Twelve years ago, a horseshoe aficionado wanted to expand the opportunities to delve into his hobbies and it’s become an annual tradition and fundraiser for the Upper Darby Detachment No. 884 of the Marine Corps League.
Matt Brady, brother-in-law of Pete Leahy, adjutant of the Upper Darby detachment, had been in a horseshoe league down at JD McGillicuddy’s in Tinicum. There, he and Matt Crawford teamed up and racked up some victories.
That’s the same Crawford who served in the Marines’ Bridge Company Bravo of the 6th Engineer Support Battalion, based in the Folsom section of Ridley Township. Crawford also survived a roadside bomb attack in 2004 that killed three other Marines.
“He kept bugging me,” Leahy chuckled about Brady having him start a tournament in Upper Darby. “We ended up saying OK.”
They started out with six temporary horseshoe pits that have now become permanent.
“We got the sand from the Clifton Heights PAL league,” Leahy said. “They were going to get rid of their tournament.”
And, his brother-in-law brought players from the other leagues to the Marines’ event.
They decided to call the tournament the Sands of Secane, playing off the name of the John Wayne Marines film, the “Sands of Iwo Jima.”
One of the four memorials at the tournament this year was for Matt Brady, a longtime supporter of the Upper Darby Detachment, and a founder of the event. (COURTESY OF PETE LEAHY)
It’s become an annual tradition at the detachment, where the event helps to raise funds for the organization. The detachment hosts programming for veterans through a combat peer support group, a second-floor museum and even had a yoga/meditation class for veterans.
Held on Saturday, Leahy said there wasn’t a great turnout this year because there were an unusual amount of other events happening at the same time.
While 18 participated in the tournament, he said usually, there’s closer to 40.
The day starts with Lisa Parks singing the national anthem, then Leahy reads the rules.
“Everybody uses the same shoes,” he said. “When we first started, we didn’t have really good shoes. Guys then pitched in money to buy new ones for our tournament.”
This year, there was a memorial set up for those involved in the event who have died, including the founder, Matt Brady, and Jay Maldonado, John Gasner and Diane Turner.
Leahy said participants come from near and far, with guys coming from Chester and Lancaster to take their chance on the pit.
“You never know who you’re going to get,” he said. “You don’t know who’s coming.”
The Sands of Secane horseshoe tournament has been held at the Upper Darby Detachment No. 884 of the Marine Corps League for the past 12 years. (KATHLEEN E. CAREY – DAILY TIMES)
People can come to play as individuals or as teams. It costs $40 for each person to play and $20 to attend and eat and drink and spectate.
Prizes include $250 for the winners; $160 for second place and $90 for third.
Leahy said people enjoy sitting on the detachment’s deck and watching the games. And, there’s a 50/50 too.
“They say its one of the better tournaments in the area: the refreshments, the environment,” Leahy said, adding that the second place winner this year even donated half of their winnings back to the detachment.
This year, the detachment made just under $1,000, thanks in part to a $500 donation from Leahy’s sister, Mary Brady, Matt’s widow.
Leahy was appreciative of the help he receives, including the volunteers.
“When there’s … 40 players, it’s very hectic,” he explained. “I can’t get a minute to eat a hot dog. It takes a lot of guys to run this.”
Upper Darby Detachment member Mark Reeves winds up for his toss at the Sands of Secane horseshoe tournament. (COURTESY OF PETE LEAHY)
He said there’s two or three at the sign in table, another person running the horseshoes and two or three people cooking in the kitchen, plus set up in the morning.
“We start getting ready for this at the end of July,” Leahy said, noting that’s when they weed the pits to get them prepared for the day.
Held the Saturday before Labor Day weekend, the Sands of Secane is on the Upper Darby detachment’s calendar for 2027.
“We’re going to be doing it again next year,” Leahy said. “It is good. It’s all worth it. At the end of the day, it’s very well worth it because everyone has a really good time.”