13th Annual IFT


July xx -xx, 1970 in Calumet, MI.

With the growth of the sport, and the arrival of 'Jumbo' Jon Davis as Tournament Director, the Eagle Harbor ballyard would not be able to hold the growing IFT. So Calumet, MI was the site of the 1970 IFT.

Help me identify those unidentified.

Click on any image to reveal a larger jpeg.

  • The Foul Five:  Hugh Anderson,
    'Sky King' Richardson, Thor Anderson,
    Stancil Johnson, and Bob May
  • "Victory Lap"
  • Mel Visser leads the
    Foul Five grand entrance
    processional
  • Jumbo Jon, Thor, and
    Nachazel Trophy
    Presentation
  • Parade
  • Pressbox
    Announcer ?
  • Sky King and the
    Foul Five in action

15th Annual IFT


July xx -xx, 1972 in Copper Harbor, MI.

My memory is that the 1971 tournament took place in Copper Harbor entirely in the small yard around the bar that stood where the Mariner North stands today. I think about 6 courts fit in that small yard. Or there were 4 in the yard and maybe 2-6 more just outside the wooden fence. Anyways, I remember the finals being in the dark in 1971 between the Foul Five and the Highland Avenue Aces--which the Aces won to be World Champions. To say things were cramped in 1971 is an understatement. So in 1972, an old log yard was pressed into service for the tournament. It was here that the "Dual at Dawn" took place when the finals could not be played before darkness on Sunday.

1972 had the return of the Californians with the Berkeley Frisbee Group fielding three or more teams. Their teams were denoted as "BFG" and a color. I believe one of the teams made it to the finals to face the Highland Avenue Aces. The Aces won to retain their crown.

The problem with my memory is, I may be wrong about these details.

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  • Jay Shelton visits
    but did not play
  • BFG:  ???, Chuck Schultz,
    Victor Malafronte, Roger Barrett,
    and ???
  • BFG Group Distance Throw
    Roger Barrett, Chuck S., Victor M,
    and Steve Sewall are visible
  • Also note Jumbo Jon
    on top in both of these photos
  • Mel Visser leads the Foul Five
    or was it BFG Fucia?
    Check out the CHHC guys!
  • Action
  • Is that Humblies waiting over on the right?
  • Thor, Mark Banghart, and Sky King
  • Youth Game

16th Annual IFT


July xx -xx, 1974 in Marquette, MI.

The tournament was held at Cliff's Ridge Ski Hill just outside Marquette. Apparently initial planning had the tournament in a town called Pequaming, but that fell through short at the last minute. So the T-shirts say Pequaming. We determined that must be the Indian word for "Frisbee".

David Bradshaw, of the Highland Avenue Aces, was in Europe for the summer and could not return for the IFT. The Aces asked Sky King to join them. The Aces ended up losing to Library Bar in the finals. Looking back now from 33 years hence, I'm so glad that the Aces asked my Dad to join them. It was a great tournament where they played their hearts out.

Help me identify those unidentified.

Click on any image to reveal a larger jpeg.

  • The Highland Ave Aces ('74):  Alan Blake,
    'Sky King' Richardson, Tom Cleworth,
    Stan Korth, and John Connely
  • Versus Library Bar
    early in the day


  • Versus the Humblies
  • Cliff's Ridge Ski Hill
    worked well for the tournament
  • Chuck Schultz, John Kirkland,
    and Victor Malafronte visible
  • Pre or Post game with
    the Californians
    Schultz, Kirkland, Malafronte, et al

25th Annual IFT and
Hall of Fame Induction


July xx -xx, 1982 in Houghton, MI.

These glimpses of the 1982 International Frisbee Tournament were taken by my Mom, Susan Richardson--wife of 'Sky King' Richardson. Here you see just some of the Hall of Fame inductees and people who were active in Guts Frisbee as the IFT transitioned from a family picnic into a larger sporting event.

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Help me identify those unidentified.

  • Fred Morrison
  • 'Steady Ed'
    Headrick
  • Jumbo Jon arrives
  • Jo Cahow
  • John Connely
  • Stancil Johnson
  • John Sappington, Tom Cleworth,
    and Sky King
  • Jumbo Jon Davis
  • Goldy Norton
  • Sky King
    Richardson
  • Thor Anderson
  • Indiana
    Gutsmaster
  • Bruce Willis, Thor Anderson, ???,
    John Sappington, Sky King,
    and Joe Essman
  • Old Timers Game
    w/ addendum 69b

Misc Frisbee Pictures


In the black & white photo below, Goldy is on the left and Sky King on the right. Sky has a 1976 IFT shirt on but it is uncertain what event this was.

In 1974 and 1975, the Humblies hosted early spring indoor tournaments. Both were well run. The first one was in the UofM Intramural building-a cavernous building of something like 10 basketball courts side-by-side. Distance competition was how high up on the far wall one could hit.

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  • Ann Arbor March 1975

  • Sky King, Joe Essman,
    and ???
  • ???, Joe Essman,
    and Sky King
  • Ed Headrick and Roger Barrett
    at Whamo Nov 74


  • Ed Headrick tossing
    at Whamo Nov 74


I will be sending large files of these pictures to the guy putting together a DVD for the 50th IFT.

BRUCE RICHARDSON
w9fz (at) w9fz.com