Warm Beach dedicates new horseshoe pit
— Tuesday, August 26th, 2008 by Stanwood/Camano News
There aren't many active games that anyone of any age can enjoy, but horseshoes is definitely one of them. That is why Warm Beach Senior Community recently constructed a horseshoe pit for residents to enjoy.
The game of horseshoes is relatively simple to understand. Each player throws two horseshoes per turn, from a distance of either 30 or 40 feet - women, children, and seniors can opt to throw from the 30-foot line into a sandpit.
The goal is to get the horseshoe around the stake, which is called a "ringer." Ringers are wort three points, and getting a horseshoe within six inches of the stake is worth one point.
Games are usually played up to 21. If the horseshoe is leaning up against the stake, it is called "leaner," and earns two points. However, if two players throw a ringer on the same turn, they cancel each other out.
Players can break into teams of two or can play individually.
Warm Beach horseshoe players began meeting every Thursday morning - rain or shine - at the beginning of April at the horseshoe pit used by Warm Beach Bech Christian Camp and Conference Center next door. As more players, mostly men, started joining in, the senior community decided to build its own pit.
Built by the Environmental Services staff, the pit features two stakes - one at each end - which are set in concrete and topped with a mixture of clay and dirt. Behind each stake is a wooden backboard.
As an added challenge, if a horseshoe hits the backboard first and then scores a ringer, the points don't count.
One Warm Beach resident, Maxine Bires, donated two beautiful high-quality, low maintenance benches to be placed by the horseshoe pit, in memory of her husband, Ellsworth R. Bires, who was an avid horseshoe player.
About 10 men form the Thursday morning horseshoe group, but they welcome anybody, including women. They also welcome spectators to cheer them on.
Warm Beach recently held a dedication ceremony to officially commemorate the opening of the horseshoe pit. A horseshoe tournament ensued, including both residents and staff.
Undoubtedly, Warm Beach will be "ringing" with the sound of horseshoes for a long time to come.