Elmore was ringer from the start

CEDAR RAPIDS - It was love at first sight for Joan Elmore.

The moment she watched twin sisters Marlene Ray and Maxine Griffith pitch horseshoes, after reading about the duo in a local paper, she developed a passion for the sport.

"They were Tennessee state champions,” said Elmore, 61, of Mount Juliet, Tenn. “The top pitchers in Tennessee.

“I watched the twins pitched. They played all day. I was really intrigued by it.”

She joined a league the following week and has been pitching ever since that fall of 1996. Now, Elmore is attempting to defend her title at the 2010 National Horseshoe Pitchers Association World tournament this week at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.

Elmore said she was looking for something to do as her youngest daughter, Christa, headed to college. Instead, she found untapped talent in the sport. In her first tournament she nearly threw ringers at a 60-percent clip and within a year she claimed the Tennessee state crown.

“I just had a natural ability for it,” said Elmore, who was an administrative assistant for the state of Tennessee for 27 years. “And I had a love for it to put in the time and the work it takes.”

The early success uncovered Elmore's competitive streak. Her complete effort was focused on ascending the ranks. Early on she set her sites on state and world championships and earning spots in the Tennessee and national Halls of Fame.

"I set goals for myself when I started and tried to achieve the goals," Elmore said. "I've accomplished all that."

Her husband, James, who travels to each of her tournaments, testified to her dedication. Some times her practicing serves as his wake-up call.

"She wakes me up a lot in the morning," James Elmore said with a laugh. "I those shoes clanging outside."

The lengths she has to go in order to compete shows just how devoted she is to the sport. Elmore lives about 140 miles away from the nearest courts just for local tournaments. Each summer she takes at least six-hour treks to other states for top-flight competition, including Illinois, Ohio, North and South Carolina.

"I have to do that to meet the level of competition I'm going to face at the world tournament," Elmore said. "If I pitch locally, I wouldn't have the need to pitch like I should."

Elmore received a bit of good news while in Cedar Rapids. The NHPA announced the host site for the 2012 world tournament Sunday. She will get to compete in her home state.

"We're very proud Knoxville, Tenn., was awarded the world championships for 2012," Elmore said. "It will be one tournament I won't have to travel 12 to 16 hours to get there."

She will have a chance to add to her title total near her home. She won women's open world titles in 2006, 2007 and 2009 and is looking for a fourth title at this year's event, which is her 13th world tournament.

"I'm very proud of her," James Elmore said. "She had a knack for it."

World titles come with added pressure. Elmore said once you compete at that level spectators, and even yourself, expect to perform at the level all the time.

"The first one is awesome because you really worked hard and it finally happened," said Elmore, noting more pressure exists during qualifying since you go home if you don't do well. "After that, you know you're capable of doing it so it's a let down if you don't."

Competition and success is only a part of Elmore's love for horseshoe. Competition stays on the court and gives way to camaraderie once play concludes. Elmore said many pitchers will have dinner together and discuss the day.

"That's the one thing that really endeared me to horseshoes," Elmore said. "I've made so many lasting friends that will go on long after horseshoes is over."

Maybe once horseshoes is over she can sit back and watch as a fan. Her oldest daughter, Karen, is expecting her first child, and Christa's 3-year-old son, Alexander, has shown a touch with horseshoes. A picture on the NHPA website shows Alexander throwing a horseshoe at 18-months-old.

"I was telling my husband the other day it won't be long until we're taking him with us," Elmore said. "He gives me a good luck wish everyday. That will be something I teach him and hopefully something he'll like to do."

At the very least Elmore will be able to share all her accolades with her grandchildren. That list is very long in the relatively short time she's picked up the sport.

"I've been pleased with what I've accomplished," Elmore said. "I have been a little amazed that starting late than some people that I have accomplished what I have."