Four players from the North Battleford Horseshoe Club played in the National Championships in Manitou Beach from Aug. 5-8. (Image Credit: ID 26329858 © Lorenjamison | Dreamstime.com)

By Ryan Lambert

HORSESHOE NATIONALS

North Battleford horseshoe players shine at national championships

Aug 11, 2026 | 5:00 PM

The Canadian Horseshoe Pitching Championships were held in Manitou Beach, Sask., from Aug. 5 to 8, with several members of the North Battleford Horseshoe Club competing.

Carol Wakelin finished fourth in the women’s B division, Sherri Weitzel finished fourth in the women’s C division and Kayla Wakelin finished fourth in the women’s E division. Blair Weitzel recorded the club’s best result, finishing second in the men’s B division.

The championship followed a two-day break after the Western tournament, which featured players from Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. Carol Wakelin finished first in the mixed B division at that event.

The national championship drew 64 players from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec.

“It was pretty awesome, actually. Watching the A divisions of the men’s and the women’s was pretty amazing,” Carol Wakelin said. “There was one game where one of the ladies got 95 per cent ringers. She threw 20 shoes and 19 of them were ringers.”

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A ringer occurs when a horseshoe encircles the stake.

North Battleford’s Kayla Wakelin also sang O Canada during the championship’s opening ceremony.

“That was pretty cool,” Carol Wakelin said.

“Because it was hosted by Saskatchewan, when we went to a few of the organization meetings throughout the year, she volunteered to do the singing. She sang at the North Star Games in the past when she was in high school.”

For anyone looking to compete at that level, Wakelin said the path is not as complicated as it may seem.

“Just with a lot of practice. We have our club meets every Thursday at 5,” she said, adding that the sessions are held weekly through May and June, then sporadically through July and August.

“We charge $20 to join, but at any point, if anybody wanted to stop by and learn how to play, I’ve had clubs contact me to teach them. I teach the high school students in hopes that eventually we’d have somebody who would want to join.”

Wakelin said the sport’s popularity is dwindling across the country, but she hopes the club’s success at the national championships will encourage more people to join.

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Ryan.Lambert@pattisonmedia.com

by Ryan Lambert

North Battleford horseshoe players shine at national championships

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