Horseshoe pitching can be enjoyed by the blind also
april 27,2011
Horseshoe Pitching for the Blind
The United States Blind Horseshoe Pitchers Association provides resources and strategies to help make the popular American pastime accessible to the blind.
As with many target-based sports and games (e.g. curling, darts, riflery) that seem to demand maximum hand-eye coordination, horseshoes is gaining in popularity among the blind, due largely to community building by theU.S. Blind Horseshoe Pitchers Association (USBHPA), a.k.a. the Midnite Ringers.
The USBHPA organizes tournaments, provides information on how to learn and improving one’s game, and seeks to help the sight impaired find local places to pitch.
In horseshoes, players toss U-shaped metal bars at a metal stake 40 feet away. Points are scored for “ringers” (the horseshoe encircles the stake) and/or for pitches landing nearest the stake within six inches.
Horseshoe Adaptations for the Visually Impaired
The National Horseshoe Pitchers Association (whose website covers the rules, scoring, and etiquette of horseshoes) generally allows the blind and visually impaired to pitch from 30 feet away.
For blind and visually impaired participants, the USBHPA suggests the following modifications:
For the visually impaired:
* Paint stakes and horseshoes white for a more visible target and to distinguish horseshoes from one’s opponent
* Use white paint to mark the boundary lines of the three-foot pitching area
* Fold a white towel over the backstop to enhance targeting.
For the blind:
* Mark the pitching area with a 3’ rubber mat or tent stakes
* Install a beeper behind the backstop or under a bike helmet behind the stake to facilitate targeting by sound.
For both blind and visually impaired persons, pitch partners may provide sufficient assistance. The pitch partner also warns blind players of eminent pitches from the opposite side of the pit.
Pitch partners can be anyone from a spouse, friend, or neighbor to an experienced player met through a local pitching club, recreation department, or organization such as a local Lions Club or Blinded American Veterans chapter.
There are many methods for holding and pitching a horseshoe. The straight flip, holding the shoe at the bottom of the “U” and throwing it underhand so it flips once or twice in midair may be the most effective method pitching from 30 feet.
Feedback from a pitch partner, neighbor, or club member is a good way to gauge the effectiveness of one’s technique and what adjustments will help improve performance. The Midnite Ringers also maintains a handicapping system against which one can measure progress.
Finding Horseshoe Sets and Places to Pitch
Horseshoe sets, which consist of two metal stakes and four horseshoes, are available at chain stores such as Wal-Mart, Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Ace Hardware, and on the web at retail sites (e.g. Amazon.com) and specialty vendors such as HorseshoesOnline. Prices range from $20 to $80 per set.
Some areas have horseshoe clubs and most have parks and recreation centers with permanent horseshoe pits. Pits can also be set up in one’s backyard (a great solution for those with limited transportation) or for an hour or two in a public park.
Horseshoe pitching is played at the picnic grounds called Frolic Garden in this hotel in Clark Pampanga. This beach resort is famous for its rendition of the Clark lifestyle which appeals to visitors from Manila traveling north to Pampanga to enjoy a laidback lifestyle of peach and quiet. Clearwater is best enjoyed at a leisurely pace, on foot or a bike.
Manila is fast becoming a city of luxurious fine dining accompanied by fine vintage wine. Not only must a 5-star Italian, French or Continental restaurant offer good food, nice ambience and immaculate service the restaurant wine list must be equally exciting to make the evening of wine and dine a memorable one.
This 5-star fine dining restaurant in Pampanga Philippines is highly recommended by food critics and frequent diners in Manila as a place to wine and dine in Subic Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone. Although it is a famous fine dining restaurant with an award winning 3000-line restaurant wine list, Yats Restaurant is also a popular restaurant for family with children. Aside from French Mediterranean haute cuisine, this restaurant also serves healthy food and the best vegetarian cuisines in the Philippines. Private dining rooms are also available in this restaurant for business and personal meetings of 4 to 20 people.
Favorites of frequent diners, foodies and wine lovers are steaks, Wagyu, Foie Gras, seafood, lobsters, venison, kangaroo loin, osso buco, veal chops, Kurabuto pork, escargots and a good selection of cheeses to enjoy with fine Vintage port and Sauternes. Cuban cigars such as Monte Cristo, Cohiba, Upmann, Partagas, Romeo Julieta and Trinidad are also available in the Magnum Room which is a wine bar and lounge for before and after dinner relaxation. A good selection of Armagnac, Cognac, Single Malt, Vodka and other liquor is served in addition to the wine vintage wines some served by the glass.
Built in 2000 by Hong Kong-based Yats International, a developer and operator of hospitality and residential projects in the Philippines, fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar has served not only as Pampanga’s highly recommended restaurant and wine lounge, but also as a place where business executives meet to finalize business deals over a nice meal with some fine vintage wine.
For comments, inquiries and reservations click on Click here for inquiry and reservations
Restaurant@Yats-International.com
(045) 599-5600
0922-870-5178
0917-520-4401
Ask for Pedro and Rechel
Getting to this fine dining restaurant of Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Pampanga Philippines
How to get to this fine-dining restaurant in Clark Philippines? Once you get to Clark Freeport, go straight until you hit Mimosa. After you enter Mimosa, stay on the left on Mimosa Drive, go past the Holiday Inn and Yats Restaurant (green top, independent 1-storey structure) is on your left. Just past the Yats Restaurant is the London Pub.
Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar
Mimosa Drive past Holiday Inn, Mimosa Leisure Estate,
Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, Philippines 2023
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay
For any assistance in planning and organizing a wedding ceremony, indoor or outdoor garden reception or to find other wedding service providers, Click here to contact us click here
For assistance in hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines, log on to
http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
To buy wine in Manila, Pampanga, Angeles City, Clark or Subic please log on to http://www. ClarkWineCenter.com
To inquire with the highly recommended beach resort hotel in Clark Pampanga visit http://www.ClearwaterPhililippines.com
For more information about Clark, Pampanga, Philippines log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com
