A Swarthmore tradition since 1968, the Cris Hansen Memorial Horseshoe tournament is held annually every Independence Day. After enjoying the morning festivities in town, participants arrive at Little Crum Creek Park on Cresson Lane for the fun of the competition and the neighborhood camaraderie. The number of participants varies from 35 to 70 each year (this is mostly dependent on the weather!) and of course, this is in addition to the friends and family who just come to watch!
WHO: Doubles, ages 13 and up
WHERE: Little Crum Creek Park
WHEN: Thursday, July 4, 2024 at 12:30 p.m.
**Arrive early for sign-in prior to creation of the tournament bracket
REGISTRATION: No fee, no registration! Just show up and play!
FORMAT: Doubles bracket tournament with single elimination
- Teams are randomly assigned to the brackets
- Games are to 30, must win by 2
- Ringers are 3 points (most be hooked at the points), leaners are 2 points
- Closest to the pin within a shoe width wins the points
- Topped ringers cancel each other out
- All decisions, including bracket determination, by the judge are final… this maintains the friendly competition and the spirit of the day for everyone!
THE HISTORY OF THE CRIS HANSEN MEMORIAL
In 2008, the tournament was dedicated to honor the memory of three-time horseshoe tournament champion, Cris Hansen. Cris was a 1979 graduate of Swarthmore High School and at the age of 15, he joined his two brothers and father as a volunteer with the Swarthmore Fire and Protective Association. He held various offices with the company and was Chief for more than 20 years. Cris was the Emergency Management Coordinator for the Borough of Swarthmore and was chosen as Swarthmore’s Citizen of the Year in 2000. Most importantly, Cris was a friend to anyone in need, always ready to step in and help a neighbor. He was loved and respected by his family and friends, as well as many members of our community, and we are honored to throw in his memory.
TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS
2023 David Chwastyk and Bernie Murtaugh
2022
2021 Don Grimes Sr – Don Grimes Jr
2020 No tournament because of Covid
2019 Larry Shriner – Geof Chew
2018 Fran Donnelly – Phil Gricco
2017 Tim Delozier – Dave MacCrone
2016 Don Grimes, Sr. – Don Grimes, Jr.
2015 Larry Schriner – Dave Augustine
2014 Fran Donnelly – Phil Gricco
2013 Don Grimes, Sr. – Don Grimes, Jr.
2012 Brian Deppen – Paul Schmidt
2011 Don Grimes, Sr. – Don Grimes, Jr.
2010 Geof Chew and Larry Schriner
2009 Geof Chew and Larry Schriner
2008 Tim Delozier – Doug Miller
2007 Larry Schriner – Geof Chew
2006 Dan Shaffer – Rick Shaffer
2005 Don Grimes, Sr. – Don Grimes, Jr.
2004 Dave MacCrone – Mike MacCrone
2003 Cris Hansen – Doug Miller
2002 Dan Shaffer – Rick Shaffer
2001 Dan Shaffer – Rick Shaffer
2000 Aiden Weir – Brian Weir
1999 Aiden Weir – Brian Weir
1998 Cris Hansen – Doug Miller
1997 Dan Shaffer – Rick Shaffer
1996 Dan Shaffer – Rick Shaffer
1995 Dan Shaffer – Rick Shaffer
1994 Aiden Weir – Larry Schriner
1993 Dan Shaffer – Rick Shaffer
1992 Fran Donnelly – Phil Gricco
1991 Larry Schriner – Aiden Weir
1990 Jim Rothschild – Cris Hansen
1989 Aiden Weir – Larry Schriner
1988 Rick Shaffer – Dan Shaffer
1987 Larry Schriner – Aiden Weir
1986 Norm Weir – Andrew Weir
1985 Aiden Weir – Larry Schriner
1984 Dan Shaffer – Rick Shaffer
1983 Ed Shaffer – John Restrepo
1982 Chuck Coltman – Dick Hunt
1981 Chuck Coltman – Dick Hunt
1980 Chuck Coltman – Dick Hunt
1979 Maurice Moore – Bob Mudrick
1978 Maurice Moore – Bob Mudrick
1977 Gene Martenson – Bob Mudrick
1976 Doug Bender – Ben Heckshere
1975 Huey Garrity – Dick Runner
1974 Steve Prosak, Jr. – Steve Prosak, Sr.
1973 Steve Prosak, Jr. – Steve Prosak, Sr.
1972 Rob Hopson – Doug Bender
1971 Dick Behr – Maurice Moore
1970 Dick Behr – Maurice Moore
1969 Doug Bender – Bart Mackey
1968 Doug Bender – Dick Behr
MULTIPLE WINNERS
10: Larry Shriner
9: Dan Shaffer, Rick Shaffer
7: Aiden Weir
5: Don Grimes Sr., Don Grimes Jr.
4: Doug Bender, Maurice Moore
3: Dick Behr, Geof Chew, Chuck Coltman, Cris Hansen, Dick Hunt, Doug Miller, Bob Mudrick
2: Fran Donnelly, Phil Gricco, Steve Prosak Jr, Steve Prosak Sr, Brian Weir
Back-To-Back-To-Back Winners:
Chuck Coltman and Dick Hunt (’80, ’81, ’82), Rick Shaffer and Dan Shaffer (’95,’96,’97)
Back-To-Back Winners:
Dick Behr and Maurice Moore (’70, ’71), Steve Prosak Jr and Steve Prosak Sr (’73,’74), Maurice Moore and Bob Mudrick (’78, ’79), Aiden Weir and Brian Weir (’99, ’00), Dan Shaffer and Rick Shaffer (’01, ’02), Geof Chew and Larry Schriner (’09, ’10)
PROGRAM DIRECTOR: Laurie Riggs, leriggs1@verizon.net