But in 1989,Negaard was one of a select group of nine world champions invited by President Bush,an avid horseshoe buff,to help dedicate the White House horseshoe courts.

"It's probably on the top of my list of incredible experiences,"she said."It was so exciting,so nice.There were all these people there but the party was in our honor."Bush must have said that to us 20 times."

Some of the big names on hand included Lee Iacocca,Walter Cronkite,a host of sports fiqures and the head of just about every government agency.Negaard got to talk horseshoes with a number of those people and of course,met the President.

"I have about 14 8x10 pictures sent to me by President Bush himself,two of them autographed,"she said.

"I've gotten to go so many places and do so many things that I never would have gotten to do because of horseshoes.It's been a great deal,a lot of fun."

Negaard,a five time world champion and 13-time Minnesota state champion from St.Joseph's was in Beloit this weekend competing at the Team World Tournament at the Telfer Sports and Activity Center.

She first got involved in horseshoes in 1975 and said back then she played strickly for fun.Her husband had pitched his whole life and she decided to give it a try.

Soon,however it became a passion.She entered her first tournament in 1976 and that same year began a string of 12 straight state titles.

"I was just barely better than the other players,I wasn't really good,"she said."I averaged 39 1/2 percent(ringers) when I won the first time.I averaged over 80 last year and lost.That shows you how the quality of pitchers in our state has improved since 1976."

Negaard said she practiced three to four hours a day when she first started and traveled to tournaments to observe the top players.

She wasn't an overnight sensation,however.In fact,she couldn't even beat her husband.

"He was way better than I was in the beginning,"she said."It took me a year and half to get up to 50 percent.He beat me all the time.That's why I practiced so much,so I could beat him."

Today it's a different story."He might beat me once or twice or on a really good year three times in a summer,"she said."Usually I give him a handicap.

"He writes it down if he beats me even if I'm not trying.He makes a big deal out of it now,he never used to."

Negaard won her first World Tournament in 1979 and won again in '82.'83,'86,and'89.She said becoming World Champion,however,requires a lot of mental toughness.

"It takes such total concentration,"she said."I don't have the desire to do that every year.I feel so zapped after the World Tournament,I'm just so drained."

Although she's accomplished just about everything possible in horseshoes,Negaard said she's still hooked on the sport.

"It's so exciting to win at something,"she said."You know at the time I was in high school,they didn't have sports participation for girls.It still hasn't lost that thrill.It's a personal accomplishment."

Negaard will be vying for her sixth world title this summer in Biloxi,Miss.,which would give her one more than Ruth Hangen of Buffalo,N.Y.Vicki Winston is the all-time leader with 10 world titles.

"I don't know if I want to shoot for 10 but I thought six might be nice,"she said."You have to have a goal.I sort of have my heart set on one more time."

Negaard's Minnesota team took fourth and the Wisconsin team took sixth.