CEDAR CITY, Utah (June 7, 2026) – From backyard pits and family camping trips to the pristine clay of Horseshoe Park, the game of horseshoes showed why it remains the ultimate multi-generational sport. The Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games hosted its Horseshoes event on June 5-6, welcoming five teams for the doubles competition and 21 singles competitors spanning ages 11 to 86.

The two-day tournament carried a profound historical weight, marking the 40th anniversary of Horseshoes at the Summer Games. As one of the original sports from the inaugural 1986 Games, the event serves as a living timeline for southern Utah athletics.

"He actually brought horseshoes to southern Utah when we were younger," Horseshoes Sport Coordinator Jenny Julander said of her late father, Dennis Ohms, a legendary figure who grew the sport from regional roots. "Any horseshoe tournaments in Utah were always up north... We've had some big shoes to fill... I don't want to see horseshoes not be part of the Summer Games, and so I'm willing to put forth the effort to keep horseshoes here."

The legacy of the Ohms family is woven tightly into the fabric of the event. Julander's brother, Seth Ohms, competed over the weekend and recalled the early Olympic-style atmosphere of the Games. He even noted that his own children have worn his original, 40-year-old throwback t-shirts featuring the tournament's iconic original Pegasus logo.

That deep sense of family was not unique to the organizers. In Friday's doubles competition, three out of the five competing pairs were family members.

Brothers Randy and Rick DeLaMare teamed up to secure the gold medal in the Adult 30% Division. The brothers grew up pitching shoes at family reunions and during camping trips at Lake Powell.

"I just started playing competitively here a couple of years ago and quite enjoy the sport," Randy DeLaMare said. "I roped him into this one today."

The true beauty of the Horseshoes event is its unique ability to adapt to its players, allowing multiple generations to stand on the same court.

"That's really the strength, I think, of our sport, because you can play this sport throughout your lifetime," Seth Ohms explained. "Kids that are as young as 6 or 7 can compete, and they just stand up a little closer. and then people who are in their 90s can play too... You get grandpa, we played with our grandparents, our parents, and our kids."

That competitive spectrum was perfectly embodied by 86-year-old Heber Fuller and 11-year-old Grace Biggs.

Heber Fuller joined forces with his brother, Ken Fuller, to win the Adult 50% Division doubles title on Friday, before returning Saturday to capture the Elder Men 30' 50% Singles championship. For the Fuller brothers, horseshoes has been the glue holding them together since the 1940s, outlasting their farm relocations and fierce baseball rivalries.

"We enjoy sports," Heber Fuller said. "We can't play much, but this is something we can still play at our age, and that's important. To have a good activity and a little bit of competition and meet more people."

Ken Fuller, who travels from Rexburg, Idaho, to compete, noted that the weekend coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Teton Dam flood—an event that washed away his home decades ago. Despite missing commemorative activities back home, his commitment to the Games and his brother brought him to Cedar City.

While Friday was about familial cooperation, Saturday's singles tournament turned family members into fierce, yet good-natured, rivals.

The day's youngest competitor, 11-year-old Grace Biggs, grew up playing in her backyard pit with her siblings. She proved her mettle by winning the Cadet 10% Division.

Meanwhile, the father-daughter duo of Brent and Saige Pollock brought their weekly practice and trademark banter to the park. Saige Pollock took home the gold in the Junior 10% Division.
"If you don't trash talk, you're not doing it right," Brent Pollock laughed, readily conceding that his daughter is currently the superior pitcher of the two.

Whether chasing a perfect ringer or simply enjoying a casual afternoon outdoors, the event organizers hope to welcome even more backyard players to the official courts in the future.

"Anybody can play horseshoes and we want everybody to give it a try," Seth Ohms said. "To truly excel at horseshoes, it takes some practice... but you can still have just as much fun casually playing."

Following the completion of the weekend's events, multiple champions were crowned across several competitive divisions. In Friday's doubles competition, Heber Fuller and Ken Fuller took home the gold in the Adult 50% Division, while Genevieve Jones and Ray Lyons won the Adult 40% Division, and the brother duo of Randy DeLaMare and Rick DeLaMare secured the top spot in the Adult 30% Division.

Saturday's singles competition saw an array of talent across various pitching distances and age brackets. In the Men 40' divisions, Cal Walton claimed the 10% title, Jonathan Scott won the 20% division, Chris Buhler took the 30% crown, and Carroll Heaton emerged victorious in the 40% division. The Elder Men 30' divisions featured stellar performances, with Rick DeLaMare winning the 10% bracket, Randy DeLaMare taking the 30% title, Ray Lyons securing the 40% division, Heber Fuller capturing the 50% crown, and Roy Buhler finishing on top in the 70% division. The tournament's youngest stars also shined, as Grace Biggs won the Cadet 10% title and Saige Pollock captured the Junior 10% championship. Finally, the Women 30' brackets concluded with RaeAnne Walton winning the 10% division, Kayla Julander taking the 30% title, and Genevieve Jones securing the 50% division crown.

Up Next

With plenty of sports still open to registration, teams and individuals interested in participating in the 2026 Games can sign up at utahsummergames.org. Fans of Horseshoes can look into our next Cornhole event, which will bring the festive competition to Brian Head Resort on June 20th.

Photos by Shania Hopkins: