Greenville Ringer Classic schedule

[TwoImperials]

Just wondering if anyone has or knows the schedule?

[TwoImperials]

Sorry just found the schedule @ the Ohio website http://www.horseshoesohio.com/pdf/2012RingerClassicSchedule.pdf

[cobbler]

Perhaps they would get more entries if they played it on Saturday and Sunday instead of Friday and Saturday... just a thought.

[bluetree]

This tournament was advertised as June 29th, June 30th, July 1st, and July 2nd. That would mean it could include Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, based on entries. Since there was a lack of entries and the weather is forecasted for extreme heat, the tournament directors felt obligated to pitch Friday evening to prevent pitching in the extreme heat over the weekend. Being advertised as a possible four day pitching weekend, pitchers should expect to pitch one of those days and plan ahead a little bit.

The Friday and Saturday pitching schedule was just finalized a few days ago, so I don't think that would have had an influence on the lack of entries. The entries were already in, classes were set up, then the schedule was made. It's not like The Ringer Classic advertised it as a Friday and Saturday tournament, it just happened after the fact.

[cobbler]

I was speaking of future tournaments, not this one... Basically, if they are only going to be getting 89 entries or perhaps less (as is the trend in most sanctioned tournaments), well, with 18 courts, there's no reason (barring extreme heat) to reserve four days for a tournament that you could actually do in just one day if weather cooperates.  I'd suggest at least dropping Friday.  Maybe more players will enter if they don't have to worry that they might have to pitch on Friday.

[fisherman]

Thanks bluetree and cobbler for you're thoughts. We have always tried to accommodate the pitchers and listen to their wishes. In yrs. past we have pitched the elders on fri. evening and most of them know this so its not a surprise. And with pitching the two shifts on sat at 9:00 and 4:00 I believe we have dodged some of the extreme heat. Its still 99 at 8:30, gee I can't remember a heat wave like this here.

Anyway those of you who made provisions to be here we appreciate it and you will not be disappointed. We know with this sluggish and unsure economy its just tough to do the things you once did. This marks our 51st ringer classic and proves to be a good one. As one of the oldest most historic and sought after tournaments there is, you can always count on great competition and a good warm up to the world tournament.

Bobby, we will miss you and Tony this year, but know how busy you guys are, maybe you can come next year. Safe travels to all, good luck, and we appreciate those of you who could make it.

[cobbler]

Thanks Brian, I haven't missed a Ringer Classic in quite a long time and missing this one is tough for me.   But I got so far behind on my work after surgery a couple months ago that I decided to cut travels this summer to a minimum and that's not something I liked doing... travels are the best part of all this, especially to places like Greenville.  We won't be going to Danville either, but we will see you in Knoxville.  You're riight about the Ringer Classic... I always thought horseshoes was a recession proof industry, as people who suddenly can't afford the expensive hobbies any longer look for cheaper activities and so even though we lose on one end, we pick up on the other.  It doesn't seem to be working like that this time and I'm terribly concerned about this trend.  It is really scary when you look at the big picture.  I've written a lot of posts here warning of this downward spiral on our horizon, but I've got to tell you, I totally underestimated it.  I thought we had time to reverse things yet, but now I'm really doubting that.  Seriously, we all need to work together across the nation somehow to get this moving the other direction and it has to begin right now.  It seems to me that the final countdown is underway, particularly if we just sit and do nothing.  I think there are still things that can be done to reverse what's happening, but it's going to take a really concerted effort and absolutely awesome leadership.  We really need to make sure the right people are in the right positions to ensure this sport lives on for generations to come.  We've got almost a hundred years behind us and there's no reason why we can't get another hundred... But there's no room for error anymore... we've got to get it right this time!

[2ringer6]

Bobby, what kind of shoe did you make Brian and are they available & if not when. Will there be any at the WT.
Wayne

[bluetree]

I just completed going back and looking at the past several years of the Ringer Classics entries. I knew that there was a slow and steady decline in entries but I was quite surprised to see the actual numbers. Here they are, including this year.

2012- 89
2011-99,  (excluding the Pro Tour numbers, I believe there was about 30 members there) but some pitched in both Ringer Classic and Pro Tour.
2010-126
2009-155
2008- couldn't find entries
2007-175
2006-195

Wow, in six short years over a hundred pitchers have gone somewhere? Greenville is one of the best pitching courts I have ever pitched on, it would be a disaster if this great place is left as an over grown patch of dirt and weeds left to be replaced by something else. I couldn't imagine a summer without going to Greenville and pitching shoes. As stated before this trend definitely needs to stop but HOW! How to we get the pitchers back, or why did they leave in the first place? Is it just the crappy economy, death, or something else?

Any suggestions?


 

[smile]

Maybe more people would have come if they knew that Jimmie Walters was going to beat Alan Francis and Tom Williams at Greenville tonight.

[Debby M]

  WOW!    That is a surprise!     Must have been some good games.     I do have to comment on one other thing.    Our New England tournament is not losing entries each year.    We have been above 300 for several years now although in 2010 fewer pitchers played because of flooding issues in Vermont.    Our 75th tournament will be held this Labor Day weekend but this tournament began 83 years ago.   Some war years there was no competition.    Hope I haven't jinxed us!           

[fisherman]

We will get the results posted from the Ringer Classic soon, but in the meantime I must post a note here, as I'm sure lots of you are wondering how it went. It was definitely one of the best tournaments Greenville has had yet, and one of the VERY best games played there or anywhere else for that matter. Those that were there will never forget it. I was lucky to have had a buy my last game so I got to see the game between Jim and Alan. Jim led the whole way I think, but you could just tell Alan was not going away. I think the score was 30-33 Jim's lead, when each one of them actually missed a shoe. Even though they knew there was a very good one eyed judge in the crowd, they determined Jim's shoe was a little closer. So the score being 34-30 now, with that being a crucial point, Gary Roberts pointed this out to us, as he does not miss too much, Jim gained another three. After a few more four deads, and there were many throughout the game, Alan was pitching on top of a double and had his second shoe come off, just behind the back of the stake, hence, game over. The game went 116 shoes. Knoxville will most likely be very interesting within the mens finals, you won't want to miss it...Alan and Jim are definately two class acts and we are proud to have them here in Ohio.

[moshoe]

Sounds like a heck of a game they put on there. Good job Jim and Alan. I will be looking forward to following the world tournament results, mix in with these two the likes of Brian, Tom, Dan and Charlie Meredith whom has been out of the circuit for many years and we should have a very interesting Men's Championship Class. Since I have pitched all the above mentioned, I will not make any predictions, but I am sure they will put on a great show for all to watch. Good luck to you all.

[simmonsxl]

  Well said moshoe, and congrats to Jim, Alan is a very hard man to win against, believe me i know all to well, and this years worlds will be very interesting with some new players in there and everyone doing very well this year. I wish these players would come to the pro tour tournaments, Alan has played in them before and Tom Williams has but Jim should try it and also Dan should and alot more top players, it would be a heck of a turn out if everybody showed up at one also with all the top 30ft division 1 pitchers along with the division 2 40ft and 30ft and open division, i just wish everyone was not affraid to try this format, this game needs a face lift and something different and this i think is it myself, maybe people are saying that Brian Simmons does not know what he is talking about, but after 45 years of pitching this game, believe me people, i know, heck, nothing else has worked, right? Every year our membership seems to go down in alot of states, why? which has been asked so many times, because nothing has changed!!! So now comes the Pro Tour with a change and what happens??? Each year more people are joining and enjoying the format and they are getting more members every single day, sorry if im getting a little carried away here but please stop and think about this, go to the Pro Tour Website and check it out, im not trying to knock the nhpa here don't get me wrong, ive belonged to them for 45 years and they have done alot for horseshoes but what about a little change? why can't they get envolved a little more? How about an nhpa officer pitch in one of thr Pro Tours which there has been none since the tour got started? Just asking?
   Well back to the subject, sorry about that just speaking my mind, thats what the forum is all about right? asking questions! and about some of the questions from Brian and Wayne about a new shoe, well, lets put it this way, there might possibly be one, like you said Wayne, as if you need another shoe right?? HAHA, LOL you can ask cobbler about it, he will tell ya, ok, just kidding, yes i do have a new shoe coming out by white distributors, it should be out soon, it is an awsome shoe, very well desighned by them, i love the shoe and i will never go back to the Allen shoe probably, this shoe just fits the hand so well and has a perfect ballance to it. It just floats through the air, i think everyone will enjoy this shoe.
  Im glad that Jim pitched very well, he is an awsome player and we have had alot of battles over the years, congrats again Jim, Did anyone one take any pics or videos of the game or the tournament? Would love to see them, how did the women division do? Hope everyone has a good 4th of July ENJOY
                                         
                                                                                                                                             BK        simmons

[fisherman]

Nice post Brian, we only had nine ladies there, I'm not sure why that group was so low. But the elders, and open men  groups were great. Jim's average for that game was 90.7 and Alan's was 88. The game was very similar to the 2001 state champ. game where Jim one too, except it went 126 shoes instead of 118. Their ringer % was identical from the 01 tourn. to this one. I must say the mud was perfect considering the drought conditions we've been going through. I believe we used 6,523 gal. of water or more, to get them in shape. Sorry I don't think anyone was videotaping.

I for one am going to make every effort to pitch in at least one Pro Tour event this year, maybe the one in York.

Happy Fourth Everyone....