INNISFAIL - Dozens of participants and spectators took in the annual Innisfail Horseshoe Tournament.
The two-day event took place at the Innisfail horseshoe courts on May 26 and 27.
“It’s a beautiful day for a horseshoe tournament,” said Myrna Kissick, president of the Innisfail Horseshoe Club. “We have a total of 27 players registered (for the event).”
This year, the tournament featured singles games on both days with participants coming from all over Alberta.
“We have people from High Prairie here, people from Lethbridge, Calgary, Red Deer and all over the province,” said Kissick. “I’m happy with the turnout.
“People enjoy it so much,” she added, noting the many volunteers who helped with the event.
Heather Kirkham, manager at ATB Financial in Innisfail, opened the tournament with a ceremonial horseshoe pitch.
“It was excellent. Everybody cheered and thought it was awesome,” said Kirkham. “All sorts of people have come from out of town and they’re all having fun.”
Players of all ages competed in the annual tournament, including 10-year-old Jennifer Vo from Calgary who was participating in her first tournament.
Her father Bruce Grandel has played the sport for many years and introduced horseshoes to his daughter a couple of months ago.
“She practises with me sometimes at the courts and she asked me if she could try it,” said Grandel. “She showed a little bit of affinity for the game and I started coaching her. She’s very interested in it and very excited to come up (to Innisfail) and play.”
He noted the importance youth play in the sport.
“There aren’t enough junior players around,” said Grandel. “It’s really good to see, whether it’s my daughter or somebody else. Any youth that come into the sport are valuable because they’re the future of horseshoes,” he added.
Vo was thrilled to take part in her first tournament in Innisfail.
“It feels very nice (playing horseshoes). You don’t have to worry about anything, you just worry about hitting the horseshoe peg,” said Vo.
She won two out of her first five games on Saturday.
“I got into this hobby by my dad. I hope I can get really good at playing horseshoes.
“I’m having lots of fun. There’s more tournaments to come this year,” Vo concluded.
