MadisonJournalTODAY

Walter Brake hits his mark, then does it again. His horseshoe toss has a slightly higher arc than most others. And the metal lands true against the metal post — a ringer.

“He’s our best pitcher,” says Jeff Coile of Brake.

Of course, Coile is no slouch himself. And neither is his dad, Jimmy, who is in the Georgia Horseshoes Hall of Fame.

At 4-Stakes Horseshoes in Hull, there is some serious pitching among members and guests. The club holds state-sanctioned events. And the “Class A” competitions are for the best in the business. The metal post sees continuous action. And if you want to win a such an event, you better be able to hit ringers from 40 feet at least half the time — or better.

Coile, his dad, and his brother, David, started 4-Stakes Horseshoes back in 2000. They had four stakes at the time — hence the name. But the backyard horseshoe courts have grown to 12. And the idea is this: host tournaments for the top pitchers and the novices alike. Let everyone enjoy tossing horseshoes — no matter their skill level.

“Most people think when you talk about state sanctioned events that you have to be really good, but these are handicapped events,” said Jeff Coile.
That means Coile’s 11-year-old daughter, Taylor, can compete with her dad and granddad. She’s following a family tradition when she hurls that shoe from 30 feet — which is the distance for youth, women and seniors.

“My dad, grandpa and uncle have done it, now my mom and I are,” she said at a May 19 event at 4-Stakes.

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