I believe that many Shufflers, especially American Shufflers, will be interested in this report by Rosi Elrite. The report was made from the Very Firs East-West Goodwill Games in 2009. In checking the current list of players, I see several who also played in this historic first!!
Rosi ElRite sends along her Preliminary Report for this historical shuffleboard event!! 2009-09-17 to 2009-09-21.
Whenever the East Coast and the West Coast US Shufflers are together, there was always “an elephant in the room”. Invariably, it would be – who had the best courts and subsequently, the better style of playing shuffleboard.
National President, Joe Messier, saw an opportunity to have a challenge between the two coasts and enlisted the help of Rob Robinson, AZ and Rocky Briggs, CA to organize a 12 Men and 12 Women team and determine a location to hold the games. Hence, the East-West Goodwill Games were born. The first and hopefully ongoing match-up will be played in Hemet CA from September 17th thru the 21st 2009.
Hemet was the site of the 2000 ISA tournament. A bid has been submitted for 2011 to again host the ISA (International Shuffleboard Assn.) team event.
These East-West Goodwill Games will not be a tournament per se because no trophies will be awarded. All players will be given a commemorative lapel pin. Format for play will be as an Any Singles event. The East Coast team consists of 13 men and 10 women. A player from the West will play with the East to provide equal numbers of players from each coast to make even brackets. Both teams are listed alphabetically and consecutively numbered.
Play will consist of four 12 frame games to be played daily, with the exception of Saturday Sep 19th, to allow the players to attend a dinner theatre outing planned at Lawrence Welk Village Theatre. Various other social activities have been planned for the players during the event.
The tentative list of players from the East Coast includes: Joe and Cecile Messier, Earl Ball, Jim Bailey, Gus Bondi, John and Delores Brown, Roy Babcock, Rosaire Cote, Don and Kay DeHart, Ed Geueke, JoAnn Goldschmidt, Don Graham, Rita Lafave, Gary Orvis, Richard and Marilyn Phifer, Susan Stanley, Walt and Jenette Thyssen, Robert Weber and Pauline Young. Thelma Carvin from CA will round out the East Team.
Players from the West include: Rocky and Gigi Briggs, Carl and Carol Howell, Liz Backus, Nancy Chaffin, Chuck and Jan Crouse, Dick and Rosi ElRite, Bridget Gerber, Dean Grattidge, Robert and Nelda Lichtwald, Dale and Sheila Monday, Bob Rinehart, Rob Robinson, Dan and Sylvia Smith, Jim Trausch, Nancy Tyler, Sandy Watkins, and Marlus Wohlers.
Updated and hopefully daily reports will be sent after the event begins.
Rosi ElRite, member, US West team.
THE SHUFFLER thanks Rosi for this Very First Report and we are looking forward to succeeding reports!! 2009-09-08.
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