Skit helped Cedar Rapids land world tournament

CEDAR RAPIDS - The methods may have been unorthodox but were effective.

Mary Lee Malmberg, the Director of Sports Tourism for the Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, donned a snorkel, goggles and flippers, then walked to the stage in front a group of delegates waiting to judge a city that was merely a month removed from a disastrous flood.

Malmberg was attempting to persuade the group in York, Pa., that despite having a downtown and its nearby neighborhoods ravaged by floodwaters from the Cedar River that Cedar Rapids was a place to hold its biggest annual event in the future.

The approach worked and landed the 2010 National Horseshoe Pitchers Association World Tournament to be held Monday through Aug. 7 at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.

“I thought it came off very professional in the fact that no matter what kind of disaster that a community faces, the people will pick up and still move forward and do business,” NHPA President Stuart Sipma said. “I thought Mary Lee and the other two did a very good job of displaying a skit to sell the delegates for the right to host this world tournament.”

The “other two” were Ralph Palmer, of Cedar Rapids, who will serve as the host tournament director, and Iowa Hawkeye Horseshoe Pitchers Association President LeRoy Law, of Des Moines, whose organization is co-hosting the tournament with the Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Both were sold on Malmberg's method of letting the delegates know the venue and other resources were relatively unaffected by the flood and would be fine for 2010.

“If you don't make yourself a little different, there's no way you can stand out in the crowd,” said Palmer, who is known for an outgoing personality. “I was pleased about that.”

Cedar Rapids didn't just have to overcome competition from Little Rock, Ark., Pocatello, Idaho and Lebanon, Ohio, in 2008 for this year's rights, but also the images of a devastated city that reached a national audience. Each city was allowed 20 minutes for a presentation and Cedar Rapids was last.

Malmberg wasn't sure whether it would create doubt in the city's ability to run a large event successfully or lead to sympathy votes.

“Realistically, images like that can really make people decide not to have this event here,” she said.

The lasting impression was favorable. After failing two previous years, Cedar Rapids won the rights, which requires a two-thirds majority vote, on the first ballot.

“We did well,” said Palmer, who recalled being the first eliminated site in the city's first bid in 1988 and again in 2007. “We had our eyes on the prize and stayed after it.”

The group's determination didn't buckle and that effort wasn't lost on the deciding NHPA members. They thought the city's continued attempt to secure the rights to host the meet was a sign of dedication.

“That's another message to the delegates,” Sipma said. “Anyone who wants to try three years in a row, that's just telling the delegates they want you here. They want you to come here.”

Choosing Cedar Rapids gave the NHPA an opportunity to help the city rebound, and the group made sure to inform them of the long-term effects of their decision.

“As an organization, they could really assist us in our recovery by selecting Cedar Rapids,” Malmberg said. “The good news in the story was that when they came to town their spending would be great for the community and they could be part of our recovery.”

The tournament is expected to inject almost $1.2 million into the local economy. Cedar Rapids will benefit from players and their families making their annual trip to the tournament, paying for entertainment, daily necessities and lodging.

Malmberg said organizers expect results similar to the 2009 event hosted by Springfield, Ill.

“We have done past research on what groups will spend when they come to town,” Malmberg said. “Kind of the daily expenditures for food, shopping, gas, what they might have that way and then the hotel room portion of it, too.”

The goal is much broader than cashing in one time. A positive experience can help the Convention and Visitors Bureau add to its credibility when lobbying for future events, bring businesses to the area or have visitors return to experience what the city has to offer.

“We can show the resume of events that have been hosted here and hopefully bring more to the area,” Malmberg said.

This area will welcome more than 1,260 competitors from all over the world, including Canada, Norway and possibly Mexico, as well as from all over the United States. The Jukskei team from South Africa will perform pitching demonstrations outside the arena that will hold 50 clay-filled courts with two additional playoff courts.

Fans will receive free admission to watch pitchers compete in various skill levels and age groups. Participants are guaranteed three days, including five games, of competition in either the men's, women's, elder's, senior's, junior's or cadet's division. The senior class consists of players 70 and older, while the elder group is for pitchers 50 and over. Juniors are players 18 and younger and those 10 and younger compete as cadets. They qualify by playing in four NHPA sanctioned events during the year leading up to the tournament.

“That's what's unique about this world tournament,” Sipma said. “It allows everyone that pitches horseshoes and is a sanctioned member of the NHPA to participate no matter if you're the best pitcher or the absolute worst pitcher. Doesn't matter if you're younger than a 9-year-old or grandpa that is 80 to 90 years old, we have a division especially designed and developed for you to pitch in and compete.”

Play kicks off with throwers who have a lower ringer percentage, battling from July 26-28, followed by more skilled competitors July 29-31. The top 20 men and top 12 women, elders, seniors and juniors qualify for a championship tournament that will continue into the second week, concluding with world-class competition Aug. 7 with the men's and women's championships.

Junior and cadet championships will be held July 31 and elders and senior championships on Aug. 5.

“It's actually two tournaments in one,” Sipma said. “Your best pitchers are going to come the second week.”

Men and senior men throw from a 40-foot distance. Women, juniors and elders throw from 30 feet.