Vermont horseshoe pitching champions keep ancient sport alive
Sodbusters Horseshoe Club celebrates 59 years of competition as members work to attract new players
BRISTOL, Vt. (InvestigateTV) — — On a hot afternoon in Bristol, Vermont, Debra Brown warms up for another round of horseshoe pitching at the Sodbusters Horseshoe Club, now in its 59th year of competition.
Brown is preparing the clay pit, a necessary step before play begins.
“You got to turn the clay, because it gets hard and you have to water it,” Misty Baird, president of the club, said.
Brown takes the sport seriously. She has earned recognition as one of the world’s best horseshoe pitchers.
“I am 24-time state champion,” Brown said. “I’m nine-time New England champion. I’m one-time world champion.”
Despite her achievements, Brown remains humble about her success.
“Not a celebrity. I just love the game,” she said.
The sport remains a family affair at the Sodbusters club.
Brown’s husband, Mike, introduced her to horseshoe pitching in 1980.
“She’s more serious than I am,” Mike Brown said with a laugh.
When asked about his wife’s superior skills, Mike Brown expressed pride in her accomplishments.
“Yes, and I’m proud of it,” he said.
Mike Brown focuses on helping other players improve their game.
“I’m here to help people out, if I can help ‘em,” he said.
Concerns about the sport’s future
Debra Brown worries about declining participation in horseshoe pitching.
“If we don’t have kids in future of it, we don’t have a sport,” she said.
Brown plays against Blair Selleck, a member of the junior team, and gives Selleck a large handicap to even out the competition.
Next generation of champions
Brianna McCormick, Debra and Mike Brown’s niece, represents the sport’s younger generation. She has won the junior world championship and is a 14-time Vermont girls state champion.
“The first time I threw horseshoes was in her backyard,” McCormick said, referring to her aunt Debra.
Players at the Sodbusters club find various rewards in the sport.
“Enjoyment, relaxation,” Baird said when asked what she gets from horseshoe pitching.
Roger Forgues, a longtime player, emphasized the social aspect.
“Camaraderie - that’s the biggest thing,” Forgues said.
For Debra Brown, the motivation is simple.
“It just lights me up,” she said.
The competition remains close, with games often decided by narrow margins. During one recent match, the final score was 82-83.
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