92-year-old plays last game in Mission Valley finals
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CHARLO — The old wooden backstops at Tiny’s Tavern in Charlo are pockmarked from skidding, flying, and bouncing horseshoes that missed the iron target a few inches in front of them. For thirty years, Neal Coulter has thrown many of pieces of iron while in competition for the Mission Valley Horseshoe League.
Coulter, 92, said he was hanging up his horseshoes for good after the Sept. 5 finals at Tiny’s Tavern.
“I’m going to quit,” Coulter said. “This was my last game.”
His team was knocked out of the tournament before the final round, but the player was smiling and laughing as he watched others line up to toss.
He reminisced about how much the game has changed in the 50 years he’s played.
“There wasn’t a league then,” he said. “We just played after work.”
Coulter remembers when game equipment came from actual shoes meant for horses’ hooves, not custom made for sport.
“These are more oblong, not round,” Coulter said. “The new ones are better for throwing.”
Fellow competitor Martha Hyvonen is a bit doubtful Coulter will retire.
“He says that every year,” Hyvonen said. “Then we call him when we start up again and ask him to play and he says ‘yes.’”
The games will go on, with or without Coulter. This year 28 teams sponsored by bars and taverns across Mission Valley participated in the league.
Many of the players have been enjoying the league for years, Hyvonen said. She’s been playing 30 years, but took a decade off while she raised her children.
“They were staying up too late on Thursday night,” she said.
The environment of the tournaments are friendly, Hyvonen said.
“Everyone’s a really good sport,” she said. “A few people have a drink or two. Most people drink pop.”
It was all smiles Thursday, as the crowd watched the individual skill and style of the participants. Max Krantz puffed on a pipe while he threw his horseshoes. Juanita Johnson ended each toss precariously perched on her right foot, in a signature form.
“It’s really fun,” Hyvonen said.
The results of the Mission Valley Horseshoe League finals are:
First place playoff winner:
Tiny’s 1
Neal Coulter
Brian Nitchke
Max Krantz
Albert Adams
Martha Hyvonen
Rod Hyvonen
Second place playoff winner: Club II
Richard Jackson
Sue Palmer
Ray Theiler
Brad Stevens
Tammy Starkel
Josh Starkel
Third place playoff winner: Cheers 1
Amy Johnson
Josh Johnson
Juanita Johnson
Keith Moore
Chad Mendelkow (sub Bob G)
Joe Brooks