By ANNE SEEBALDT
Sun Community Editor
Judy Curtiss says pitching horseshoes successfully takes a steady hand, a lot of con concentration, the ability to keep your eye on the stake and good delivery technique.

The lifelong Blanchard resident should know. Curtiss, 57, has been the Michigan State Women's horseshoe champion five times, placed second twice and third once.

She also placed third in Class B of the World Championship Horseshoe Pitching event in Ainsworth, Neb. this July. She qualified for the championship round, where she placed seventh overall among the 16 women competing. Last year, she took 13th in Class C and 47th in the world.

Curtiss starting pitching horseshoes with her husband, Max, in 1982, Most of the time, the men and women compete together.

She said: "The only time they separate them is the state finals and world championship... It's nice to share a hobby. This is what we can do together and we both enjoy it."

They belong to the M-46 Horseshoe Pitching Association and the Wolverine State Horseshoe Pitching Association.

This year has been her best ever:
She and Max travel to various sites from "Harrison south almost to the state line" nearly every weekend to compete.

"You meet a lot of nice people from all over," she said. Max not only competes, but he also acts as her coach. "He tells me what I'm doing wrong," she laughed.

On Labor Day weekend, Curtiss will compete again in the state finals for the Michigan women's horseshoe pitching title. She pitches right handed with 2.8-pound Glory Horseshoes.

The Curtisses have three grown children, Carol Markham, Cindy Curtiss, and Max Curtiss, Jr., as well as six grandchildren, "They think it's quite an accomplishment."

This winter, the Curtisses plan to winter in Arizona and compete in a couple of events to keep their pitching hands in practice.