nhpa Sanctioned

horseshoe pitching

nhpa Sanctioned

horseshoe pitching

Events

2025 Tournament Schedule

FREDERICK HORSESHOE PITCHERS’ ASSOCIATION 2025 PITCHING SCHEDULE

The FHPA will be hosting four sanctioned tournaments this year. Participants must have a valid 2025 NHPA membership card. Cards can be purchased online at https://www.nhpa-eshoe.com/ or during the registration period prior to all open tournaments. The courts are located at Maryvale Park on West Patrick Street, across from Frederick Middle School and behind the China Gardens parking lot (506 W Patrick St) in Frederick, MD.

All tournaments are open, with the exception of the MD State, which requires pre-registration. Registration is from 8-9:00 a.m. with an anticipated start time of 10:00 a.m. Please arrive no later than 8:30 am if you do not have a Natstats average and need to prequalify. NHPA rules and regulations will apply. Based on the number of entries, some classes may start later in the day. Mixed-distance play will be limited where possible. Some classes may be handicapped.

Sat, June 7 Frederick Invitational

Sat, June 28 Esterly-Keilholtz Memorial

World Tournament: 7/21–8/3, Salt Lake City, UT (entry deadline May 19)

Sat, Aug 2 FHPA Veterans Memorial

Sat., Aug 23 Maryland State* (pre-registration required)

Sat. Sept 6 Hosting the MD Senior Olympics**

*MD State tourneys are open to MD residents only and require participation in a minimum of one sanctioned event in current calendar year, prior to the registration deadline for the Tournament.

**We will be hosting a MD Senior Olympics pitching event on Sept 6th for adults ages 50 and over. Open to out-of-state residents. Register at (deadline August 29): http://www.mdseniorolympics.org/registration.html

Entry Fee for Frederick tournaments is $20 adults (except the State tourney which is $25 per adult pitcher), $5 juniors (no refunds). If scorekeepers are available, each pitcher will pay them $1.00 per game. All are encouraged to assist with scorekeeping when not pitching. Prize payout for FHPA open tournaments will be based upon the number of entries. Trophies or plaques will be awarded at State Tournaments and medals at the Senior Olympics.

Concession stand and bathroom facilities will be available at all tournaments.

Alcoholic beverages are not authorized in the park.

Parking in the China Gardens parking lot must be ONLY along the perimeter (others may be towed). Additional parking is available across the street at the Frederick Middle School and behind the park on Mary Street. ABSOLUTELY NO PARKING IS ALLOWED ON THE GRASS IN THE PARK.

Rain dates for all tournaments will be the Sunday immediately following the scheduled date unless otherwise determined by the Tournament Director.

For questions, contact Donnie Hixon 240-674-9024 (hookhixon1@gmail.com) or Diana Ratliff 717-309-7203.

For Maryland residents, NHPA cards are $33 for adults ($25 NHPA + $8 State Dues) and $5 for juniors. Frederick HPA adult members add $1 for FHPA dues. Renewals may be done online at https://www.nhpa-eshoe.com/ or purchased from Diana Ratliff (Diana.Ratliff@antek.com), checks are payable to MDHPA, c/o Diana at 5151 Mountville Rd, Frederick, MD 21703-7849.

2025 League Information

Frederick Horseshoe Pitchers Association League – Summer 2025

The Frederick Horseshoe Pitchers Association will conduct a horseshoe-pitching league at the Maryvale Park courts on West Patrick Street, across from West Frederick Middle School in Frederick. The league is open to pitchers of all ages and skill levels and new pitchers are encouraged to participate.

The league format will be as follow:

1. Sign-up and a meeting will be held Monday May 5 from 6:30 - 8 pm. Bring shoes if you need to prequalify. (Members are also accepted throughout the summer.
2. The league will run Monday evenings from May 12th - August 25th (excluding May 26th) and will be broken into at least two segments.
3. Pitching will begin at 7:00 p.m. Every attempt will be made to begin games on time. Late arrivals will forfeit their scheduled game(s) resulting in a “Loss.”
4. Game format for the first segment will be 50 shoes, points count-all. Ties will result in ½ win for each player. Handicap scoring (80%) will be utilized, with handicaps recalculated weekly. There will be no league on Memorial Day, May 26th
5. Format for the second segment will be 50 shoes, ringers only, all ringers count. Ties will be broken by pitching an extra inning (down and back). Handicap scoring (80%) will be utilized, with handicaps recalculated weekly.
6. Players will be scheduled to pitch three games on most scheduled league nights.
7. Competition will be singles.
8. This league is sanctioned by the NHPA, and NHPA rules and regulations apply. All participants must be members of the NHPA, MDHPA and the FHPA (membership dues are $34 for adults, $5 for juniors).
9. League standings will be calculated on percentage of wins, with a minimum of 400 shoes required per segment.
10. Sign-up (and prequalification if necessary) will be on Mon., May 5th from 6:30 to 8 pm at the courts. Players without a NATSTATS average will need to prequalify and NHPA card must be paid prior to pitching. Late applicants will be accepted. It is requested that dues be paid in full at time of sign-up.
11. League dues are in addition to NHPA/FHPA membership dues, and are $60 for adults ($94 total), and $40 for juniors ($45 total), regardless of the number of segments pitched in. A $5 discount will be given to multiple members of the same household who sign up together. Any pitcher who has not paid in full will forfeit any awards and are not eligible for future leagues until all past dues are paid.
12. If you cannot pitch on a scheduled league night, please notify the league director in advance whenever possible. Except for emergencies, unexcused no-shows may result in the forfeiture (Loss) of all scheduled games.
13. Due to City Ordinance, Alcoholic beverages are not authorized on or near the courts.
14. Awards will be presented at a banquet on or about October 27th, 2025 at a location TBD.

15. For questions and/or additional information, please contact Diana Ratliff, League Director via e-mail at diana.ratliff@antek.com, or at 717/309-7203.