Still throwing horseshoes at 90

After over 80 years spent pitching horseshoes, Howard Weitzel is preparing for his last-ever Canadian national championship. The 90-year-old former world champion will be one of 112 competitors at the national tournament, which runs this week in Saskatoon.

“It’ll probably be the last one, yeah. I’m stubborn. I give it all I have. I’m not used to losing. I think a lot of the guys will be happy when I quit,” said Weitzel from his home in North Battleford Monday.

Although the competitor in him is always looking for a match, there isn’t much more for Weitzel to accomplish. On top of the world championship he won as a senior in 2001 in Minnesota, he has 10 Canadian titles across various divisions. He is also a member of the horseshoes halls of fame for both Saskatchewan and Canada, and the North Battleford Sports Hall of Fame.

It all started when he was nine years old, pitching in a backyard in Edam with his father and brother.

“In them days they didn’t have junior championships, but when I was about 15 I started playing at picnics against men,” Weitzel said. He moved up from there to tournaments at events like Buffalo Days in Regina.

It wasn’t until later in life that he started competing in national tournaments. He won his first title in 1983 in the intermediate division, which was for ages 60 to 64. He went to win three senior titles, then decided to move down into the open division against younger competition.

He won four more titles there, including one at 78 in 2000, before moving back to the seniors division and competing at the shorter 30foot distance, where he won twice more.

For Weitzel, it has always been about the love of the game.

“There’s not big money in it. My kids always said if it was golfing we’d be rich,” he said.

He couldn’t put a finger on what exactly hooked him into the game.

“I guess it just got in my blood. My dad and my brother used to play some, and that’s where I got started in my backyard,” he said.

This year, Weitzel hasn’t been throwing as well as he used to. He wasn’t planning to compete at nationals, but was convinced to do so.

“I don’t expect to do too much. I haven’t been feeling as good as I should. I just hope to throw a few ringers,” he said.

The 2012 Canadian horseshoe championship runs Wednesday to Saturday this week at the Nutana Curling Club in Saskatoon. Registrants vary in age from seven to 90 years old. The final matches will take place Saturday at noon.