Clay Target Nation

The official magazine of the National Skeet Shooting Association and the National Sporting Clays Association

SCDNR Presents Scholarships

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The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) recently held the 4th Annual State Skeet and Trap Championship at the Palmetto Shooting Complex at the National Wild Turkey Federation in Edgefield, SC. Three hundred sixty youth shooters in grades 6-12 participated in the two-day state tournament, 180 in trap and 180 in skeet. Participants for the DNR State Skeet and Trap Championship are chosen from two open events held in December and January; 474 youth participated in the DNR Skeet Open in December, and 456 youth participated in the DNR Trap Open in January.

The SCDNR began its shooting program, called Scholastic Clay Target Sports, in 2015. This year, the SCDNR gave away $31,800 in college scholarships at the State Skeet & Trap Championship. Money for these scholarships comes from private donations that the DNR receives through the Hampton Wildlife Fund. Friends of the Triangle Gun Club in Newberry County came together to honor one of their local legends, Allen Morrison, raising $5000 to give two $2500 scholarships in his honor to the top male and female high school senior at the DNR State Skeet Championship. Allen is a retired Marine Corps Skeet Team member who was a Gold Medalist in the Pan American Games in International Skeet in 1967 and a Silver Medalist in 1970 with the USA Olympic International Team. He was a member of the Military All-American Team and the Industry All-American Team in 1968-69. In 1992, Allen was inducted into the NSSA National Hall of Fame. In 1993, he was inducted into the Armed Forces Hall of Fame.

This year’s recipients of the first annual Allen Morrison Scholarship were Elizabeth Easler from Richland Creek Top Guns and Bradley Lehman from Mid-Carolina Gun Club.

Groundhog Day Referee Shoot

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Skeet season started early for the Oklahoma State referees this year. Since becoming Chief Referee, it has been my policy that all referees who fall under my jurisdiction be certified yearly by completing their standardized NSSA test. Though all referees now have a 3-year certification, I find the NSSA test to be an excellent refresher for the upcoming skeet season. I set up an online version of the NSSA test on a free website called Testmoz.com. This allows me to easily track test scores and make changes as the NSSA makes changes to its test. This also allows seasoned refs the convenience of fitting the refresher into their schedule. New referees will still take a mandatory training class and the initial paper test.

The shoot followed the meeting, and after a couple of late dropouts, we were down to 11 shooters. The weather was surprisingly favorable for February in Oklahoma. There were a few competitive shooters, some were collegiate or past skeet shooters, and we have some that rarely shoot their shotgun at all. A handicap system was used to balance our scores. Those with a handicap shot regular skeet and got to add their handicap to their score. Those with a zero handicap shot regular skeet until station 4 where they shot back-to-back doubles, then regular skeet again. Zero handicap shooters didn’t get an option target and just shot their 25th shot at high 8. The first event was 50 targets, and the prize was the first Groundhog Day Champion skeet towel; it’s all about bragging rights. With his handicap, Sam Galles was the champion with a 48. We had a second event concurrent with the first, and it consisted of a 5-card draw poker hand. In the second box, every shooter drew a card from the deck on stations 1, 3, 5, 7 and 8. When all the shooting was done, we compared our poker hands. The high hand from each field went against each other for the first Groundhog Day Poker Hand Champion skeet towel. In the end, Todd Johnson won with 2 pairs, Queens over 8s.

There was no money to win – only the enjoyment of shooting with friends. I want to make sure that each year this great group of people know how much I appreciate them and have an opportunity to have a little fun. I’m already looking forward to the 2nd Annual Groundhog Day Shoot and hope those who couldn’t make it this year will be able to join us next year. Like any good event, it takes more than one person to pull it off. Thanks to everyone involved for making the first Groundhog Day Shoot a success.

– Contributed by Andy Schuppert

Chief Referee, Oklahoma

Blue Nose Open at Fairfax

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After having just survived a partial federal government shutdown and a polar vortex which brought morning temperatures down to single digits just a few days before, the 55 participants in the very first Blue Nose Open at Fairfax Rod and Gun Club (Manassas, VA) had to brave brisk morning temperatures to start. By the last flight, however, temperatures warmed up to the 40s, and skies were clear and the air crisp. With many of the shooters coming out of their winter hibernation, this shoot came within five spots of being full. Three 99s were posted, and after the smoke cleared from the shoot-offs, Muhamed El-Zoghbi (champion), John Murphy (runner-up) and John Daubenschmidt (thirdd) agreed that a good time was had by all.

Other notable winners included: Clay Gormish AA1 (98), Bob Myers A1 (98), Alyssa Gormish B1 (96), lan Gale C1 (97), Dan Kuhns D1 (95), Dave Robertson E1 (88). We are also recognizing the new “First Responders” concurrent in all the shoots (established by NSSA at the 2018 World Skeet Championships) and are hopeful that this will become a much more competitive group during the year; Fred Wood won First Responder champ.

These early-year shoots at Fairfax really focus on: 1) getting new shooters involved; 2) introducing league shooters to registered skeet, which results in quite a number of E and D class shooters participating (15 and 8 shooters, respectively); and 3) getting these shooters hooked on our sport and how much fun we all have coming out and busting clays. We all know that the D and E shooters today are the A and AA shooters in later years.

Thank you to all the referees that came out on the cold winter morning. Special thanks also to Jamie Martin for keeping all the machines running smoothly and preparing the fields; Dutch Hillenburg for donating coupons for use in the pro shop; and Connie and Van Keys for the hot chocolate and delicious food available in the food service.

– Contributed by Jeff Bond

Photos by Kevin Baker

 

Tarentum District Sportsmen’s Club Spring Opening

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We may have called this our Spring Opening, but the weather was cold, not above 35 degrees, and the winds were blowing. This event was a 100-bird, 20-gauge event hosted by Tarentum District Sportsmen’s Club. Most of the 10 participants had a chance to shoot before the skies went gray and the snow began to fall again.

The gun champ was Josh Croffett (A1) with 98. Michael Rykaczewski Jr. (A2) was runner-up with 97. David Cominsky (B1) came in third with a 95. Other class winners included Mike Rykaczewski Sr. (D1) with 93 (D1), Murry Gerber (A3) at 92, Ross (Paul) Carney (D2) with 91, Scott Hazlett (B2) at 91, Marie Palmer (D3) at 87, Robert Waite (C1) with 86, and Andrew Hazlett (D4) at 75.

Despite the cold weather and the winds, everyone had a great time shooting. Afterwards, the shooters enjoyed a taco lunch provided by Dave and Deb Cominsky, and Marie Palmer provided some homemade soup and freshly made bread, in keeping up with the tradition of the late Nick Sisley.

The club invites shooters to visit their Facebook page at Tarentum District Sportsmen’s Club for info on all registered shoots, or they can be found on the NSSA website. For out-of-towners, there are hotels just 15 minutes away.

– Contributed by Marie Palmer

Cabin Fever at Tarentum Club

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Tarentum District Sportsmen’s Club hosted a 100-bird 12-gauge shoot, Cabin Fever, on February 17.  Ten brave shooters showed up in the 29-degree weather, with rain, sleet, snow, and 20 mph winds that whipped right through you and tossed clay birds around as if they were leaves falling from the trees.

The champion was Josh Crofutt with a 99, only missing a windblown high 5 in the last round. David Schadel was runner-up with a 96, and Dave Cominsky came in third with a 94. Class winners included Scott Hazlett, A1 with a 92; Ernie Anderson, B1 with an 88; Ross (Paul) Carney, D1 with 87; Marie Palmer, D1 at 86; Bob Waite, E1 with 83; and Andrew Hazlett, E2 with 78.

Thanks to everyone for their participation and for the fantastic lunch that was served.

The Cabin Fever shoot is just the start of monthly registered shoots that will be held at TDSC in 2019. You’re invited to join us in making TDSC “the best little skeet club in the USA.” You can stay up-to-date on all planned events at www.mytdsc.org  or join us on Facebook.

– Contributed by Marie Palmer

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