Clay Target Nation

Red Nose Open

March 13, 2020 By

At zero dark thirty, the roads were clear, the sky overcast and the air temperature a brisk 26 degrees. An hour later, a quick-moving band of rain/sleet/snow dusted the area, but none of this dampened or deterred 18 brave and hearty shooters from coming out to the Red Nose Open at Fairfax Rod and Gun Club in Manassas, Virginia, on the morning of January 18. A week before, we had clear skies, still air, and 70 degrees – weather we ordered for the Red Nose Open but delivered a week too soon. Shoot management has spoken to the provider and requested that our preference is for our solicited weather to be delivered on the exact date. Cold weather and less than ideal conditions on this morning probably prompted some to stay in their warm beds and hibernate a little bit longer, but they missed the roaring fire, hot coffee and fresh Krispy Kreme donuts served up in the pavilion.

After noses warmed and fingers thawed, Jonathan Honey captured the gun championship with a solid 99, missing only one target by a single millimeter. Runner-up was Jason Armstrong, and third was Col. T.W. Williams. Class firsts, with no shoot-offs required, were Bob Myers (B), Garret Baisey (C), Sam Rathbone (D) and Mike Osgood (E). Some interesting results were posted in our options: only one shooter won the handicap option with a 99 and took all the handicap money. Sometimes it really pays to participate in the option events.

Starting with the Red Nose Open, Fairfax has a registered skeet event every two weeks into mid-March. These early shoots at Fairfax focus on getting new shooters involved, introducing shooters from our two winter leagues into registered skeet and showing both of these groups of shooters how much fun we all have coming out, breaking targets and making smoke. The newer shooters today become the experienced shooters of tomorrow.

We had one honey of a squad participate in challenging conditions, but all participants had a good time catching up with shooters that they had not seen since last year. Everyone is looking forward to all the other 12 planned shoots at Fairfax later in the year.

Thank you to our club manager Jamie Martin for getting up with us and to the referees for performing their duties on such a chilly day.

– Contributed by Jeff Bond

Indiana State Championships

March 13, 2020 By

The crowning of the 2019 Indiana State Skeet Champion, Owen Knight, was the end of a shooting season of many firsts for him. The skeet shooting season began with the announcement that Owen made the 2019 NSSA Sub-Junior All-American First Team. In May, when the shooting season was just getting underway for most of us in the Midwest, Owen traveled to the Detroit Gun Club in Walled Lake, Michigan, to shoot the Lou Raden Open, where he posted his first 100 straight in the 12-gauge event and won his first High Over All title. The following weekend, he entered the 3-I skeet championships held at Peoria Trap and Skeet Club in Peoria, Illinois. Another first was posted as he shot his first 100 straight in the doubles event.

By mid-summer, Owen had won many individual gun championships and HOA championships. He then traveled to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, home to the 2019 Junior World Skeet Championships, and accomplished another first: He shot his first 100 straight in the .410 event, earning him the Junior World .410 championship and contributing to his High Over All runner-up finish.

This achievement, as well as being the 2019 Indiana State Championship, contributed to a year that included 16 100 straights, eight High Over All championships, and 14 event championships for Owen.

– Contributed by Mike Kick

The Grizzly at New Pioneer Gun Club

January 17, 2020 By

With near-perfect weather conditions over the Labor Day weekend, skeet shooters from seven states came to track down the coveted trophy at The Grizzly shoot at New Pioneer Gun Club in Waukee, Iowa. It was also a renewal of the old traditions that have made this mid-size shoot one of the finest in the nation. The club brought back the High Handicap All-Around (HHAA) event, a prize-rich event that can be won by shooters of any class. The trophy was a Browning Buck Mark .22 pistol, valued at over $500.

Along with the trophy and other riches, there was fun, music, food and friendship. This shoot has brought good friends and new participants together for years. The New York strips were catered in from Rubes steak house and the live music was performed by Rob Lumbard. It doesn’t get any better than that.

The winner of the HHAA, with a 499, as well as the 12-gauge, was Mark VanderBloomer from Minnesota. Bob Rick, also from Minnesota, won the 20-gauge and 28-gauge with awesome shoot-offs, after running 100 straights in both. Iowa’s Dave McMillen won the .410 with a lone 98. Best of all, he brought a delicious cake for all the shooters to enjoy. Doubles was captured by Mike Jones from Iowa, with a 99. HAA and HOA honors went to Iowa’s Keith Brace with a 490 and 393, respectively. Keith did an outstanding job of coordinating the shoot committee and reaching out to Scheels to partner with us to be our main sponsor of the shoot. Chuck Follett also raised advertising funds for event sponsors. It’s a team effort, and we know next year will be even bigger. Thank you to Keith, NPGC board members and volunteers, sponsors, and most importantly, the shooters that came to Iowa to share this weekend.

– Contributed by Frank DeMarco

Couples Shoot at Generations Skeet Club

January 17, 2020 By

The fifth annual Couples Shoot was held at Generations Skeet Club near Patton, Pennsylvania, on September 15. The weather was great, mid-70s and mostly sunny with just enough wind to keep it interesting. Some visitors think the wind never stops blowing at Generations; just for the record, it does stop occasionally.

The Couples Shoot was initiated in 2015 by Generations to introduce new shooters, especially ladies and younger shooters, to skeet, to have fun shooting while stressing gun safety, to enjoy an early autumn afternoon with a fine group of people and, of course, to eat! Fourteen couples participated in 2015, and this year 33 couples were involved – down a few couples from last year, but still a fabulous turnout. There are not many registered skeet shoots in the country that have 33 female participants. The Couples Shoot birds were not registered, but just having that many ladies participating in one skeet shoot is quite an accomplishment.

Shooting began at noon, and all four of the skeet fields were soon buzzing. At least 14 of the participants were first-time shooters, some as young as 11 years old. There were several father-daughter pairs, several boyfriend-girlfriend pairs and many husband-wife pairs. Coaches, including Joe and Michael Vescovi, Tim, Ryan and Roy Holtz, Chris Kline, Jack Makdad, Mark Saussure and George Gleich, were present on each field to help new shooters, and any not-so-new shooters that wanted help. Generations provided shotguns, shells and eye and ear protection to those who needed them. Pullers and scorers included Paige McMullen and Abby Lansbury, both of whom are regulars for helping run the Wednesday night skeet league here and do a great job. Paige and Abby also joined in on the shooting fun and did quite well.

Squads of four, six and eight people participated. All NSSA safety rules were strictly enforced, but some of the non-safety-related rules were slightly bent at times to help new shooters. For example, some new shooters shot four singles instead of two singles and a double at times, and congratulating a new shooter each time they smoked a bird was encouraged.

At approximately 4 p.m., after everyone had shot at 50 birds (two rounds), shoot-offs began. Top-secret handicaps were applied, which allowed all 33 couples to participate in doubles at 3, 4 and 5. The shoot-offs were also handicapped, with experienced shooters receiving no targets and rookies getting 4. Following the first round of shoot-offs, the remaining shooters proceeded to field 2 for the finals. A large crowd of spectators watched and cheered as the winners were decided.

Father and daughter Jack and Emily Harshbarger emerged as the Couples Shoot Champions. Emily received the custom tiara bedecked with spent shotgun shells. Shoot runners-up were Chris and Ashley Kline, while third place went to Andy and Paige McMullen, another father-daughter duo. The champs received engraved drinking glasses, two pizzas and four dozen wings from Patton Sportsman’s and free targets from Generations. Runner-up and third place finishers received $25 gift cards from Pirate’s Cove and free targets from Generations.

After the shooting was done, people moved to The Barn, about 200 yards from the skeet clubhouse, for a fine picnic-style dinner. Ryan Holtz cooked the chicken on-site, and many people brought covered dishes and desserts. There was plenty of food and drink on hand and lots of lively discussion among old and new friends. All in all, a fitting ending to a very pleasant day.

Many thanks to the Generations skeet family for hosting a great event. Many of the participants are already planning to do it again next year.

– Contributed by George Gleich

Nick Sisley .410 Memorial

January 17, 2020 By

Tarentum District Sportsmen’s Club (TDSC) held its inaugural Nick Sisley Four Hundred Ten Memorial Shoot on August 17. Nick, who passed away earlier this year, was especially fond of the little gun. Thirty-one participants shot to honor Nick’s memory, including 18 who shot 100 registered .410 skeet targets, three who shot 50 non-registered .410 skeet targets, and 10, mostly TDSC trap shooters, who shot 50 non-registered 12-gauge skeet targets.

Mike Ryckaczewski Jr. had a very nice 97 and was .410 Champion, while Josh Crofutt’s 94 was good for runner-up. Class firsts went to Tom Shields (A), Ernie Anderson (B), Bob Waite (C) and Mike Ryckacewski Sr. (D).

Sean, John and Tyler Smith shot 45, 41 and 22 out of 50 with the .410; this was 12-year-old Tyler’s first attempt at skeet with the .410.

Chris Smith (43/50) and John Obringer (39/50) posted the high scores among the 12-gauge shooters. Obringer traveled from Colorado to participate in this shoot and honor Nick. Beth Carney shot the 28-gauge for the first time.

Brad King, Bryson Fox and Brian Fox shot their first registered birds and received Complimentary Limited Memberships to NSSA.

A great lunch was provided, including homemade bread made by Marie Palmer from Nick Sisley’s recipe – Nick always baked bread for the shoots.

A tribute to Nick was held after lunch. Everyone gathered in front of TDSC’s beautiful new clubhouse, and numerous people shared their memories of shooting with and being around Nick, including Paul McConville who was skeet chairman at Tarentum when Nick began shooting there many years ago. It was announced that the clubhouse was to be named the “Nick Sisley Clubhouse,” and a lovely plaque was dedicated. Nick’s wife Maryann and daughter Maria were there, along with Maria’s husband David McTarnaghan, and they presented a beautiful plaque celebrating his life with the words “He wrote…He Shot…He Flew.”

Nick was a celebrated outdoor writer, perhaps best known for his ruffed grouse books and articles. He was a life member of NSSA and shot his 100,000th registered skeet target in 2018; he also wrote many articles for Skeet Shooting Review, Sporting Clays Magazine and many other publications. Pigeon hunting trips to South America were a favorite. He had his private pilot’s license and his own airplane and loved to fly.

Despite all these vocations/avocations, the underlying sentiment from comments about Nick were that he was a consummate gentleman, and he loved to help people learn how to shoot skeet, especially youngsters and ladies just learning the game. Nick Sisley was a long-time member of TDSC, and the club will be a better place now that it has the Nick Sisley Clubhouse!

– Contributed by George Gleich