Clay Target Nation

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

Minnesota State Championships

By

Seventeen-year old Hayden Wege claimed championships in nearly every event at the 2019 Minnesota State Skeet Championships. He first appeared at the Minnesota State Championships in 2016 at age 14, shooting in class D with an HOA score of 355. In subsequent state shoots, Hayden posted HOA scores of 383, 389 and now 395, claiming the 2019 Minnesota State Championships in doubles, 12-gauge, 28-gauge, .410, HOA and HAA.

Hayden attributes much of his success to Tony Lowe, his mentor and NSSA Certified Skeet Instructor who also coaches for the Minnesota Youth Shooting Program SCTP team, as well his mother Kristen Wege, who serves as Hayden’s coach and is a Certified Shotgun Instructor, and the head SCTP coach for the Minnesota Youth Shooting Program. Hayden will finish high school this year and enroll at Bethel University in McKenzie, Tennessee, where he earned a shooting scholarship.

The American flag was raised at the start of the doubles event with the singing of the National Anthem by Justin Staebell, a formidable skeet shooter who sings opera.

The 20-gauge championship was won by incoming Minnesota Skeet Shooting Association president, Jeff Schneider, who bested Hayden Wege in a shoot-off of 99s.

Class champions include:

HOA – Michael Lohman (AA), Justin Baker (A), Janice C. Lohman (B), Mark Cameron (C) and David G. Seidel (D)

12-Gauge – Mark VanderBloomer (A), Robert Muehlenkamp (B), Tate Peterson (C),

Marcus Andrade (D) and Arthur R. Peterson Jr. (E)

20-Gauge – Hayden Wege (AA), Gene J. Helsene (A), Paul Davis (B) and Harry Hoppmann (C)

28-Gauge – Mark VanderBloomer (AA), Gene J. Helsene (A), Brian Hendrickson (B), Mike Halbach (C) and Mark Cameron (D)

.410-Bore – Justin Staebell (AA), Justin Baker (A), Randy Vaske (B), Mark Cameron (C) and

Tate Peterson (D)

The Minnesota Skeet Shooting Association thanks Minneapolis Gun Club Manager, Mark Cameron, for hosting another great state championship. Thanks also to Bob Muehlenkamp and Mike Quigley for running the NSSA software, making the reservations and maintaining the scoreboard.

 

– Contributed by Ronald Chandler

Gil Rodler Memorial

By

Tarentum District Sportsmen’s Club (TDSC) near Sarver, Pennsylvania held their fifth Gil Rodler Memorial 4-gun shoot on Labor Day, September 2. Gil Rodler Sr. passed away in June of 2014 at the age of 88. Gil was one of the best skeet shooters in Pennsylvania for many years and had many friends and acquaintances in the skeet community. Gil Rodler Jr. attended the shoot and shot very well, ending up as 28-Gauge Champion, A1 in the 20 and A1 in the 12. Gil Sr. would have been proud but probably would have asked his son, “What happened in the .410?”

The weather was great, partly cloudy to partly sunny, near 75 degrees with light winds. A total of 31 shooters participated in this four-gun, 50-bird-per-gun affair. HOA winners were Josh Crofutt (Champion, 195), Chris Kline (runner-up, 194) and Mike Wollard (third, 191).

The .410 was first on the agenda, and 26 competitors shot the little gun. Kline took the championship outright with his 49; Tim Holtz was runner-up with a 48. Class firsts went to Mike Rykaczewski Jr. (AA), Crofutt (A), Debra Meade (B), Harry Simonovich (C) and Ross Carney (D).

The 28-gauge was next up with 27 shooters, and there were three 50s from Gil Rodler Jr., Wollard and Meade; Rodler emerged as Champion and Wollard as runner-up. Rykaczewski Jr., Meade, Arvid Kobosky, Bryson Fox and Lance Petro, respectively, were AA1, A1, B1, C1 and D1.

Twenty-seven shooters took part in the 20-gauge event. Wollard had the only 50 straight and was champion. Crofutt, runner-up, won a shoot-off of 49s with Kline (AA1). Rodler Jr. (A1), Ernie Anderson (B1), Paul Hunt (C1) and Simonovich (D1) rounded out the list of class winners.

Twenty-nine shooters shot the 12-gauge. There were three 50 straights: Crofutt (champion), Kline (runner-up) and Kevin Spessard (B1). Other class firsts went to Meade (AA), Rodler Jr. (A), Tom Shields (C), Bob Waite (D) and Petro (E).

Kudos to Jerry McCullough and Mike Rykaczewski Sr. for shoot management and to John Smith, Gary Trilli, Chris Smith, Paul Augustin, Tom Gulotta, Josh Crofutt and Mike Rykaczewski Jr. for pulling and scoring. Many thanks to Regina Nemergut and Marie Palmer for preparing and serving the food.

 

– Contributed by George Gleich

Tuffy’s Pet Food Open

By

Fort Thunder Shooting Center in Perham, Minnesota, hosted Tuffy’s Pet Food Open, a five-gun registered skeet shoot on July 28-29.

On the first day, the 12- and 20-gauge events were held. In the 12-gauge event, Scott Melchisedech shot a 98 to win class A and gun champion. Runner-up was Bob Rick (93), while Mark VanderBloomer took third with 89. Other class winners were David Gaboury (C, 89), Jack Sveningson (D, 82) and Cliff Young (E, 76).

Gun champion and class AA winner in the 20-gauge event went to Scott Melchisedech with a score of 96, followed by runner-up Bob Rick at 94. Class winners were David Gaboury (B, 95), Raymond Polensky (C, 87) and Cliff Young (D, 76).

On the second day were the 28-gauge, .410 bore, and doubles events. In the 28-gauge, Bob Rick won gun champion and class AA with a score of 98. Class B winner Ray Polensky shot 91, while class C winner was Cliff Young at 86. In the .410 event, gun champion and class B winner was Scott Melchisedech (93), and Bob Rick won class A (91).

In doubles, David Gaboury took gun champion and class C with a score of 91. Class A winner was Bob Rick (87), and winning class B was Mark VanderBloomer (84).

Thanks to Tuffy’s Pet Foods who co-sponsored this tournament with Fort Thunder Shooting Center, furnishing cash for winners and door prizes.

– Contributed by Sheli Sharp

Hamburg Open

By

The weather was amazing with sunny, blue skies and  warm temperatures for the 2019 Hamburg Open on July 12-14 at Hamburg (New York) Rod and Gun Club. The first event of the weekend was doubles. Peter Bogdon was the champion, and runner-up was Mathew Kelley.  Class winners were Ricky Laurito (AA), Dana Driscoll (A), Mike Smith (B), Gregory McChesney Jr. (D) and Junior Champion, Ryan Meger.

Saturday came, and the weather conditions were wonderful again. In the 12-gauge event, we had two 100s. After shoot-offs, the results were Dave Sobiegray as champ, Mathew Kelley runner-up, Peter Bogdon (AA1), Scott Van Etten (A1), Samuel Heusler (B1), Victor Stirpe (C1), Arnold Smart (D1), Jerry Reeves (E1) and Junior Champion, Ryan Meger.

We broke for lunch (thank you to Guy and Sharon Otis and Paul Barnas Jr.). In the  20-gauge event, Colin Smingler had the only 100 for the championship. Peter Bogdon was runner-up. Class winners were Mathew Kelley (AA), Matthew Lenehan (A), Ricky Laurito (B), Cynthia Johnson (C), Gregory McChesney (D) and Junior Champion, Ryan Meger.

Everyone enjoyed dinner that night with pork chops and chicken cordon bleu provided by ZJ’s Restaurant. A nice cocktail party was put on by our club’s past president, Jim McAndrews.

On Sunday, the weather cooperated again with a great start for the 28-gauge event. Event champion Ryan Meger had the only 100. Other finishers include runner-up Peter Bogdon, Dana Driscoll (AA1), Dave Sobiegray (A1), Douglas Paddock (B1), Jerry Reeves (C1), Ricky Laurito Jr. (D1) and Junior Champion, Ryan  Meger.

After the lunch break, the weather conditions were perfect for the .410 event. Mathew Kelley came out as champ, runner-up was Bernard Lenehan, and class champs were Ryan Meger (AA), Ricky Laurito (A), Matthew Lenehan (B), Cynthia Johnson (C), John Cicora (D) and Junior Champion, Ryan Meger.

HOA was won by Mathew Kelley with a 396, and runner-up was Ryan Meger (394). Class winners were Bernard Lenehan (AA, 387), Peter Bogdon (A, 391), Matthew Lenehan (B, 384), Ricky Laurito (C, 369), Arnold Smart (D, 326) and Junior Champion, Ryan Meger (394).

Thanks to all the sponsors and patrons of the 2019 Hamburg Open for your support that helped make this a great shoot. We look forward to seeing everyone next year at the 2020 Hamburg Open. I would like to thank the following sponsors for sponsoring events: Doubles, Ventry’s Heating and Air Conditioning; 12-gauge, Manth Manufacturing Inc.; 20-gauge, Artisan Stock and Gunworks; 28-gauge, Hamburg Brewing Company; Red Hot, Maxwell Murphy Attorneys At Law; .410, J. Mills Distributing Company; HOA, Russell’s Steaks, Chops and More Restaurant; and Last Dash for Cash, Fiocchi Ammunition.

– Contributed by Paul Barnas

Boyd Memorial Cancer Shoot

By

The 7th annual Boyd Memorial Cancer Shoot was held the weekend of July 13 at the Cooperstown Sportsmen’s Club in Cooperstown, New York. On this exceptionally warm day, 15 registered skeet shooters shot in both 12-gauge and 20-gauge events. Shooter Kerry Richardson of Mexico, New York, shot a 100 straight in the 12-gauge, and Robert Mosca of Wynantskill, New York, achieved his first 25 straight in the 20-gauge event. At the end of the day, the High Over All trophy, for the combined two guns, was presented to shooter Kerry Henderson on his first time at the fundraising event. We are glad he had such a good day.

The Cancer Memorial Shoot is a fundraiser for cancer research, with funds donated to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life in Otsego County, New York. It is a two-day event with the second day being open shooting for both skeet and trap. Attendees enjoyed warm weather, good company, lunch, raffles and a bake sale. It is always a fun time. This year, one registered shooter, Alan Clark, Sr., traveled from Houston, Texas, to participate.

Thanks to members of the Cooperstown Sportsmen’s Association, led by president Bob Navratil, for their commitment to the success of this important event. Thanks as well to the New York State Skeet Association for providing continued support. Our hope is that a cure will be found for this devastating disease so no more families go through the pain and heartbreak of losing a loved one.

This year’s shoot raised over $7000, bringing the total to over $38,000 that has been donated to the American Cancer Society since 2013. The success of this fundraising event could not have been possible if not for the efforts and leadership of our chairperson, Joyce Boyd. We thank Joyce for her dedication and hard work that she has put into this event.

– Contributed by Ted Kantorowski

Skeet

Sporting Clays

National Shooting
Complex

Museum &
Hall of Fame

About