Purcell nabs highest Iowa finish in world horseshoe tournament

CEDAR RAPIDS - Larry Purcell plays a vital role in the local horseshoes community. The 77-year-old from Cedar Rapids contributes his time and effort to the local league and courts at Ellis Park.

He also served as a representative for the horseshoe pitchers from across the state as the highest placing Iowan in the 2010 National Horseshoes Pitchers Association held over the last two weeks at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena. Purcell concluded competition Friday, finishing fourth in the men's elders division.

He posted a 10-3 record and threw a ringers at almost a 75-percent rate. The performance came as a bit of a surprise to Purcell.

“My initial goal was to throw a high enough percentage to reach the championship flight,” Purcell said. “I did that and I threw better in the championships than I expected.”

Purcell, a native of Fertile in north central Iowa, started horseshoes as a youth. He said in a small town there was not much to do besides pitch horseshoes and play ball. Purcell remembers four lighted horseshoes courts in town where many threw at night.

Purcell's always been active in sports, including golf, fast-pitch softball, bowling, tennis and billiards. He took a break from horseshoes but returned a little more than two decades ago.

“When my body said stop doing some of these strenuous activities I picked up horseshoes again when I was 55 years old,” Purcell said. It's a great game.

“I totally love it. It fits me.”

No one is as fitting as Purcell to be the top representative either. Purcell has devoted a lot of his time as a local league secretary and treasurer. He also spends many hours maintaining local courts and keeping update statistics of local play. Ralph Palmer, of Cedar Rapids, who competed in horseshoes and served as the host director for the NHPA world tournament, said he thinks Purcell is one of the top “half-dozen” pitchers in Iowa, but his biggest contribution is not on the court.

“He's literally giving himself to our sport,” said Palmer, the president of the Ar-Jay Center. “It's more than him throwing. He's the glue that keeps the local club together.”

Purcell wouldn't take credit alone, highlighting the work done by local members John O'Shea, Ken Cook and Leo Lamparek. It's not surprising that Purcell focused more on the club's benefit than his own accomplish last week. He was more excited about interest generated from hosting the world championships. The local league has dwindled to 19 members from its 42 about 10 years ago,

“The only thing I see out of this is I have five names interested in pitching from the exposure,” said Purcell, noting five or six members are older than 80. “It will be a plus for our local horseshoe league.”

Purcell's unselfishness and his dedication remain constant. He is an asset to local horseshoes, according to Palmer. Someone may fill his role someday, but Purcell is a good ambassador with unmatched enthusiasm.

“When you pull your arm out of a five-gallon bucket of water it fills in pretty good behind you,” Palmer said. “He's as good of an arm as you can have.”