Champion Dave Sebring and AHSF Commissioner Pete Leibman and Champ Tim Meehan. Once again Garden City hosted the American Horseshoe Federation Northeast Qualifier. And this year the team of Jim Meehan and Dave Sebring took down top honors and will represent the northeast in the national finals in Las Vegas on Labor Day weekend. ESPN will televise.

“Meehan was on fire,” said Leo Stimmler. Stimmler, champ the previous two years, was happy to pass the torch. He added, “Sebring is a surgeon.” Sebring, suave, sophisticated, and always quietly confident, is relentless. Stimmler was teamed with Rein Griesmer, champion polo player from Southampton. Stimmler and Griesmer lost in the semis but Griesmer vowed that he would take the title next year.

The road to this title was anything but easy as newcomers Paul Keller, Paul Maio, and Kim Timon provided stiff competition. But the most difficult hurdle was the team of Dennis Menger and Steve Vasilikos who took the first of three matches in the best two of three final before succumbing to white hot heat of Meehan and the precision of Sebring.

Vasilikos topped a ringer to ensure a semi-final victory and Menger threw four ringers in the competition to add to the competitive fire Meehan and Sebring endured. “I felt the crowd was behind us,” said Sebring. “And, Jim and I fed off their enthusiasm.” Said Menger: “Years from now people who weren’t in attendance will swear they were here to see this match.”

As Meehan and Sebring head for Vegas, Stimmler awaits an invitation to the American Horseshoe Federation Hall of Fame. Will losing to Meehan and Sebring compromise his chances? “I don’t see how,” said Meehan, who is now the number one ranked American Horseshoe Federation competitor. “Look at the man’s body of work.” Said Sebring: “I patterned my game and workout regimen after Leo Stimmler. He is the American Horseshoe Federation.”

While the competition was fierce and proved to be an incredible experience for the spectators, controversy did surface as two competitors lodged protests against Meehan and Sebring. “No one is that good,” said one competitor who requested anonymity. “I swear Meehan used magnets,” he said. The other competitor, again requesting anonymity, accused Commissioner Leibman of giving Sebring preferential treatment. Now the commissioner and the American Horseshoe Federation board will rule on the protests. “The ruling should take about three minutes,” said Leibman. “And, I’m going to move to have the two protestors suspended for beshmirching two great champions and a sport that we love.”