The Sportsmen’s Club of Forest County in Marienville, Penn., held its first registered skeet shoot on May 21. The Club was established in 1970 but didn’t have a skeet field until about 15 years ago. Club members Norm Wagner and Paul McConville were instrumental in the planning and construction of the field. As many as 20 skeet shooters use the field on Thursday and Saturday afternoons, and a number of these shooters volunteer to help get things done around the club.
This inaugural shoot was a two-gun affair including 100 birds each in 20- and 28-gauge. The weather was summer-like, hot, and humid with partially cloudy skies. Twelve shooters participated. There were three flights, which meant a full slate for this one-field club. Chris Kline was the overall high gun winner with his 195, while Adam Vollmer (191) and Rich Vensel (190), respectively, took runner-up and third.
The 20-gauge was first. Tom Shields, obviously utilizing home field advantage, shot a 99 to win the gun championship outright while Vensel’s 97 was good for runner-up. Class winners included Vollmer (AA), Evan Martin (A), George Gleich (C) and Dan Amsler (D).
A great lunch was enjoyed by all, pulled pork sandwiches, potato salad, baked beans and fresh fruit followed by a large assortment of delicious desserts. Many thanks to Lois and Carol Shields and Marie Trilli for all their efforts related to the food!
After lunch, the 28-gauge event took place. Kline’s 98 made him 28-gauge champion, and Vollmer was runner-up with a 95. Vensel, George Kirik, Gleich and Amsler, respectively, took firsts in A, B, C and D classes.
The club was sparkling for this shoot. It was obvious that a lot of work had been done. Kudos to Tom and Larry Shields, Norm Wagner, Mark Williams, Dale Gallagher and Dave Smerker for their efforts before and during the shoot! Kudos also to Casey and Rich Vensel for sign-ups, scorekeeping and posting, etc. A sense of nostalgia was felt while shooting at birds thrown from Winchester traps since many, if not most, clubs now use “fat traps.”
– Contributed by George Gleich
