SEATTLE — It's estimated that 15 million Americans play the sport of horseshoes either casually or competitively. And perhaps one of the oldest players still pitching calls Auburn, WA home.
"I had an uncle who is a retired postman and he introduced me to the game when I was about 11," said Charles "Charlie" Tapper.
8 decades later, Charlie is still throwing "shoes."
"I think I'm probably the oldest horseshoe pitcher, 94, I just had a birthday last month," said Charlie. "Once I got into it, it just became something that I wanted to do regularly. And I was fairly good at it, not the best, but I won my fair share of games."
"The object, of course, is to make as many ringers as you can," Charlie said. "I've kinda gone down in my ringer percentage as I've gotten older. A couple of years ago I changed from 40 feet to 30 feet because I couldn't throw 40 feet anymore."
But despite his age, Charlie's desire to play has never fallen short.
"Win or lose, I really liked the competition," he said. "Even if I play against an A-class person. I'll do my best to try to beat him with no handicap."
But besides the competitions, it's the fun Charlie has with his fellow pitchers that help keep him young.
"I just love the people, the camaraderie," said Charlie. "I just enjoy everybody. There's no enemies in horseshoes. I mean, there's competition, there's good sportsmanship, too. I love the good sportsmanship that we have."
Charlie will be competing at the 2024 NHPA World Horseshoe Pitching Championships in the Tri-Cities from July 29 - August 3.
You can find more information on organized horseshoe pitching in Washington State at the Washington State Horseshoe Pitchers Association (WSHPA) website.
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