1.3 The structure of the NHPA World Championships
The two-week long NHPA World Horseshoe Pitching
Championships are held once each summer to crown a World Champion in each of eight divisions – Open Men, Open Women, Senior Men, Senior Women, Short-Distance Men, Junior Boys, Junior Girls and Junior Cadets (12-years old and under).

Preliminary competition consists of round-robin class play with all entrants seeded in up to 16-person
classes, with the exception of the Cadet Division. All classes play over the course of three days. 

At the end of class play, champions are named for each class, with the top qualifiers, based on ringer percentages advancing into the Championship Class of their respective divisions. Sizes of championship classes are determined by number of entrants in each division.
Championship play in most divisions spans three days, at the end of which, the individual in each championship class posting the best win/loss record is awarded the title of “World Champion” in that division.

About NHPA competitors
Participants travel from all parts of the United States, as well as other countries - Canada, Norway, SouthAfrica, Germany and Japan being the most frequent.

Most consider this trip their “Family Vacation,” and bring along their husbands, wives, children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and friends. They will spend their free time sightseeing and touring the area - visiting local events and attractions, and patronizing local businesses.

All competitors are at the venue a minimum of three days – many for the full two weeks. It is estimated that they, along with their friends and family will bring approximately three to six ($3-$5) million dollars into the host community, in a two-week time frame depending on regional economy and attractions.

NHPA World Horseshoe Tournament

A Family Sport
Horseshoe pitching boasts of being one of the few sports that has a national champion for men, women, boys and girls and can still be played in one’s backyard. It can be played by one or more and by the young as well as the old.

Physical Fitness
In this day of weight-watching, what better way to exercise than walking, bending and reaching? These are integral parts of this great sport. Game-related injuries are rare, and doctors have repeatedly stressed the beneficial aspects of this sport.

Join the Millions of Participants
It was recently estimated that upwards of fifteen (15) million enthusiasts enjoy pitching horseshoes in the United States and Canada, in tournaments, leagues, recreation areas and backyards. What sport offers so much for so little?

Sports Origin
The origin of this sport goes back to the days of the Roman Empire. Roman soldiers pitched horseshoes discarded from the horses used to drive their chariots.
Soldiers in the American Revolutionary War pitched horseshoes for recreation on the Boston Common. The Duke of Wellington in history said that the war was won by the pitchers of the steel (horseshoes).

An International Sport
The sport has been introduced in South Africa, Italy, Japan, Grand Bahama Islands, Togo, West Africa, Australia, New Zealand, West Germany, Nigeria, Honduras, Canada, South America, Israel, Norway, Switzerland, Poland, Phillipine Islands, England, Sweden, Finland and Russia.

NHPA World Horseshoe Tournament

All Ages Multi Sport Tournament

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