HP Pro Tour                          

Tournament News

Good evening everyone, 

I have some very exciting horseshoe news! 

By now, many of you have heard about the HP Pro Tour, either from me or other Pro Tour members.  The HP Pro Tour is a relatively new organization that is taking a different approach to organized horseshoe pitching.  I have been a member for the past couple of years -- getting a feel for it -- and I can honestly say that I really like the pro tour format and structure.  It's different: a little faster paced (ringers only!), more competitive (more ways to advance and win), and fun!  So, I would encourage anyone looking for a new twist on an old game to give it a try.  And let me mention that the payouts for the top finishers are significant! 

But if the money isn't enough, how about a little more incentive...how about a Pro Tour event in our own backyard?   

Over the past year, myself and others have been working with the Director of the HP Pro Tour and the York CVB on a possible pro tour event in our area.  I am happy to say that those negotiations have proven very successful.  So successful, in fact, that the HP Pro Tour recently announced that they will be holding their "championship" event in York, PA!  This event will be the culmination of the HP Pro Tour season and will be billed as the HP Pro Tour York Thoroughbred National Championship (yes, it's a mouthful).  The event will be held in Memorial Hall East at the York County Expo Center (site of the 2008 World Tournament), and will be held November 2 - 4, 2012. 

Once again, our good friends from the York CVB have stepped up to the plate to show their commitment to the game of horseshoes.  They are committing prize money AND providing the use of Memorial Hall East free of charge for this event.  This is an incredibly generous offer from the folks at the CVB, and I can tell you personally that the HP Pro Tour officers and sponsors are extremely excited about holding their season-end premier event in York.  It is a perfect location for such an event, and a wonderful opportunity for PA pitchers to get exposure to a new and exciting horseshoe pitching format.   

So, what do you think?  Sound interesting?  I hope so, because this is where I need your help.   

Those of you that were involved with the 2008 World Tournament know that hosting such an event requires manpower and teamwork.  While not quite on the same scale as a world tournament, the Pro Tour organizers and folks at the York Expo Center will need our expertise in setting up for the event.  As a new organization, the Pro Tour does not have its own portable equipment, so we are being asked to provide portable courts and clay.  This should not be a problem for us since we inherited the "old" WT courts from the NHPA in 2008, and I have a lead on a source of some nice clay (other leads are welcome, just in case).  And, as mentioned, we have the experience.  So please give this some thought as we begin to plan for this event.   

I will have more to say on this opportunity later and at our general membership meeting at the end of February.  I just wanted to share with you all what I think is very good news.    

If you would like to learn more about the HP Pro Tour, please visit their website:  http://www.hpprotour.com/.  The rules and regs can be found under the “About Us” link.  

Thanks, and hope to see you on the courts! 

David "Doc" Holliday 
President & Treasurer - EPHPA