CLUB HISTORY

                      Hillsdale County Fair Horseshoe Tournaments and Club

The first horseshoe tournaments held at the Hillsdale County Fair was around 1930.   At that time the Superintendent in charge of horseshoes tournaments was not identified in County Fair records available from the Fair Office.  In the early 1940's, Fred O'Melay was listed as the Superintendent in charge of Horseshoes.  About 1977, B.L. Belding was designated at Superintendent  for horseshoes.  Records indicate that Dean Wolfe took over the coordination of horseshoe tournaments in 1978.   Dean served in that position until 1983 when Rex Ryan assumed the horseshoe tournament coordination responsibility.  It was during Rex Ryan's tenure that the 'Thursday Night Horseshoe Pitchers' group was started, and a summer league was developed involving some 15-20 local pitchers.  Bill Tedrick assisted Rex and assumed the coordinator role in 2003.Jack Erwin assumed the Club Coordinator responsibilities in the fall of 2008.
 


Dean Wolfe, on left above, was a member of the Wolverine and National Horseshoe Pitchers Association. He was inducted into the Wolverine State Horseshoe Pitchers Hall of Fame in 1979.  Dean started pitching in 1960 and was a 45-50 percent ringer pitcher.  He was runner up winner in the Class B Tournament at the 1972 State Championship Tournament.  His interest in promoting and organizing horseshoes in the Hillsdale area is credited with the creation of the local horseshoe group. 




Rex Ryan, farmer, horseshoe enthusiast and long-time Hillsdale County Fair Board Superintendent, deserves much of the credit for fostering organized horseshoes in Hillsdale County. Rex served as coordinator for County Fair Horseshoe Tournaments   from 1983 to 2002.  He started the 'Thursday Night Horseshoe Group" and the summer league that continues today. He was a member of the Michigan State and National Horseshoe Pitchers Association.  Bill Tedrick assumed the Club Coordinator role in 2003.  Ryan was inducted into the Michigan Horseshoe Pitchers Association Hall of Fame in 2007

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Bill Tedrick assumed the Hillsdale County Fair Horseshoe Tournament Coordinator responsibilities in 2003.  Tedrick is a long time member of the Michigan and National Horseshoe Pitchers Association since 1989. He has participated in several World Horseshoe Tournaments winning Class Championships in 1993 and 2003.  He organized the Hillsdale Fairground Horseshoe Club in 2003 and was inducted into the Michigan Horseshoe Pitchers Association Hall of Fame in 2007. The Summer League was expanded and played a 16 week schedule in 2004 and 2005 with some 24 pitchers participating during the 2005 league play. He developed this Internet Website for the Hillsdale Fairground Horseshoe Club.  The Club Website features the Bob Dunn Antique Horseshoe Collection, Summer League activities and Fair Tournaments promotion, publishes league and tournament result. The Website also features several links to Websites related to Horseshoes in general. The Fair Photo Album captures the photos from the Fair Tournaments each year.