The 2019 Texas Skeet Championships, held at Dallas Gun Club on June 20-23, was one for the books. Gun giveaways, raffle prizes and a superb atmosphere made for a spectacular weekend. This extraordinary event was only possible due to the hard work and generosity of many corporate and individual sponsorships.

Friday’s schedule included the 28-gauge event and half of the 20-gauge event, with shoot-offs taking place on Saturday, as the TSSA Hall of Fame Banquet was reserved as the showcase for Friday evening. Bailey Glenewinkel was honored as the 2019 TSSA Hall of Fame Inductee for her shooting accolades, while Robert Paxton was honored with a TSSA Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding shooting career. Family, friends, and shooting legends attended to witness the special evening for the two deserving honorees. In addition to celebrating Bailey’s and Robert’s accomplishments, many prizes were given away, including the raffle drawing in which Armour Strunk was the lucky winner of 100 flats of shells, thanks to Remington and Crow Shooting Supply.

Saturday was a full day of shooting with the completion of the 20- and 12-gauge events, along with the shoot-offs for the 28, 20 and 12 gauges. Jason Foshea was the hot shooter Saturday, winning both the 28- and 20-gauge championships in back-to-back shoot-offs. A big “thank you” to Pacific Sporting Arms and Lonesome Charlie’s for sponsoring these two events. Finishing next to Foshea were Josh Poole, runner-up, and John Barnes, third, in the 28 gauge and Riley Chaddock and John Barnes in the 20 gauge. The top lady in the 28 gauge was last year’s HOA Lady Champion, Kaleigh Lawson, followed by Taylor Nicosia, Lady runner-up and Alexia Shaw, Lady third. Mackinzee Swetman, Lady Champion; Lauren Burge, Lady runner-up; and Melissa Barringer, Lady third, took the top spots in the 20 gauge.

While the shoot-offs were ongoing, competitors and guests enjoyed scrumptious hamburgers and ice-cold beer. Up-and-coming shooter, Bradley Pang, won his first Texas State title by outshooting seven others with perfect scores and securing the Greater Houston Sports Club 12-Gauge Championship. Riley Chaddock had to settle for another second-place finish while Hunter Edmunds earned third place. Lindsay Plesko crushed 100 to take top Lady honors ahead of the Barringers, Rachel (Lady runner-up) and Melissa (Lady third).

With the conclusion of three guns in the books, the .410 bore remained for Sunday. S&B Plumbing was the sponsor of the .410 Bore event, and perfect scores were turned in by Carter Wehrheim and Cody Sergeant. Carter earned the championship over Cody, runner-up, while Jason Foshea secured third place after a shoot-off of 99s. These three competitors also squared off for the prestigious High Overall Championship, sponsored by the one and only Robert Paxton and Paxton Arms. History would repeat itself as Carter Wehrheim, defending 2018 Texas State Champion, would again secure the crown of Texas State Champion. Sergeant and Foshea finished in runner-up and third spots, respectively, to finalize an outstanding weekend of shooting.

Melissa Barringer finished the weekend on a strong note, capturing the Lady .410 and HOA titles. Mackinzee Swetman and Alexia Shaw made their way to the podium for the silver and bronze places in the .410 event. Shaw also captured third in the HOA race, with Lindsay Plesko taking Lady runner-up in the HOA race. HOA class and concurrent champions included Riley Chaddock (AAA), Hunter Edmunds (AA), Chuck Rister (A), Lauren Lee (B), Don Miller (C), David Roberts (D), Cade Holland (E, SJ), Kendall Jaroszewski (JR), Matthew Roberson (CL), Carter Wehrheim (TS), Jason Foshea (SU, MV), Patrick Byrne (SS), Van Boerner (SR, RM), Doug Coulter (VT), David Cudia (SV), Melissa Barringer (LY) and Timothy Riordan (ML).

The success of the 2019 Texas State Championship was only possible due to the hard work of the TSSA Board and Shoot Committee, the excellent vendors, and generous sponsors, individual and corporate, and the Dallas Gun Club. Thank you all for your hard work and support for making the 2019 Texas Skeet Championship one for the ages.

TSSA would also like to recognize the following individuals: Brandon Cade, Pat Byrne, Cindy DiMaggio, Kaleigh Lawson, Armour Strunk, Cody Sergeant, Josh Poole, Lindsay Plesko, Bailey Glenewinkel, Jason Ward, Troy Behrens, William Edmunds, Tommy Mays, Dirk Proffer, Woody, Anderson, Lance Phillips, John and Cynthia Castillo, and Charlie Beard for their generosity and support to help increase the excitement and participation in the Texas Skeet Championships. Many corporate sponsors also assisted in the event, including Jackson Oil Co., Zoli, TruGlo, Greater Houston Sports Club, Crow Shooting Supply, Remington Arms, The Thompson Group at Classic Chevrolet, Beretta, duPont/Krieghoff, CZ-USA, Clay Shooters Supply, Fossil Pointe Sporting Grounds, Dawn Grant, Highlands Residential Mortgage, Shurley Brothers, Paxton Arms, 3on8 Reloading Supplies and Equipment, Krieghoff, Perazzi, Briley, Big Guy’s Shooting Supplies, Corpus Christi Gun Club, S&B Plumbing, B&E Resources, Negrini, Rio, Myskeet.com, Ocean Point, Rittman Capital Management, Moore Supply Co., On Target, Sophia Michelle, Optima Wealth Management, FGA, Nu Skin, Briggs Freeman, Don Rackley, TX Whiskey, Americase, Muller, African Game Industries Inc., Sweeney Lumber, JPG, Baseline Analysis Corporation, Yard Birds Inc., and White Flyer. Thank you to all of our tremendous sponsors for helping TSSA host a great shoot.

We look forward to seeing you all next year at the Greater Houston Sports Club. It will be a must-attend event!

– Contributed by Nathan Boyd

Meadville Sportsman’s and Sandy Lake Sportsmen’s Club co-hosted the Lake Mead 400 on June 29-30. Saturday’s weather was hot and humid, while Sunday was beautiful, if a bit windy, after a cold front moved through overnight. This new four-gun shoot consisted of 100 12- and 28-gauge targets at Meadville on Saturday and 100 20-gauge and .410-bore targets at Sandy Lake on Sunday. Kurt Suprynovicz’s 384 was good for HOA Champion, and Dale Snow took HOA runner-up with his 379.

Ten shooters participated at Meadville on Saturday. The 12-gauge,sponsored by Channel Lock, was shot in the morning. Michael Zavasky was champion with a 99; Dale Snow took runner-up with 98. A, B and C first places were Suprynowicz, Scott Holman and Mark Johnson, respectively.

After a lunch of fried chicken, potato salad and no-bake cookies served up by Chris Marks, the 28-gauge event (sponsored by Myers Sporting Goods) was addressed. Holman had a nice 97 and was champion. Suprynowicz was runner-up after winning a shoot-off of 96s with Dale Snow, who settled for A1. Morgan Evans took B1, and Chris Greenlee was C1.

Sam Marks handled registration and score posting, while Sam Marks, Sr., Larry Price and Keith Snow pulled and scored, filled houses, etc. Kriner Insurance and Sam Marks were also sponsors for the day.

On Sunday morning, the action shifted about 30 miles south of Meadville to Sandy Lake’s very nice 3-field club. With 12 shooters participating, the 20-gauge was shot first. Suprynowicz’s 96 took the champion spot, but not until he won a shoot-off with Dale Snow, who finished as runner-up. AA1, A1 and B1 were, respectively, Zavasky, Evans and Keith Snow, after winning a shoot-off of 93s with Paul Augustin.

Sunday lunch, prepared and served by Dee Leake and Mary Smith, included pulled pork sandwiches, macaroni salad, baked beans and luscious homemade brownies.

The skeet gods cranked up the wind for the .410 – no surprise there. Augustin’s 95 was good for champion after he won a shoot-off with, who else, Kurt Suprynowicz, who was runner-up. Class firsts included Dale Snow (A), Holman (B) and George Kirik (C).

Sam Marks handled registration and scorekeeping/posting again. Pullers, scorers and general laborers at Sandy Lake included Jerry Lopata, Terry Leake, Denny Smith, Tom Greggs and Jarret Troy. Many thanks to all!

Sunday’s sponsors included Sandy Lake Implements, Lakeview Fertilizer, Sandy Lake Mills and Brian Patterson Insurance. Thanks to each and every one!

– Contributed by George Gleich

The 64th Canadian Skeet Championships were held in Courtenay, British Columbia, during the weekend of June 28-30. The grounds of the Courtenay and District Fish and Game Protective Association were in excellent shape. Over 40 shooters participated, and the organizers were pleased to welcome guests from five different Canadian provinces. While it is mandated that the championship tournament be moved around the country, this was the first time the event had been held in British Columbia. The volunteers at the club went above and beyond to ensure that the participants and organizers were made to feel welcome.

The program commenced on Friday afternoon with the Doubles event. The podium consisted of Dean Herzberg, champion; Brad McRae, runner-up; and Bob La Rue, third. Class winners from AA to D were Steve Loveday, Hilton Robinson, Greg Meister, Elizabeth Hoeppner and Chris Watters. Matthew Bauer was Junior Champ, and Ladies Champion was Lisa Cunningham.

Dean Herzberg captured the 12-Gauge Championship after a shoot-off of 100s with Bob La Rue. Third place was taken by John Sanderson with the lone 99. Class champions were Brad McRae (AA), James Whyte (A), Rob Broadfoot (B), Joe Craig (C), Greg Metz (D) and Rudy Luiken (E). Junior Champion was Matthew Bauer, and Lady Champ was Marcia Postle, after a shoot-off with Elizabeth Hoeppner.

Saturday also found us completing the 20–gauge event. Steve Loveday edged out Bob La Rue for the championship. Steve Malcolm placed third, with class championships going to Herzberg, Whyte, Larry Way, John Dong and Joe Craig. Marcia Postle garnered another Ladies Championship with her 98, and Matthew Bauer continued on his sweep of the Junior Championship race. The highlight of the shoot-offs was the absolute drubbing that Dean Herzberg and Steve Malcolm placed on the Ottawa Boys (McRae and Loveday) and the BC Team (LaRue and McMichael). No one knows who came in second!

After shoot-offs were over, the volunteers of the club hosted a fabulous steak dinner for the attendees. Of course, since the Pacific Ocean was about 15 minutes away, we were treated to salmon and oysters. Many comments were made about how much better Pacific salmon is than Atlantic salmon. Since none of our East Coast shooters made the trip, the vote was unanimous that Pacific salmon is much better.

Sunday was the day for the 28-gauge and. 410 events. Dean Herzberg posted the lone 100 to take the 28-Gauge Championship outright. The runner-up and third-place buckles were won by John Sanderson and Greg Meister after they posted 99s. Yes, Matthew Bauer won the Junior title, but there was a change in the Ladies race with Lisa Cunningham’s 97 taking the medal, along with the B class medal. Yes, she had on her lucky orange 28-gauge socks! Other class winners were McRae (AA), Kevin Jarocki (A), Craig (C) and Earl Kreutzer (D) with a fine 93.

Two 98s shot off for the top spots in the .410 event. Brad McRae hung on to beat James Whyte. Close behind them with 97s were Steve Loveday, third, and Kevin Jarocki (B Class Champion). Other class winners were Bob LaRue (AA), Herzberg (A), Marcia Postle (C) and Kreutzer (D). Bauer did make it five in a row for the Junior medal, and Lisa Cunningham won her third Ladies championship of the weekend.

The HOA race was truly a weekend long race. Both Bob La Rue and Dean Herzberg ran two 100s over the two days, but Dean managed to pull off the HOA Championship with his 393. La Rue’s solid shooting won the runner-up position, and Steve Loveday placed third. Brad McRae took AA class, Veteran James Whyte had a stellar 388 for A1, John Sanderson took B, and new shooter Greg Metz from Saskatchewan captured C class with a 374. Evidently, it is helpful to build your own skeet field on your farm! Elizabeth Hoeppner took the D class medal, while, of course, Matthew Bauer had a clean sweep in the Junior category. Marcia Postle held on for the Ladies HOA belt buckle. 94-year-old Jim Webster from Saskatchewan scored a 325 over the four events. In his words, ”I could have shot better.” In our words, folks like Jim Webster put the word “Super” in the Super Veteran class!

On behalf of the Canadian Championships Committee, which consists of Steve Loveday, Brad McRae and Steve Malcolm, many thanks go to our referee crew, the volunteers at the Courtenay Club, our sponsors and all of the shooters.

– Contributed by Steve Malcolm
– Photo Credit to Shirl Leggett and Tom Walker

The Fort Bragg Clay Target Center in Spring Lake, North Carolina, was the site for the Paratrooper Open on July 12-14, drawing a total of 98 competitors, including five Sub-Junior, 18 Junior and three Collegiate shooters. We were pleased to welcome shooters from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia. Despite very high temperatures and a heat index around 100, shooters persevered and posted great scores.

Stuart Brown won HOA with a 399. HOA runner-up was Henry Hardin (397), and Katherine Adams won a shoot-off of 395s to take gun third. HOA plaques were also awarded to Trace Davis, Sub-Junior Champion with a 385; Henry Hardin, Junior Champion; and Katherine Adams, Lady Champion. HOA class winners were Michael Schmidt (AAA), Riley Dellinger (AA), Tom Myaard (A), Chris Brown (B), Ron Hostinsky (C), and Josh Parks (D).

There were three 99s in Doubles. Michael Schmidt won the shoot-off for champion, Riley Dellinger was runner-up, and Larson Harkins came in third. Class winners were Thomas Miles (AAA), Alison Boyette (AA), Mason Watkins (A), Matthew Eller (B), William Davis (C) and Aryssa Bowland (D). Sub-Junior Champion was Trace Davis, Junior was Larson Harkins, Collegiate was Riley Dellinger, and Lady Champion was Alison Boyette.

Twelve competitors shot perfect scores in the 12-gauge event, making for an exciting shoot-off. Bruce Colclough was champion, Henry Hardin runner-up and Stuart Brown third. Class winners were Kevin Suitt (AAA), Jay Bunting (AA), Bill Wilson (A), Anna Wood (B), Bobby Jeffers (C), John Jones (D) and Hadley Russell (E). The youth winners each shot perfect 100s: Trace Davis, Sub-Junior; Henry Hardin, Junior; and Noah Dove, Collegiate. Anna Wood, a Junior shooter, won Lady Champion with a score of 99.

Michael Schmidt won the 20-gauge shoot-off, with Thomas Myaard runner-up and Katherine Adams third. C

lass winners were Larson Harkins (AAA), Scott Graham (AA), Grayson Williams (A), William Grubb (B), Ron Hostinsky (C) and John Parker (D).

After shoot-offs Saturday evening, shooters and guests socialized over a meal of fried chicken, sides, and a smorgasbord of desserts. Surprisingly, many shooters still had energy and participated in a challenging shooting game where random teams of two shooters shot trap targets from the skeet stations – very entertaining and a lot of laughs for the shooters and observers.

The 28-gauge shoot-off, with six perfect scores of 100, resulted in Katherine Adams winning the championship, Kevin Hostinsky runner-up, Grayson Williams third, Henry Hardin AA1, Corrie Cloninger A1, and Ron Hostinsky B1. Other class winners were Jay Bunting (AAA), Josh Parks (C) and Josie Cloninger (D). Sub-Junior Champion was Trace Davis, Junior Champion was Grayson Williams, Collegiate Champion was Riley Dellinger, and Lady Champ was Katherine Adams.

Stuart Brown won the final event, the .410 Bore, with the only score of 100. Runner-up was Riley Dellinger (99). Scores of 98 shot off, with Michael Schmidt winning third, Katherine Adams AAA1, Mark Smith AA1 and Henry Hardin A1. Wally Merritt was B1, John Parker C1, and Peter Ruffin D1. Sub-Junior Champion was Trace Davis, Junior Champion Henry Hardin, Collegiate Champion was Riley Dellinger and Katherine Adams was Lady Champion.

Several shooters met personal goals at this shoot and had their hats shot. Anna Wood, a Junior, shot her first 75 straight in 12 gauge. Josie Cloninger, a Sub-Junior in her first year of shooting, shot her first 25 straight in both 20 gauge and .410 bore. Ron Hostinsky shot his first-ever 100 straight in the 28-gauge event. Addison Samson, a Junior, shot her first 25 straight in .410 Bore. Also, Hadley Russell shot her personal best of 93 in the 12-gauge event and a 94 in the 20-gauge event.

The weekend was a great success and was possible through the help of many folks. Thanks to the Fort Bragg Clay Target Center manager and staff—the targets were great, and first-time attendees were complimentary of the facility. Thanks to the referees for all their hard work in the Carolina heat and humidity! Also, to all the shooters, parents and spouses who volunteered to help with everything from keeping water on the fields, to setting up meals and clean-up, our sincere appreciation.

– Contributed by Belinda and Jim Tiner