Ralph Koopmans definitely made his local sponsors proud when he brought home a first
place prize from the World Horseshoes Tournament as well as wins at the national and
provincial championships recently. (Denny Scott photo)
Local horseshoer Ralph
Koopmans feels that the message
made at recent national and
international tournaments is apt;
horseshoes isn’t just a game, it’s a
sport.
Aside from being a sport,
horseshoing is also something that
Koopmans excels in, having brought
home several accolades in the past
few months.
“I came in third in the 21 per cent
division at the national
championship in Saskatoon on July
11-14,” he said, adding that players
are separated into divisions based on
the percentage of times they earn
ringers. “I was tied for first going
into the last day there and I went 9-
1 but I lost the last game which took
me out of the tie for first.”
After the nationals, Koopmans
travelled Knoxville for the World
Horseshoe Tournament where, as a
late entry, he didn’t even know if he
would be able to compete.
“I throw at an average of about 19
per cent,” he said. “I was on standby
since I registered late and got put in
the 21 per cent bracket.”
After losing only one of his 15
games, Koopmans claimed first
prize; $500 USD, which just
covered his expenses to get home he
said.
“I had some of the best games I’ve
ever thrown,” he said. “I threw 42
per cent in one game, hitting 17
ringers out of 40. I ended with an
overall 24 per cent.”
Koopmans also competed in the
Ontario Championships in
Belleville recently where he came
second in his division. He said that
the three tournaments are proof that,
in the sport, things can change
drastically from one game to the
next.
“Anyone can beat you at any one
time in horseshoes,” he said.
“Sometimes you just end up
throwing a great game, other times
you don’t.”
Koopmans was sponsored by
Sparlings Propane, Howson and
Howson Limited, Elliot-Nixon
Insurance and Tim Hortons in
Clinton.
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
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