RONCEVERTE- For the second consecutive year, the Mountaineer Open Horseshoe Tour returned to Ronceverte, home of the Mountaineer Horseshoe League, for a successful weekend of competition May 30-31.
The event marked the tour’s second stop in Ronceverte after making history in 2025 as the first Mountaineer Open Horseshoe Tour event ever held in West Virginia.
This year’s tournament attracted 88 pitchers from 17 states, an increase from the 70 competitors representing 15 states who participated last year. Competitors traveled from Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia to compete in the event.
Local competitors performed well, with Allen Withrow of Ronceverte capturing the Class C championship in the Prime 40-foot division, while Solomon Simmons of Ronceverte won Class I in the Prime 30-foot division. Freddie Hodges of Ronceverte also claimed the Class L title in the 30-foot competition.
Tournament organizers expressed appreciation for the continued support of the horseshoe community and said they hope to welcome the Mountaineer Open Horseshoe Tour back to Ronceverte in 2027.
Prime 40-Foot Division Champions
- Class A — Dan Watson (AL)
- Class B — Jimmy Campbell (VA)
- Class C — Allen Withrow (Ronceverte)
- Class D — Robert Whisenant (AL)
- Class E — Clayton Afinowicz (TX)
- Class F — Jim McElveen (GA)
- Class G — Merle Glidewell (VA)
- Class H — William Pitts (AL)
- Class I — Brian Rutledge (TX)
- Class J — Charles Brown (Spring Dale)
Prime 30-Foot Division Champions
- Class A — Kelly Glidewell (VA)
- Class B — April Campbell (VA)
- Class C — Ellen Perry (NY)
- Class D — Frank Anderson (KY)
- Class E — Janice Anderson (KY)
- Class F — Larry Pertuit (LA)
- Class G — Mike RowLee (VA)
- Class H — Donna Massey (TX)
- Class I — Solomon Simmons (Ronceverte)
- Class J — Tony Hurley (PA)
- Class K — Randy Doss (St. Union)
- Class L — Freddie Hodges (Ronceverte)
Notable Local Results
Prime 40-Foot Class C
- Allen Withrow (Ronceverte) — 41.88% ringers, 4.5-1.5 record
- Brian Boots — 49.17%, 2-2
- Bart Billings — 37.00%, 1.5-2.5
- David Holiday — 33.33%, 0-2
Prime 30-Foot Class I
- Solomon Simmons (Ronceverte) — 35.56%, 5-1
- Lucas Cantone — 28.67%, 2.5-2.5
- Robert Koontz — 27.78%, 0.5-2.5
- Tina Prowell — 21.67%, 0-2
Prime 30-Foot Class L
- Freddie Hodges (Ronceverte) — 8.89%, 2.5-0.5
- Tucker Goins — 4.67%, 2.5-2.5
- Nelda Dodson — 1.67%, 0-2
A total of 88 pitchers participated in the event, continuing the growth of one of the region’s premier horseshoe tournaments and further establishing Ronceverte as a destination for competitive horseshoe pitching in West Virginia.
