The 10-time World Women's Horseshoe Champion has made a career out of ringing opponents(pardon the pun).And at the World Team Horseshoe Tournament at Telfer Park called Team World '92 she did the same.

Winston,the captain of defending champ Missouri,topped her five opponents from Wisconsin,Iowa,Illinois,Nebraska and California.

"I was able to do my part,"said Winston,who lives in Lamont,Mo."But this is a team effort of course."

Winston's team consists of Stan Griggs from Kansas City,Kenneth Pouge of Ellington and St.Claire's Sam Carter.

Team Missouri entered the 20 team tournament as the favorites.

"I think they have a very good chance to win it again,"said Earl Paulson,secretary of the Beloit Horseshoe Club."But they're not a shoe-in by any means."

The first day proved that,as Team Missouri found themselves behind Indiana,Minnesota and Illinois 2.The role of defending champion and favorites is one Winston said is difficult.

"That's a pretty hard position to be in,"Winston said."Everybody's always gunning for you.But we're just going to take it one match at a time and do the best we can."

Doing her best is something Winston has always done.She learned the sport of horseshoes from her father,and in 1953,when she was just 14-years old,she took part in her first World Championship Horseshoe Tournament.

Just three years later,at the age of 17,she won her first World Championship.That was 1956,and titles would follow her the next 25 years with her 10th coming in 1981.

"I guess what that says is I've been around a long,long time,"said Winston,now 52."I've been at it for a long time."Along the way,she met her husband Earl,an avid horseshoe pitcher himself.

Winston's quite happy Earl had interests similar to hers.

"Had I married someone that wasn't interested in the sport,"she said,"chances are I would have quit a long time ago."

But talking to Winston,you get the feeling there's not much quit in this woman.

In fact,she hasn't given up on winning an 11th championship,and set an all-time record for individuals which she currently shares with Ted Allen.

"I'd really like to win again,"said Winston."If I could,it would put me ahead of any other individual.But that's just a dream."

But for this weekend,those dreams are on temporary hold as Winston and her teammates try repeating.

The unique tournament,which determines just team winners,and no individual champs,has become one of Winston's favorites.That's why she'd like to leave with a second trophy.

"This tournament is a lot of fun,"she said."It's the only one like it in the country that I know of where this format is used.And that makes it really unique and enjoyable.I think about the only way I could enjoy it more is if the weather was a little warmer."