Beloit's stature as a horseshoe pitching hot spot grew another notch recently. The Beloit Horseshoe Club earned a berth in what amounts to the sport's ``hall of fame'' for its hosting of the annual Team World Tournament.

The Beloit club has brought hundreds of the world's best ringer-tossers to the Edwards Sports and Activity Center for Team World events over the last eight years, and will continue to host the tournament.

``This is great recognition for our club and for Beloit,'' says Earl Paulson, secretary-treasurer of the Beloit group. He accepted the award from the National Horseshoe Pitcher's Association. The presentation was at a banquet following the NHPA World Tournament in Kirchner, Ont., Canada.

Usually, the NHPA Achievement Awards go to individuals; the Beloit club was only the second to win the honor as a club.

Beloit Horseshoe club has about 50 members and owns property off Newark Road just west of Rock River. the club hosts numerous tournaments there, in addition to the Team World competition and other events at Telfer Park. A Southern Wisconsin open tourney for sanctioned pitchers will be Aug. 9-10 at the club's grounds; the annual doubles tournament open to all, will be in September at the club.

During the presentation at Kitchener, NHPA President Dave Loucks cited the Beloit Horseshoe club for its success in hosting the Team World events, and for doing much to popularize horseshoe pitching as a sport.

Beloit club members who competed in various events at Kitchener included Paul Wilson, who placed second in senior class competition; Bruce McLinn, third in open class, and Harold Laws and Red Ferguson, each of whom won fifth places in their classes. Others from Beloit who competed were Ken Lovass, Rowen Swick, Jerry Schroeder, Russ Burns, George Kuffer and Paulson.

Officers of the Beloit club are Norm Beckius, president; Ken Lovass, vice president; Earl Paulson, secretary-treasurer, and Harold Laws, club historian. Others on the board of directors are Red Ferguson, Carl Schliem, Duane Woodward and Mike Rousseau.

While the U.S. and Canada lead in the number of organized horseshoe-pitching competitions, there is serious interest in the sport in Japan, Norway, Australia and Latin America. Reigning world champion in men's competition is Alan Francis of Ohio, who has competed often in Beloit, and women's champ Bev Nathe of Minnesota, also a frequent competitor here. Also well known in Beloit is Californian Walter Ray Williams, who won second spot in the singles competition at Kitchener, and is a world-class professional bowler. cutline: Earl Paulson, center accepts the National Horseshoe Pitching Association's top achievement award from Dave Loucks, left, NHPA president. At right is Dick Hansen, NHPA secretary-treasurer. Paulson accepted the award on behalf of the Beloit Horseshoe Club, on July 20, during ceremonies at the NHPA World Tournament at Kitchener, Ont.