World Horseshoe Pitching Championship Coming to Topeka

Visit Topeka Inc. is proud to announce that Topeka has been chosen as the host for the 2015 World Horseshoe Pitching Championship. Visit Topeka presented a bid to hold the event with the assistance of the Topeka Horseshoe Association, the Kansas Expocentre, and the Kansas Horseshoe Pitching Association.

The 2015 Championship will be held in Topeka, July 13-25, 2015. Fifty clay courts will be set up in the Kansas Expocentre's Exhibition Hall and Landon Arena. The 18 horseshoe courts at Gage Park will be used as practice courts. The event is expected to bring in an estimated economic impact of $2 million to Topeka hotels, restaurants and businesses.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for us as we continue to showcase our ability to host high profile sporting events in the Capital City,” said Jeffrey Alderman, director of sales for Visit Topeka Inc.  “The NHPA is a highly respected organization and it’s an outstanding achievement to be selected given the stature of the other bidding cities.”

The World Horseshoe Pitching Championship is a two-week event that will bring an estimated 1,500 horseshoe pitchers and their families from across the United States, Canada and several other countries to compete in Topeka. Delegates from the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association chose Topeka over Charleston, West Virginia and Wichita Falls, Texas. The Championship was in St. George, Utah in 2013 and will be in Buffalo, New York in 2014.

"The Kansas Horseshoe Pitchers Association and the Topeka Horseshoe Association are ready to work as a team to make the 2015 championship one of the best tournaments of all time," said Melvin Jeardoe, regional director of the Kansas Horseshoe Pitchers Association. "We are very excited to see the championship in Topeka. This is an opportunity for pitchers in Kansas and the surrounding states that may not come again in their lifetime."

There are many factors the association delegates consider when voting for a host location. Topeka's central location is an important factor, as it provides easy access from across the United States. Additionally, because the tournament is held in the summer, delegates prefer an air-conditioned facility that can accommodate 50 horseshoe courts. Because many participants make the tournament a family vacation, they look for destinations with plenty of leisure activities and local attractions, convenient hotels and restaurants.

As Topeka's official destination marketing organization, Visit Topeka Inc. is dedicated to improving the area economy through marketing the region as an exceptional destination for meetings, events, sports and tourism. Visit Topeka Inc. is committed to advocating for community development that will not only attract more visitors, but will enhance the community's quality of life.