Judy Curtiss can't be superstitious about her horseshoes hanging the wrong way, she has too many to keep tract of. Curtiss, an eight time woman's champion in the Michigan State Finals for horseshoe pitching and third place winner in this year's World Horseshoe Tournament, said she has 15-20 pairs of horseshoes around the house.

Curtiss, a Blanchard resident, spends her weekends at pottery clay harsh pitching competitions along with her husband Max. "Every weekend we're gone," Curtiss said. "It's something we like doing together. It's good exercise and it can be a family affair."

Although she is proud of the state champion title that she won over Labor Day in Adrian, Curtiss was very pleased with her performance at the .World Horseshoe Tournament that took place in Bismarck, N.D., July 31-Aug. 12. The event, organized by the National Horseshoe Pitching Association, NHPA, hosted 1,250 contestants from the United States Canada Japan and Norway.

Generally men and women compete separately and contestants are divided into classes at horseshoe tournaments. Class ranking is determined by the contestant's ringer percentage.

Curtiss entered the world tournament in the first class. "The NHPA keeps track all year round so they can take your percentage to get into the world tournament," Curtiss explained.

In the world tournament Curtiss threw 740 ringers out of 962 horseshoes, equaling a 77 ringer percentage, good enough for third place. The first place winner pitched an 85 percent. "1 was surprised with myself, how well I did this year," Curtiss said. In the 16 woman championship round Curtiss won 12 games out of 15.

As everyone knows, practice makes perfect. "My husband is also my coach, he tells me if I am doing anything wrong," said Curtiss.

"I usually practice about an hour everyday." That includes winter too. Curtiss and her husband practice on their indoor horseshoe pits when the weather is inhospitable.

Judy Curtiss of Blanchard pitches a horseshoe during the world tournament earlier this summer. The right handed horseshoe pitcher took third in the world and first in Michigan this year.

Judy and Max participate. in big. and little tournaments all over Michigan and travel as far as Wisconsin, Tennessee and some of the' western states. "My goal was to make at least 80 percent and that's what. I did," said Curtiss of her state finals performance, where she pitched an 81.5 percent. Their next big tournament is the Music City Tournament in Tennessee in November. Until then they will be playing the smaller tournaments.

Curtiss and her husband have been pitching horseshoes for 20 years. "1 just like to meet the people at the tournaments. They're from all over and very nice. We've kept in touch with a few of them over the years. And now I have more time to put my practice into play," she said. Curtiss retired two years ago after 25 years at K-Mart. From now on she will just be busy bringing home trophies if this year's performance keeps up.