March 2022
2022 will mark our 45th year of Horseshoes in Brampton. Our Club has come a long way from the beginnings back in 1978 when our “Founders” decided to give this Horseshoe pitching idea a go! Well, it paid off in spades and we are all happy for it.
After 2 years of endless disruption and uncertainty, our daily lives are starting to return to almost normal and it could not have come soon enough. It will be nice to welcome back a few members who could not attend during the Covid outbreak!
As many of you know Ken Condie has stepped down as President of this Club after 22 years at the helm. He has certainly laid the groundwork and accomplished unimaginable feats during his tenure at the Club, His is not going anywhere as VP but will continue to guide us along the way with his expertise.
As your new President, I will certainly be looking to the executive for help along the way and update and make some minor changes going forward but will try to keep the same routines and happenings we have been used to for these many years.
We had a successful Brampton/Hamilton Friendship Tournament in February with 18 of ours playing 18 of theirs. We took home the trophy with 54 wins to their 44. Well done guys! it was a great day! The same tournament will be held on May 28th this year at our Pits, so we are looking for eighteen players for that date to defend the trophy.
We are looking to the city for some much-needed changes for our club, one being changing of the lighting we currently around the pits to LED. This is happening City wide so hopefully we should see the changes soon.
We have also sent plans to the city for a Bleacher roof over our seating area, so that is in the works as well. We are trying to receive an update on these plans from the city.
Finally, we have proposed an Indoor Pitching Facility idea to the city to be built at the damaged Victoria Area whenever it gets rebuilt. Talks began before, so waiting on an update on that as well.
Our tournaments this year will again be held on the same dates as they always have been, so more info will be coming about them later.
I hope that many of you have had a chance to check out the new website Ken and I built in the winter of 2019. I took the executive on a quick tour of the site at our February meeting for those who had not seen it and I think it went over well. If you won an award of any kind your photo and story will be there. In addition to all that, Ken has created a 555-page History Book of Brampton Men’s Horseshoe Club in two parts. This book can be found on the website under the BMHC History Tab. Check it out…. it is impressive!
The club will still be looking for helpers for various tasks along the way, like painting stakes, watering pits and minor maintenance, so if you can assist, please step up and help your club.
Our end of season Banquet is ear-marked for November 5th at Jim Archdekin Arena. Chris Gibson is still under renovation. The date is unofficial as the city will not book us in for sure until April 18th, 6 months prior. We will update that as soon as we get the word.
Our registration date is set for Wednesday April 6th, 7pm at the Legion. Bring your completed forms (Please print legibly) and payment that night, We will have a short meeting and meet our new players. If you have a friend who wants to play bring them along.
Wishing you all a great season of Horseshoes and hope you have a little fun along the way!
Gary Branning
President
October 2021
News Flash:
Those that attended our Playoff/awards/Elections/BBQ really enjoyed the playoffs on a Saturday over playing it on a Tuesday night. The new executive will discuss the possibility of next season playing on Saturday. The winners will be posted on the website under Tournaments in the next week or two.
I decided not to run for Club President for the 2022 – 2023 seasons. My wife of 63 years needs my constant care 24/7 and I felt that I could not give you the same commitment that you came to expect, over the 22 season that I served as President.
I was asked and accepted the position of Vice- President, so you haven’t got rid of me yet, and despite my declined in throwing horseshoes, I will continue to play, probably in the “D” division, where they all seem to have a lot of fun.
I am happy to report that Gary Branning accepted the position of President, which he will begin in 2022. I know he will do a great job and look forward working with him to make the transition as smooth as possible. He will also take on the role as statistician and I will show him how I did it, he has more knowledge of excel than I have, I am sure he will find a better way, but at least he has the base to work with.
Our Treasurer has put together a proposed role that each member of the new executive will be expected to do, which will relieve some of the work load off Gary, it will be brought up at the next meeting, which will take place before the end of the year.” I should have done it years ago.”
For a look at the New Executive for 2022-2023 click HERE
2021 Spring Newsletter
News Flash From Club President Ken Condie & Executive Member/Webmaster Gary Branning
Our new website is now up and running!
Even if you have checked out the different titles, keep checking as changes are continually made to improve the information.
To all members past and present, checkout the History of our club, from 1978 and currently to 2012. This will be continually updated, and changes made. I hope you enjoy going back in time, to see how our club started and how it has progressed over the years.
Gary Branning our new webmaster spent hundreds of hours plus to build the site and update all the information. I have spent the same number researching and improving the pictures and information.
If you find any errors or information you would like to add, please let me know. Old members; if you have pictures during your time with the club and they are not in the History book, please send them to me by mail or email.
As for this coming season, we will just have to wait and see how we can control the COVID-19 virus, remember it takes all of us to defeat it.
Stay safe and Healthy.
Ken Condie
If you want to contact Gary Branning with questions or to congratulate him for a job well done or any other reason. garybranning@gmail.com