For horseshoes being a family affair, Eileen Kozakewich has went along way in the sport and in July she was honoured nationally for her dedication and accomplishments on the local, provincial and national scale.
Kozakewich began playing horseshoes in 1977, the second year of the North Battleford Horseshoe Club's existence. She is still currently a member with the club and serves as the secretary and statistician.
She has been a volunteer and strong supporter of horseshoe events and facilities across the province for years, and she can also play. Her highest individual score was an 86 per cent, as she used 19 ringers and only 22 pitches to beat a former provincial champion. Kozakewich was a seven time Saskatchewan Ladies A Champion herself and three time Canadian champion.
Her travels have taken her once to the United States to compete and all across Canada, as her and her husband would travel to nearly 10 tournaments per season. Although her high-level competition traveling is limited now her name in the horseshoe world will not be forgotten. Kozakewich was inducted into the Horseshoe Canada Hall of Fame and presented with the Outstanding Female Player Award.
Ladies A, senior ladies, mixed doubles, ladies' doubles and the ringer event - it didn't matter what the competition was Kozokewich excelled at them all, but the ringer event was one of her specialties. She once tossed 38 of 50 ringers.
Her dedication to the sport far exceeded that of most, as her and her late husband often played horseshoes in their backyard pit, which he build at their house in North Battleford. Kozakewich's husband was one of the founding members of the local club and soon he had his wife join and eventually introduced the rest of the family to the sport. The family also excelled, as their son became a national champion as well.
The love for horseshoes continues through the generations. Kozakewich intends to join her grandson for a tournament in Saskatoon in September. During her most recent tournament she won eight individual games and all her mixed doubles games.
Early in her career Kozakewich balanced playing horseshoes and softball, but it was the competition and the opportunity to get to meet so many people that continued drawing her back to the horseshoe pits.
After playing at a horseshoe pit in B.C., Kozakewich was instrumental in raising the roof over the Manitou Beach pits, the first and only horseshoe facility in Saskatchewan with a roof over the outdoor playing surface. Manitou Beach has hosted many provincial championships and because of the fundraising effort from people like Kozakewich games can go on rain or shine.
Kozakewich also instructed and helped introduce the sport to many who have never played before including high school students, nurses in training, superannuated teachers and the handicapped.
Kozakewich still pitches horseshoes once a week during the North Battleford Horseshoe Club's league play. She also would like to extend the invitation to everyone to go out and try the sport, but more importantly encourages anyone between 70 and 90 to join the club and play until the end of September for just three dollars. The club meets Wednesday from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Are you willing to accept the challenge from one of Canada's best horseshoe pitchers, which developed her craft right here in the Battlefords?
Kozakewich joins Howard Weitzel as the only two members from the local club to be inducted into the Horseshoe Canada Hall of Fame.
