Local athlete rising in Cornhole Canada competitive standings

By
Sandy Lindsay
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Many are familiar with the fun ‘toss the beanbag game’ often played in back yards and at events such as county fairs, where the object is to throw a corn kernel-filled bag into a 6-inch hole cut into a tilted platform.

For some however, it has become a competitive sport known as ‘cornhole’ and, for some like Launa Smith formerly of Port Elgin, it is a passion.

Smith, who now lives in Orillia and is Assistant Warden, Operations, at the Beaver Creek Institution in Gravenhurst, enjoys playing cornhole in her downtime with the Orillia Cornhole Club, a league under Cornhole Canada, and she has just returned from the Canadian National Cornhole Championships in Regina (Saskatchewan), where she earned the 2nd ever Canadian Nationals Women’s Singles Championship.

Smith, who now lives in Orillia and is assistant Warden at the Beaver Creek Federal Institution in Gravenhurst, enjoys playing cornhole in her downtime with the Orillia Cornhole Club, an affiliate with the Cornhole Canada, and she has just returned from the Canadian National Cornhole Championships in Regina (Saskatchewan).

Growing up in Port Elgin, she played baseball and continued to play in the Women’s Fastball league in Bracebridge.  Due to COVID however, the league was shut down. “People were looking for outside activities where they could distance and, when Orillia started its cornhole club, I decided to join. I now play there three nights a week and in another place on Mondays and about two tournaments a month.”

Smith has played in Niagara Falls, St. Catherines, Alliston, Cobourg, Barrie, Innisfil, Orillia, St. Thomas and then travelled to Regina for the second Canadian National championships. The first Nationals were held in Barrie in 2021, where Smith placed 5th in Canada in women’s singles, but came home this year with the Canadian Nationals Women’s Singles Championship.  Smith also earned two (2) third places, 1 5th place, 1 7th place and as the only female competitor in a 48 person field, a 13th spot.

Smith has played in Niagara Falls, St. Catherines, Alliston, Cobourg, Barrie, Innisfil, Orillia, St. Thomas and then travelled to Regina for the second Canadian National championships. The first Nationals were held in Barrie in 2021, where Smith placed 5th in Canada in women’s singles, but came home this year with the Canadian Nationals Women’s Singles Championship.  Smith also earned two (2) third places, 1 5th place, 1 7th place and as the only female competitor in a 48 person field, a 13th spot.
“I come from a family (Paddon) where competitive sports are in our DNA,” says Smith, “So, I love to compete.  People who play horseshoes, darts, curling or pool can easily play cornhole.   Also, there is no gender difference.  If you’re male or female, the play is the same.  The only difference is if you are under 16, you throw from 20 feet and over 16 you throw from 27 feet.”

Cornhole Canada was established in November, 2020 as very few leagues existed and a national body had not been established.  The goal was to structure and standardize the new sport of cornhole in Canada and, over 14 months, 25 leagues were started across the country. While through the pandemic most leagues could not start in-person, there were many virtual tournaments.

“It’s a great game that anyone can participate in,” says Smith.  “There are several categories including mixed doubles, open doubles, women’s doubles, men, women and open singles. It’s very big in the United States with the American Cornhole League (ACL).  I competed in ACL 1st Canadian Open Championship in Niagara Falls against players from the ACL in April and came in third in the Open Doubles, which is pretty good because several of the players we played against are ACL pros.”

Smith demonstrates her throwing technique at the board built by her father, Mike Smith, in her favourite colour and with her long-standing sports #08

The American Cornhole Organization (ACO) was established in 2005 and is headquartered in Milford, Ohio. As of August 1, 2019, the ACO claimed on its website to be the “governing body for the sport of cornhole and, in 2015, the American Cornhole League (ACL) was founded.

In July, Smith and her partner Mark Goode, won the CCL Mixed Doubles Provincial Championship, held in Guelph.  Next, she will be off to Kitchener on September 9th and 10th to compete in the Top 100 Invitational Only Open ACL tournament for a chance at earning an ACL Pro Card.

When it comes to professional Cornhole play, the equipment and stipulations are unlike the backyard version.
First of all, the players stand 27 feet from the board. A cornhole match is separated into innings (or frames) and, during each inning, each player or team will throw their designated four bags. The manner in which the bags are thrown depends on which format of cornhole is being played: singles (1 vs. 1), doubles (2 vs. 2), or crew (4 vs. 4).
In singles (1 vs. 1), both players throw their four bags while standing on opposite sides of the same board (left vs. right pitcher’s box), alternating throws between the two players. After all eight bags are thrown, both players walk to the opposite board, while remaining in their lane, to tally the score. To begin the next inning, both players turn around to throw at the other board in the same manner. The effect of this is that by always staying in their respective lane, the two players will alternate each inning throwing from the left vs. right pitcher’s box.

In all formats, the pitcher must throw the bag within 20 seconds and the time begins when the pitcher is inside the pitcher’s box with an intent to throw. The first pitch of an inning goes to whichever player or team scored in the previous inning. If neither player or team scored in the previous inning, then whichever pitched first in the previous inning will again pitch first in the next inning. The first pitch of the first inning can be decided by a coin toss.

A legal pitch must be tossed while the pitcher’s feet are within the pitcher’s box. If the pitcher begins the throw with a foot beyond the foul line or otherwise steps beyond the foul line before releasing the bag, the pitch is a foul and does not count. A foul throw cannot be re-taken and the bag is removed from play before continuing. If a foul bag moves other bags in the field of play, those bags are returned to their prior position before continuing, including if a bag was moved into the hole. If a bag lands only partially on the board and is also touching the ground, it does not count and is removed before continuing.

Nearing retirement, Smith says that starting a local club in Port Elgin (Saugeen Shores) is “on her radar”.  “With long winters and to play indoor, we would need a facility with 12 foot ceilings and at least 35 feet wide.  It’s a fantastic game and exercise for any age, including seniors so, when I retire, the possibility of starting a local club is there.”

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