UPDATED WITH RESULTS: Cajun Coast Classic attracts 80 horseshoe pitchers
For Bud and Neldo Dobson, a leisure time pursuit has become a source of travel, competition and friendships.
“Mostly a lot of friends,” Bud Dobson said. “That’s just as important as the horseshoes.”
The Dobsons, of Liberty Hills, Texas, were among more than 80 competitors who came to Kemper Williams Park over the weekend for the Cajun Coast Classic Horseshoe Tournament.
Rain delayed Saturday’s opening from 10 a.m. until after 11 a.m. Some of the competitors helped manicure the sandy pits and shove water off the pitching area.
Pitchers from 16 states came to the Patterson Park to pitch, and many of them ended up pitching in.
Bud Dobson said he started pitching horseshoes at local fairs and festivals, and eventually met members of the Texas Horseshoe Pitchers Association.
He’s been pitching for 24 years. He said it took him about 10 years to talk his wife into joining him.
Eventually, he worked his way up in competition. And in 2007, at Ardmore, Oklahoma, he finished second in the world in his class.
He also pitches to stay sharp.
“I don’t do it seven days a week,” he said. “But at least five days a week. Pretty much a tournament every week.”
Cajun Coast Classic, The Horseshoe Tour
Kemper Williams Park
Patterson
Oct. 29-30
40’ Prime
Class A
First, Dan Watson (tournament champion), Alabama; second, Gary Oper, Idaho and third, Dalton Rakestraw, Illinois and Jeff Finke, Texas.
Class B
First, Dennis Wilson, Pennsylvania; second, Bobby Schwent, Mis-souri; and third, Jonny Sorge, Texas and Jim McElveen, Georgia.
Class C
First, Tanner Pousson, Louisiana; second, Mike Hardie, South Carolina; and third, Ricky Richard, Louisiana and Andy Hyman, Texas.
Class D
First, Dwain Arce-neaux, Louisiana; sec-ond, Tim Hayles, Louisiana; third, Ronnie Wegworth, Texas and Travis Bourdier, Louisi-ana.
Class E
First, Mack Thibodeaux, Louisiana; second, Steven Schmidt, Texas; and third, Eddie Guidry, Louisiana and Bryan Kunze, Texas.
Class F
First, Junior McCowin, Louisiana; second, Gary Verheide; and third, Artie McMullen and Elvis Smith, both of Louisi-ana.
Class G
First, Tyler Bourdier, Louisiana; second, Clay Weaver, Louisiana; and third, Jim Guzdial and Darrell Vance, both of Louisiana.
Class H
First, Matthew Strick-land, Louisiana; second, Kevin Kinslow, Louisi-ana; and third, Warren Raymond, Louisiana.
Class I
First, Jake Beltrand, Texas; second, Hilton Rhodes, Louisiana; and third, Craig Rink, Loui-siana.
Class J
First, Joe Primeaux, Louisiana; second, Rob-ert Woodall, Louisiana; and third, Charles Be-noit, Louisiana.
30’ Prime
Class A
First, Marlene Ray (tournament champion), Tennessee; second, Dorie Hieden, Texas; and third, Joan Elmore, Tennessee and Ronald Lagrand, Missouri.
Class B
First, Maxine Griffth, Tennessee; second, Jim Ellison, Alabama; and third, James Cooper, Tennessee and Bert Logsdon, Iowa.
Class C
First, Barbara Taylor, South Carolina; second, Tim Gilmore, Louisiana; and third, Lori Finke, Texas and Paul Jennings, South Carolina.
Class D
First, Shelly Martinez, Massachusetts; second, Jimmy Percle, Louisiana; and third, Donna Massey, Texas and Burnie Williams, Louisiana.
Class E
First, Mary Begnaud, Louisiana; second, Al Dodson, Louisiana; and third, Bud Dodson, Texas and JoAnn Stanford, Tennessee.
Class F
First, Ken Alligood, Texas; second, Wanda Lantz, Louisiana; and third, Sharla Fontenot and Nancy Woods, both Louisiana.
Class G
First, Patricia Pertuit, Louisiana; second, Donna Thom-ason, Texas; and third, Nelda Dodson and Bud Dodson, both Texas.
Class H
First, Angela Percle, Louisiana; second, Am-ber Boeker, Texas; and third, Dee Scritchfield and Jan Stimmel Bel-tran, both of Texas.
Class I
First, Teri Oper, Ida-ho; second, Jo Box, Texas; and third, Danny Navarre, Louisiana and Bob Scritchfield, Texas.
Class J
First, Tina Stanley, Louisiana; second, Bob-bie Richard, Louisiana; and third, Sheila Lagrand, Missouri and Junior Jones, Louisi-ana.
Class K
First, Reagan Box, Texas; second, Al Gra-ham, Louisiana; and third, Mary Guzdial, Louisiana.