Clay Target Nation

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

3rd Annual Newark Open

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The 2023 Newark Open was held on July 28-30. Once again, great scores were posted. Three years running and HOA scores have been 397, 398, 398. If you like good targets, great scores, added money, a free handicap event, and plenty of free food, you should put this on your schedule.

HOA CH, RU, 3RD

This year’s tournament started out on Friday afternoon with some pretty good conditions, although quite humid. Some fine scores were posted, highlighted by Ontario, Canada’s Dan Morris winning a shoot-off of 99’s with Craig Parsons. Third was captured by Steven (Woody) Wood.

Saturday started out calm and humid again, but our noon flight of 12-gauge shooters were not so lucky. They got drenched! They were able to brave the downpour to conclude their third round but were called in to wait out the storm before being able to finish the event. After a 30-minute or so pause, shooting resumed in the rain. The first flight of the 20-gauge shooters also got soaked, but good scores still prevailed. Once everyone got dried out and guns were dried and cleaned, lunch donated by Newark member Craig Halstead and his wife Cindy was served.

Luckily, the remainder of the afternoon was dry, and we were able to complete the day’s events in time for all to enjoy dinner provided by the Newark club. This year’s dinner was catered by local favorite Bad to the Bone BBQ, and at the end of the evening, only a few scraps were found to be left over.

The winners of the day were:

12-gauge champion, Don Lewandoski; runner-up, Dess Ivanov; and third, Craig Parsons, after a shoot-off of 100 straights, and

20-gauge champion, Dess Ivanov; runner-up, Steve Wood; third, John Boone.

The 20-gauge B-C-D handicap event with free entry, sponsored by Pat Breen and Cliff Patridge, was won by Walt Aldrich with a fine score of 99. Runner-up was Larry Clarke, and third place was split between John Greco and Victor Stirpe.

Sunday brought dry conditions and more great shooting highlighted by Newark’s own Cameron Baker smoking his very first 100 straight, in the 28-gauge event. Dess continued his hot streak with another 100 straight as well. Several people reported that they heard Dess breathe quite a sigh of relief when he heard that Cameron had left the club after smashing his straight to honor his commitment to play on his summer soccer team and would not be able to shoot-off the event. 28-gauge winners were champion, Dess Ivanov; runner-up, Cameron Baker; and third, Woody Wood.

In the afternoon .410 event, all eyes were on the Bulgarian. Everyone was pulling for him, as he was the only competitor at 300 straight. I suppose the lack of sleep caught up to him Sunday afternoon, as he had just arrived home from a trip to Bulgaria at 3:30 a.m. on Saturday morning. Some fine shooting on a few short hours of sleep! Unfortunately, the outcome wasn’t what everyone was hoping for, but he posted an awesome 98 in the small-bore event, capturing the HOA championship with a great score of 398X400. Other winners in the HOA were runner-up Craig Parsons and third-place Steve Wood.

The .410 champion was Dan Morris, and runner-up was Craig Parsons, after a shoot off of 99’s. Third went to Dess.

– Contributed by Craig Parsons

DBLS, CH, RU
12 CH & RU
20ga CH & RU
Cameron’s 1st 100

Photo Gallery: Ladies Skeet Clinic at World Skeet Championships

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The inaugural Ladies Skeet Clinic was held on September 29 during the Mini World, with 12 participants paired with four instructors. Instructors were JoEllen Collin, Jackie Ego, Bethanne Miles, and Hannah Goddard, with Susie Galloway assisting. The objectives of the clinic were to provide a safe, friendly and supportive environment for our students to learn the fundamentals of shotgun shooting from and with other women.

– Photos contributed by Susie Galloway

Click on a photo to enlarge.

Ladies Skeet Clinic at World Skeet Championships

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The inaugural Ladies Skeet Clinic was held on September 29 during the Mini World, with 12 participants paired with four instructors. Instructors were JoEllen Collin, Jackie Ego, Bethanne Miles, and Hannah Goddard, with Susie Galloway assisting. The objectives of the clinic were to provide a safe, friendly and supportive environment for our students to learn the fundamentals of shotgun shooting from and with other women. 

Experience levels ranged from never having handled a gun/shotgun before, to some beginners who had shot a little skeet, sporting clays, or trap. All were eager to learn about skeet shooting.  We had classroom time where we got to know each other, gave a brief overview of clay target sports, with emphasis on skeet, its history, and NSSA, and conducted a thorough safety orientation.

JoEllen Collin and Jackie Ego checked everyone for eye dominance, and the instructors helped dial in gun fit for all the ladies. Instructors went over proper mount and stance before each group headed out to the four fields NSSA had ready for the group. It wasn’t long before shots were fired and cheers went up and down the line as some of the students broke their very first skeet targets.

At the conclusion of shooting, the group headed to headquarters, met members of the NSSA staff and the Executive Committee, and enjoyed a fabulous lunch, compliments of NSSA. NSSA also provided Complimentary Limited Memberships for all the clinic participants. Huge thanks to duPont/Krieghoff, Krieghoff, Briley, Federal, and NSSA for their generous gifts, loaner guns, ammunition and the special touches that made this inaugural clinic a success. With a full clinic and waiting list for the inaugural event, we’re already planning for an expanded 2024 event.

– Contributed by Hannah Goddard

Ray Harding Open at Fredericksburg Rod & Gun

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Fredericksburg Rod & Gun Club held the first Ray Harding Open (a rename of the Battlefield Open) on July 15-16 to honor Ray Harding who gave so much to Virginia skeet during his life.  Ray shot skeet for 50 years, was president of the VSSA for two terms, was skeet chairman and NSSA Director for 20 years, and served on the club’s Board of Directors for most of his skeet career.

HOA CH Conor Stephens and Lady HOA Lindsay Coffman

Photos of Ray were displayed and shooters talked about him all weekend. Ray had a hobby of carving and painting intricate wooden pins of birds, dogs, fish and grouse feathers. Each gun champion at the shoot received a grouse tail feather pin as a memento of the shoot and Ray.

The first shooter to be “pinned” was Fred Wood, who won doubles. Conor Stephens was 12-gauge champ with the only 100 of the weekend, followed by 28-gauge champ Dick Weinley and 20-gauge champ Gil Traore, both with blistering 99s. Conor repeated as .410 champ, but the pins were “one to a customer.” James Reinhold was presented with the fifth pin in the box for his fine shooting (doubles third, 12-gauge A1, 28-gauge runner-up, 20-gauge A1, .410 third, and HOA runner-up, even as he refereed after each time he shot in the hot and humid weather. His HOA score was his personal best, just six birds behind HOA Champion Conor Stephens.

Judy Harding took delight in presenting pins to the champs and noted she had found more (of Ray’s carvings that she can present next year.

– Contributed by Judy Harding and Becky Myers

Judy Harding 12GA CH Conor Stephens
20ga CH Gil Traore

Judy Harding and Doubles CH Fred Wood

3F Summer Classic

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The 3F Club in Lewiston, New York, hosted the 3F Summer Classic on July 14-16. The 3F continues to host one of the top money shoots in New York with over $3000 added money. The shoot had 45 participants with two squads from our Canadian colleagues, and it was nice to see them back. The weather for the weekend was great with sunny blue skies and light winds and HOT except for the 30-minute microburst Saturday afternoon when some got pretty wet.

Friday’s doubles event resulted in a lone 99 by Canada’s Charlie Peacock for the championship. Mat Kelley took runner-up with a 97. Class winners were Steve Wood (AA), Clay Tietjen (A), Mike Smith (B), Ron Casella (C) and Scott Daniels (D).

Saturday’s morning 12-gauge event posted a first registered 100 straight by Mike Smith, along with straights by Steve Wood and Veteran Ricky Laurito. When the dust settled, Wood emerged as champion with Laurito runner-up. Class winners were Kody Hoth (AA), Clay Tiejen (A), Mike Smith (B), Dan Nichols (D) and Weston Nichols (E).

After the lunch break sponsored by Ventry’s Pizza, shooters took to the fields to start the 28-gauge event. Four 100’s were posted and another first 100 straight by Jon Zywiczynski, along with Matt Lenehan, Jeff Ventry and Steve Wood. After a lengthy shoot-off, Wood captured the title, with Ventry runner-up. Class winners were Jon Zywiczynski (AA), Matt Lenehan (A), Fritz Ochab (B), Paul Barnas (C) and Zeljko Blazic (D).

On Saturday night, shooters and guests were treated to cocktails, hors d’oeuvre, shrimp, pulled pork, Natural Link locally made Italian sausage, fruit trays, and dessert table.

Sunday had ideal weather conditions for the day. The lone 100 in the 20-gauge was posted by Charlie Peacock, who took the championship, followed by four 99’s shooting for runner-up. Matt Kelly, Kody Hoth, Mike Smith and Jon Zywiczynski. Kody emerged as runner-up. Class winners were Mat Kelley (AA), Jon Zywiczynski (A), Aaron Burnett (B), Owen Cooley (C) and Weston Nichols (D).

Everyone’s favorite, the .410 event, posted two fine 98’s by Jon Zywiczynski and Charlie Peacock with Jon outlasting Peacock to take the champion spot. Class winners were Jeff Ventry (AA), Matt Lenehan (A), Johnny Sibani (B), Paul Barnas (C) and Weston Nichols (D).

The HOA crown came down to a pair of 395’s and a battle of the borders: New York’s Jon Zywiczynski and Ontario’s Charlie Peacock. After they squared off, Jon Zywiczynski managed to fend off Charlie to take the HOA Crown. Remaining class winners were Steve Wood (AA), Matt Lenehan (A), Aaron Burnett (B), Owen Cooley (C) and Zeljko Blazic (D).

Thanks to our key sponsors this year, we were able to keep our traditional added money payouts in these uncertain times. Sponsors were Duane Manth and family, Dawson Enterprises (Ammo and Reloading Supplies, Massillon, OH), Cambria Game Farms, Niagara River Fishing Station, and the Ventry family for the .410 blind. Without the generosity of our sponsors, the shoot would not happen. Thanks to our referees who did an excellent job and had the stamina to hang in there in the heat, and to and all our volunteers who made this shoot possible: Mike Clarke, Fredo Vanoni, Dave Sobiegray, Jeff Ventry, Mat Kelley, Kody Hoth, and Aaron Burnett; Jackie Ventry and Lisa Kelley for running the shoot and dinner table. Thank you to all the shooters for making our event a growing success. Please join us again next year and bring along your new shooting friends.

– Contributed by Dave Sobiegray

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