There is a Canadian summer tradition of enjoying the weather, consuming cold beverages, and tossing inanimate objects at holes. Beer Pong, once a frat-house staple, has seen a re-emergence in popularity in recent times. Texas Horseshoes follows in that same vein and minus the red solo cups is a greener pursuit for summer fun.
Mayor of Mattawa, Dean Backer says that bringing the event to Voyageur Days was a natural fit. "I've always said that Mattawa is the Super Bowl of Texas Horseshoes. Every year at Voyageur Days, you look in people's backyards and everybody's playing." Backer agreed that there are some ringers in town, and that "the finals of this tournament should be pretty impressive."
There will be bragging rights and cash on the line as Mattawa's Voyageur Days introduces both recreational and family-friendly categories for their inaugural Big Joe Mufferaw World's Texas Horseshoe Tournament. All proceeds will benefit the construction of the Mattawa Splash Pad. The recreational division will compete Saturday, July 29, and the family division will be held Sunday, July 30.
Said Backer in an interview Thursday, "We wanted to add a family event that everyone could have fun with. It's a good social game where people can enjoy the music in the background and have some family fun. It brings everybody together and at the end of the day we're making money for our splash pad."
Explorer's Point, the site where the new Big Joe Mufferaw wood-carved statue will be dedicated during Voyageur Days, will host the tournament, so naming the Texas Horseshoes event after the Canadian legend was a fitting tribute, added Backer.
Texas Horseshoes is also known as "throwing washers," because, well, no horseshoes are involved in the game, but hardware washers are. Six washers, in fact, three per team and differentiated by colour. Players stand across from their teammates, on platforms 10 feet apart. Each platform has three holes cut out of the surface. The farthest hole counts for five points, the middle is worth three, and the closest, two. Landing a washer on the board without it falling into one of the cut-outs is worth one. Teams play games to 21.
Organizers are asking that interested teams please register before Friday, July 21st at Mattawa Town Hall and/or Mattawa Information Centre, as the number of participants and game boards needed to be constructed for the event must be known in advance.
