聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Throughout his life, Kennedy native Stew Lawrence has gone from horses to horseshoes- and has earned a gold medal along the way.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Lawrence-who now lives at Kenosee Lake- recently pitched his way to the podium in August at the Canadian Horseshoe Pitching Championships in Saanich, B.C. The 87-year-old was awarded the gold medal in his division at the national event, which hosted 162 competitors of all ages from across Canada.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Lawrence grew up on a ranch near Kennedy and says that horses-and horseshoes- have always played a聽 part in his life.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 was born on the place,鈥� he says of the ranch. 鈥淲e had cattle and horses and later, I raised PMU mares. I really got more into pitching horseshoes when I retired, but I really can't remember exactly when I started. They were always around and when I was younger, horseshoes were always played at country picnics. They were a big thing then.鈥澛�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Lawrence is modest about his medal-winning avocation and when asked, says he doesn't remember being particularly talented as a horse shoe pitcher as a child, adding he 鈥渞eally got into it once I retired.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 joined the Whitewood club more than 10 years ago,鈥� he says. 鈥淓ven in Kennedy, there were horseshoe pits in the curling rink years ago, but that was before I really got started. But I guess it was always around me, even back then.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t's good exercise and it's a good sport,鈥� adds Lawrence. 鈥淲e practice once a week in Whitewood and it takes a lot of practice. I've got pits here behind the Four Seasons in Kenosee Village. As soon the snow's gone,聽 I'm out there throwing.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In order to qualify for the national event in B.C., Lawrence had to attend at least four tournaments and amass enough points to make the province's team roster. Throughout the season, he travelled to tournaments throughout the province- at his home club in Whitewood, as well as in Manitou Beach and North Battleford, to name two.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 went to the Western Classic in Manitou this summer,鈥� says Lawrence. 鈥淚t was a two-day tournament and there were teams from B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan competing there.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚've been to three national tournaments,鈥� he adds. 鈥淭he first one was in Saskatoon, the second one was in Calgary in 2014 and now, this one in in Saanich, hosted by the Greater Victoria club.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚n Saskatoon, I didn't do so good. I only came in third or fourth place. In Calgary, I came in second place and with this one, I came in first.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In Lawrence's age group-the senior division- competitors aged 65 and over must pitch horseshoes a distance of 30 feet.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Lawerence is right-handed and says that beyond his regular practice regime and competition schedule, there are 鈥渘o special exercises. Some guys wear gloves, but I don't.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭here are a few rules, though. You can't wear open-toed shoes and going into the national, they weigh your horseshoes.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淢y tournament (horse)shoes are a brand called M & M. I've had them for years. I only take two shoes to tournaments. Some people take a lot more, because even though they're made of iron, they can break. But mine have been hitting the posts so long, I don't worry about it,鈥� he laughs. 鈥淎nd they go in the checked baggage, you can't take them on the plane with you.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭his year, there were a total of 18 competitors on Team Saskatchewan,鈥� says Lawrence. 鈥淲e were all ages and on opening day we all wore (Saskatchewan)聽 Roughrider stuff. Green hair, green everything.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e brought back three champions from Saskatchewan out of Saanich,鈥� he says. 鈥淎nother senior from Regina and Colin Finnie, who I call the 'Main Man.' Seniors like me throw 30 feet, but guys like him who are under 65, have to throw 40 feet. He's the 40-foot guy.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淗e's won a lot of titles, but really, for most of us, the competition can go any way. There's talent from all of the provinces. Quebec and B.C. both have pretty strong teams. I remember when I was playing in Calgary, a guy from New Brunswick-I couldn't conquer him. I came second that year. I lost two games and they were both to him.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚n B.C., the tournament ran from August 16 to 20th,鈥� says Lawrence. 鈥淥n the first day, I played five games back-to-back, the next day, four games, and on the final day, four games. On the last day- Saturday- we had a banquet and were presented with our medals.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t was great to win,鈥� Lawrence says when asked about his trip to the podium. 鈥淏ut the best thing about the game is the people in it. It's a good sport, and you never see bad sportsmanship. You get to know guys from the other provinces and they're all good people.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t's a seniors' sport, too. All ages play, but I know a guy from Moosomin who's 95-years-old. He plays in our tournament in Whitewood, so you don't have to quit if you're 90,鈥� he laughs.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚n B.C., our club in Whitewood was approved to host the nationals in 2018. We'll be looking for volunteers,鈥� says Lawrence, adding that it's a good chance to see what the sport is all about.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚'm really looking forward to that,鈥� he says. 鈥淎s I said, it's a good sport and I know our club will do a good job of hosting.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 聽鈥� All of the time, I've been doing this, I've been enjoying it. Win or lose, I don't really care, but I've got to be in the game.鈥�
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