The Virginia Open at Fairfax Rod and Gun Club (Manassas, Virginia), on the last weekend in April, began at high noon on Friday on a windy note, with bands of rain coming through later in the day. This time the Virginia Open featured five handmade Damascus steel knifes, made by the Virginia Knifemakers Guild, which were awarded to each of the gun champs. Additionally, large cans of Virginia peanuts were given to each of the 12-gauge class first winners … so, 12-gauge shooters were literally shooting for peanuts.

For the seven scheduled flights of Doubles, only 11 brave and bold souls ventured out for the challenge of turbulent targets. Clay Gormish (PA) persevered and claimed the Doubles gun championship with a 94, winning his first knife. Doubles runner-up at 90 was Mike Ramsey, and third, at 88, went to Jeff Miller.

The winds continued into Saturday morning for the 20-gauge event, but the rain had already passed through. With wind gusts creating havoc with our clay targets, 20-gauge shooters had to have a strong mental focus. There was a three-way tie for the top three spots; following a spirited shoot-off, Clay Gormish was Champion and collected his second knife. Jim Hickerson finished as runner-up, and Mike Ramsey captured third.

By the time 12-gauge targets were being released, the weather was near perfect, and the 53 shooters had calm weather, comfortable temperatures and no more weather excuses. There were only two 99s posted, and after a lively shoot-off, Mike Ramsey was declared Champion and won the largest of the knives. It was the young man heading off to the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) soon – Paden Levy (99) – that took the runner-up position, and Doug Frazier (98) was third. Those winning the Virginia peanuts for class first were Jason Armstrong AA1, Col. Tom Williams A1, Jonathan Honey B1, Jeff Miller C1, Colton Barrick D1 and Jeff Key E1.

Dinners at Fairfax are our specialty, with thick steaks, baked potatoes and all the fixins. Our steaks were prepared by our pair of extraordinary pitmaster cooks, Jeff Bolster and Bill Richbourg.

The great weather conditions carried over into Sunday morning, and the 28-gauge Champion was again Clay Gormish, posting the only 100 and claiming his third knife. Runner-up at 99 was Doug Frazier, and third (98) was Jason Armstrong.

Once the .410 event started, the winds returned and were back up to their old tricks – some targets dropped like stones, others took off like rockets, a few reversed directions in flight, and at least one just floated in one position, daring to be shot. Three shooters were able to hang onto 93s for a three-way shoot-off for Champion. After a screaming target took John Murphy out for third, Clay Gormish and Jim Hickerson battled in the longest shoot-off of the weekend. Under a little less than ideal conditions, each would double-check their hold-points, their look-points, take deadly aim and call for the pair. The battle went from station to station and back again – when would this madness end? On their second time back on station 5, the anticipated finally happened — a wind gust made the outgoing target jump just enough that the shot stream missed it by a fraction of an inch and concluded the shoot-off. Clay Gormish won the .410 event and his fourth knife for the weekend, completing his cutlery set. Jim Hickerson claimed .410 runner-up.

With his fine shooting, Clay Gormish was the HOA Champion, Paden Levy claimed HOA runner-up and Jim Hickerson earned HOA third. Additionally, Patti Day (MD) was the Lady HOA for the weekend.

Our thanks to the referees for pulling all the targets and remaining steady throughout the changing weather conditions; Jamie Martin for keeping everything working and making adjustments as required; Dutch Hillenburg for donated coupons to the Signal Hill Supply Pro Shop, and Connie and Van Keys for supporting our dinner functions. Special recognition goes to Terri Bolster for taking on the role of being the new DOE – Dinner Organizer Extraordinaire – we all thank you.

– Contributed by Jeff Bond

It was spring in Texas, and anything can happen, especially related to weather. How many times has bad weather been predicted prior to a shoot and then the weather was not a factor at all? Not so for the Penny Penwell Memorial Shoot on April 12-14, hosted by Grand Prairie Gun Club. The Doubles Event started and ended on Friday as normal for any three-day shoot in Texas – but that would not be the case for the rest of the shoot.

On Friday, Doubles were dominated by Grand Prairie members. Forty-two shooters participated in the event, with Grand Prairie shooters ending up at the top of the leader board. Jason Foshea was Champion, Will Chisum, runner-up, and Adam Roberts, third, shooting 99, 98 and 97 with no shoot-offs.

The 12-gauge event began bright (well, not so bright) and early on Saturday morning. Several days prior to the shoot, rain and thunderstorms were predicted for Saturday. Many were hopeful the weather prediction was wrong, but those hopes quickly dissipated as 40 shooters showed up to do their best in spite of the rain and thunderstorms. The 9:00 a.m. squad was delayed in starting, and shooting stopped twice during that rotation for lightning in the area. As the morning continued, it was evident it would take all day with the delays that continued to plague the 12-gauge event. Richard Funk, Adam Roberts and Cody Sergeant captured Champion, runner-up and third, respectively.

You are probably wondering what happened for the 20-gauge event, since the 12-gauge took so long to complete. Shoot chairman Randy Walhood wisely made the call to cancel the 20-gauge after the 12-gauge event was completed about 3:00 pm. No complaining from shooters on this decision!

What a difference a day makes! On Sunday, the weather had cleared up and sunny skies were once again the norm. Volunteers from the Grand Prairie Gun Club worked to clear the stations of water and mud. They swept the water away to dry off those shooting pads – that is just a small picture of how dedicated the Grand Prairie members are to hosting a great shoot. Fifty-one shooters showed up for the 28-gauge event. Donny Penwell was crowned Champ after winning the shoot-off of the 99s with three other shooters. Donny is the son of longtime Grand Prairie member Penny Penwell, for whom the shoot is named. Richard Funk and Troy Behrens ended with runner-up and third, respectively, for the 28-gauge.

Fifty shooters stuck around to complete the .410-bore event. Jason Foshea once again dominated the field with the lone 100. Bradley Pang captured the runner-up position with a 98 and was also the Junior Champ. Cody Sergeant captured third with a shoot-off of 97s.

Thirty-eight shooters competed in the HOA championship. It is no surprise that Jason Foshea once again reigned supreme as the Champ with a 295. Cody Sergeant and Richard Funk were in a shoot-off once again with 293s, with Cody ending up as runner-up and Richard at third.

The Grand Prairie Gun Club is known for holding great shoots with great food and targets. What may not be known, though, is that it is a volunteer club. Meals are organized, cooked and served by members. The skeet fields are maintained by members, and they are dedicated to ensuring fields are in tip-top condition for shooters. They were there in the rain, walking the fields, loading the houses, removing trash, and all of the things that are required for a shoot. A big thanks to all of the Grand Prairie members who volunteered to make this such a successful shoot and one that will not be forgotten. And a big thanks to the Texas referees for their professionalism in giving their best to every shooter. Sponsors are a necessity now for our great skeet shoots – Mike Gerschick with 3on8, Mica Crane, Jeff Nekuza, and Classic Chevrolet – thank you! And last, but certainly not least, Grand Prairie Gun Club would not be what it is without its leadership – Richard Kummer as president, Jeff Zwiebel as secretary, and Randy Walhood as treasurer and shoot chairman.

– Contributed by Jo Ellen Collin

April 12 dawned with an intermittent shower, but the forecast was for thunderstorms in the afternoon. Not the auspicious­­ start that match director Wendy Smith had hoped for on the first NSSA registered match being held by Rivanna Rifle and Pistol Club. The match format allowed the shooters to enter one, two, three or even four guns, and shoot them in any order. Consequently, each squad had a mix of 12-gauge, 20-gauge, 28-gauge, and .410 shooters. The hope was weather on the next day might be better, and some considered that when selecting what gun to shoot.

At the Friday 10:00 a.m. start, the rain had stopped only to start a constant drizzle during the third box. That seemed the pattern for the day. You might shoot one or two rounds relatively dry, but rain always entered before you were through. And it was in one of these drizzles that Charlie Souter shot a perfect 100 using his 20-gauge Model 12. Some noted the 99 hard hits and the one “golden BB,” but they all looked like Xs across the scoresheet.

The lunch provided to all contestants was authentic New Orleans jambalaya, prepared by Bob and Priscilla King, who hail from the Big Easy. The bill of fare was very well received, with small chance of leftovers.

Saturday’s competition was somewhat less rainy, but not completely dry. Again, the competition had shooters shooting all different gauges, so the match final tallies would have to wait until the end of the day. All told, we had 23 shooters shooting 41 guns. Competitors came from as far as Richmond and Fairfax and Gordonsville to shoot.

When the smoke had cleared, gun winners were listed for all except the 28 gauge. Justin Johnson from Richmond and a Liberty University shooter took the 12 gauge with a 97. Charlie Thompson, a UVA skeet shooter, was runner-up with a 96. Charlie Souter won the 20 gauge with the only 100, with Bob King runner-up at 98. Charlie’s 98 in .410 outdistanced everyone, with Bob King runner-up at 90. But Charlie was tied at 94 with Bob in 28 gauge.

In failing light, the shoot-off began with Doubles on station 3. After Bob noted that he had never lost a shoot-off in 28 gauge (this was his first), he stepped up and nailed both birds. Charlie broke the first bird, but his Model 12 pump failed to feed the second shell. It was his first gun malfunction, so he got a second chance, nailing both birds. Bob moved on to station 4 but dropped the high house bird. Charlie broke the first bird, but his pump again failed to feed the second shell. It was his second gun malfunction, so he got a second chance, dropping the low house bird. On Station 5 Bob lets a High House bird slip away. Charlie stepped up, somewhat concerned that he had no more allowable gun malfunctions. The gun worked and he nailed the two birds to claim the 28-gauge championship. With three guns in his win column, Charlie also took the HOA championship.

NSSA note: Congratulations to Rivanna Rifle and Pistol Club on their first registered shoot!

– Contributed by Bob King