Clay Target Nation

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

Generations Couples Shoot

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The fourth annual Couples Shoot was held at Generations Skeet Club near Patton, PA, on September 16. The weather was great, upper 70s and partly cloudy with just enough wind to keep it interesting (we wouldn’t want any new skeet shooters to think it was too easy).

The Couples Shoot was initiated by Generations to introduce new shooters, especially ladies and younger shooters, to skeet, to have fun shooting while stressing gun safety, to enjoy an early autumn afternoon with a fine group of people and, of course, to eat! It was begun in 2015 with 14 couples participating. This year, 76 shooters – 38 couples – participated. Who knows what might happen next year; there certainly will be a next year for this shoot!

Shooting began at 11 a.m., and all four of the skeet fields were soon involved. Many of the participants were first-time shooters. Certified instructors were present on each field to help these new shooters, and any not-so-new shooters that wanted it. Generations also provided shotguns, shells and eye and ear protection to those who needed them. Pullers and scorers included Kelsey Krug and Paige McMullen; both young ladies regularly help run the Wednesday night skeet league here and do a great job. They also joined in on the shooting fun and did well!

Squads of 4, 6 and/or 8 people participated. All NSSA safety rules were strictly enforced, but some of the other rules were slightly bent at times to help new shooters. For example, some new shooters shot four singles instead of two singles and a double at times, and congratulating a new shooter each time they smoked a bird was encouraged.

At approximately 4 p.m., after everyone had shot at 50 birds (two rounds), shoot-offs began. Liberal, but top secret, handicaps were applied, which allowed all the couples to participate in doubles at 3, 4 and 5. The shoot-offs were also handicapped with experienced shooters receiving no targets and rookies getting four. Following the first round of shoot-offs, the remaining eight pairs of shooters proceeded to field 2 for the final shoot-off. A large crowd of spectators watched and cheered as the winners were decided. Cindy and Jeff Harding emerged as the Couples Shoot champions for 2018 and were awarded the custom tiara bedecked with spent shotgun shells and a blue ribbon. Shoot runners-up were Shane and Kate Crawford, and third place went to Michael Vescovi and Kiersten Kruise. During the awards ceremony, beautiful engraved wine glasses to commemorate the event were presented to all three couples. Just for the record, the champs and runners-up are experienced sporting clays shooters but first-time skeet shooters. They commented on how much they enjoyed the game and the camaraderie, and I would bet they become regular skeet shooters, as they met some very good friends.

After the shooting was done, people migrated to “The Barn,” about 200 yards from the skeet clubhouse, for a fine picnic-style dinner. After the meal, awards were presented to the Couples Shoot winners, and winners of the recently finished Wednesday night league were recognized.

Many thanks to the Generations Skeet Family for hosting a great event!

– Contributed by George Gleich

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

World Record Established for 500-Target 28 Gauge

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Two shoots were scheduled for the Labor Day weekend at Piedmont Sportsman Club (Orange, VA) – the Bill Twyman Open, a 500-target marathon of 28-gauge targets, and the Labor Day Open, with all guns and Doubles. The two shoots were being run in parallel. Three brave souls were willing to attempt to establish the first new World Record in the 500-target 28-gauge event. (See Clay Target Nation, February 2017, bit.ly/CTN0217-10).

Having shot the entire Labor Day Open on one day, Fred Wood and Jason Armstrong were joined by Jeff Bond on Saturday morning to begin the 28-gauge marathon of 300 targets on Saturday and the final 200 on Sunday. With a forecast for the weekend indicating nothing but hot and humid, it was going to be a challenge.

So at 0900 on Saturday morning, the marathon began, with Jeff Bond leading, followed by Jason Armstrong and Fred Wood as tailgunner. The three easily finished each flight in less than an hour, and after the first 100 targets, Jeff Bond led by three targets. After some water and cooling off, the three approached the field again for next set of 100 targets, but by now the sun had burned off the morning dew and the temperature was rising, the humidity was high and the sweat never evaporated. The next 200 targets proved difficult for all, but Fred Wood stayed focused and was able to post one round of 99. By the end of the day and the first 300 targets, Fred Wood was in the lead by two targets.

Piedmont hosted a fine dinner Saturday evening and even better camaraderie, as everyone told stories of prior skeet events, remembered those shooters who are no longer with us and shared their plans for future activities.

All three again met up for the last 200 targets on Sunday with a forecast of even more of the same hot and humid conditions. The fourth 100 targets started with all three men posting a perfect first round of 25; as it turned out, that was the only time that all three did so. When the sun came out in full force and the dew steamed off the grass, the glasses would fog up – usually just before a target was called for. By the end of the 400th target, Fred and Jeff were again tied, after Jeff posted a 99 to match Fred’s 99 from the day before.

The three took to the field to shoot their last set of 100 28-gauge targets. But with the heat and humidity and mental pressure all rising, Jeff lost the first bird out. As the rounds progressed, Fred would lead and then Jeff would lead and then they would be tied again. As the squad battled around the field, the crowd of spectators began to grow and focused their attention on Fred and Jeff, but referee Ronnie Dodson maintained his cool composure the entire time. Spectators gathered and the crowd grew, wondering which of the three men would establish a World Record. Finally, scores were tallied and double-checked, it turned out that Fred Wood and Jeff Bond together set the World Record and would be recognized as co-holders, having tied with a score of 484X500.

But only one could be declared champion of the Bill Twyman Open, and after a very long and grueling set of doubles, Jeff Bond was declared champ, Fred Wood was runner-up and Jason Armstrong third (with a 467 x 500).

– Contributed by Ronald Dodson

World Warm-up Shoot at Grand Prairie

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Dennis Parkison
Dennis Parkison

Grand Prairie Gun Club upheld a stellar reputation by hosting the 2018 World Warm-up skeet tournament September 14-16.

The threat of bad weather was not a deterrent as 61 shooters began the competition on Friday with the Doubles event. Jason Foshea, Champion, finished with the only 100, and Shane Quinn was runner-up with 99. Lauren Burge brought in Lady Champion and third overall with a 97. For those who did not need to return at the end of the day for shoot-offs, savory hors d’oeuvres were served by the volunteer kitchen staff.

Saturday began with 74 contestants in the 12 gauge and beautiful skeet weather on the horizon. Exceptional scores were turned in by all classes, but there was a single 100 shot by Shane Quinn, champion. Candidates for runner-up and third came from a pool of eight 99s. Tom Deaton, runner-up and Retired Military Champion, and Andrew Benson, third and Junior Champion, took the remaining top spots. Lady Champion was Jo Ellen Collin, and Charlie Abendroth finished as Lady runner-up. Saturday’s competition was concluded with the 20 gauge. Again, there was a lone 100 in the event. Jason Foshea repeated as Champion and Military Veteran Champion, Shane Quinn kept a place at the top with runner-up, and Paul Newman was third. AAA first through third were Richard Funk, Andrew Benson and Greg Van Belois, respectively. Jo Ellen Collin made another appearance as Lady Champion with a 98, and Lauren Burge was runner-up with a 96.

Lauren Burge
Lauren Burge

A light rain fell during the last rotation but managed to clear by the time shoot-offs started. Once the last shot was fired, everyone retired to the clubhouse for grilled steak and all the trimmings.

Sunday opened with the 28 gauge and some outstanding scores: Paul Newman, Richard Funk, Andrew Benson and Dennis Parkison each shot a 100 and met at the end of day to determine the winner. Andrew Benson was the first to be excused with a miss and took AAA1. Paul Newman’s miss gave him third place, leaving Parkison and Funk to battle for champ. Funk had a miss on the next station, giving Parkison gun champ with his first-ever 100 straight in any gauge. There is every indication that Dennis will be a force to be reckoned with in the future.

When it was time for the .410, the sunny weather disappeared, the wind rose and the rains fell. The weather change was not a challenge for Matt Fallon; a score of 99 and three clean stations in a shoot-off made him Champion. Adam Roberts’s 99 and a strong presence in the shoot-off placed him as the runner-up, and Mike Gerschick, also with a 99, placed third. On the AAA podium were Van Lewis, Lauren Burge (Lady Champion) and Greg VanBelois. Merril Stanfield was Lady runner-up and Jo Ellen Collin Lady third.

Richard Funk
Richard Funk

HOA Champion with a 397 was Richard Funk, followed by Andrew Benson at runner-up and Junior Champion and Van Lewis at third. Mike Gershick earned AAA1 and Paul Newman AA1. Lady Champion was Lauren Burge with a 386 and Jo Ellen Collin runner-up with a 384.

This event could not have taken place without the extraordinary membership of the club. GPGC is fortunate to consist of people that generously give of their time and talents to ensure this shoot is produced. A big thank you is extended to the many volunteers that loaded houses, cleaned fields, ran the kitchen and manned the grill. Thank you also to the team of Mike Skidmore and Jim Speer who made registration and record-keeping seamless. Finally, the Texas referee staff, headed by Tamme Cervenka, lent their usual expertise the tournament and deserves our gratitude.

It you have never been to a Grand Prairie shoot, consider putting us on your 2019 competition schedule. The next registered event will be the Penwell in April, and it would be an excellent opportunity to experience great shooting and Texas hospitality.

– Contributed by Tracy Ragle

Chicks Breakin Clays

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Like many females, when I grew up, daddies didn’t teach their daughters how to shoot guns. Daddy took my brother hunting occasionally – some doves, but mostly jackrabbits on Grandmother’s farm in West Texas – while I got to play with my Barbie dolls in the back of our ’67 Chevrolet Impala station wagon and watch from the window. My father shot skeet when he was in the Air Force, but I didn’t know anything about that until an aunt mentioned it 20 years after he died. So 33 years ago was my first encounter with shooting a shotgun. Thankfully, I came back many years later to try it again after receiving instruction on its use.

On a crisp fall day, my soon-to-be husband, Brent, and I were at his grandparents’ farm. All of his family was there – parents, brothers, cousins, aunts, uncles – and the men decided to go dove hunting. I was invited to tag along. I’d never held a shotgun, much less pulled the trigger on one, and now I had a loaded 12-gauge Winchester 1400 MK II in my hands as we walked through the pasture to the trees where we’d surely see plenty of doves. Then we sat and waited for what seemed an eternity, Brent to my left and his two brothers to my right. Finally, a couple of doves started flying our way. The adrenaline started pumping. I raised my gun and started tracking a dove flying from right to left, finally pulling the trigger somewhere above Brent’s head. Realizing what I’d done and what the result could have been, I shakily handed the gun to Brent, thanking the good Lord for keeping me from ending my fiancé’s life before we even started the marriage. I didn’t want any part of shooting after that near-disaster.

Fast-forward 22 years to 2007. Brent and I moved near the tiny town of Arcadia, Oklahoma, about 4 miles from the Oklahoma City Gun Club. One of Brent’s co-workers told him about a women’s instructional shooting clinic at the club she thought I might be interested in, so I signed up. The Women On Target event, which OKCGC hosts annually on the second Saturday of September, teaches women and girls how to safely handle a variety of firearms in a safe environment. It is the biggest WOT event in the nation with 400 to 600 women and girls attending each year. I first shot .22 rifles, then an AR-15, and next a variety of pistols, but the final range of the day proved to be my favorite – shotgun! I couldn’t wait to get home and tell Brent we were going to join that club and learn how to shoot skeet!

We jumped in with both feet, taking skeet lessons and shooting in the spring skeet league. The next year we were helping with the monthly beginning skeet class, volunteering for the annual WOT, and soon became NRA shotgun instructors. As we continued to practice and improve our shooting, we started doing registered shoots in 2010. My love of working with beginning shooters led me to become an NSSA Level 1 instructor in 2014 – and, of course, Brent joined me in this venture. Also during this time, I was asked to take over the chairmanship of OKCGC’s Shotgun Division, the club’s busiest division, which I did with Brent’s help.

In the summer of 2017, as I worked with one of the ladies in our club on her skeet shooting, the thought occurred to me that we needed a specific time each week for any female to come and learn to shoot in a safe, female-only environment, so I started a weekly women’s instructional shooting group. We work repetitiously on each station (shooting incomers, out-goers, and doubles on stations 1, 2, 6, and 7) rather than jumping in and shooting a round of skeet. This group had to have a name, so “Chicks Breakin’ Clays!” was hatched. It originally started as a Tuesday morning group with eight retired and non-working chicks ranging in age from 18 to 65, and I quickly added an evening group so the working chicks could also participate. We require students who’ve never handled a shotgun to take the NRA FIRST Steps Shotgun class with Brent and me. FIRST stands for Firearms Instruction Responsibility and Safety Training. After completing the 3-hour course, the ladies feel more confident in handling a shotgun safely, and I’m also better assured no one will have an accident with their gun.

During its short time in existence, “Chicks Breakin’ Clays!” has grown significantly, and I’ve added more sessions to accommodate those wanting to learn. Part of this growth can be seen in the Spring Skeet League at the OKCGC. This popular annual event has nearly 150 shooters split over three nights of shooting. When I started participating in spring league in 2008, I was one of just three ladies shooting. The 2018 spring league included 18 female shooters, some of whom had only been introduced to the game two weeks prior. As more and more women and girls are becoming interested in learning the game of skeet, we also need more females to become instructors, so my next goal is to recruit some of my chicks to get certified so the CBC will continue to grow.

I am so thankful I came back and tried shooting a shotgun again and that I learned the game of skeet. Brent and I have met the best people we know through this sport and have gained many lasting friendships as a result. Even though I never got to shoot skeet with my dad, I have to think he’s smiling down on me from the big skeet field in the sky, where the weather is always perfect for shooting, there are no ammo or gun malfunctions, and everyone breaks 100 straight every time – and he’s saying, “Job well done, Sis!”

– Contributed by Paula J. Tate

Salisbury Gun Club Honors Referee Ray L. Lerner

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Ray L. Lerner, well-known and respected skeet referee throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, was a surprised honoree on Saturday, June 22 during the Brad Rivenburgh Open when he received a Lifetime Membership in the Salisbury Gun Club and a standing ovation from his friends.

Like many referees, Ray became interested in skeet first as a shooter, then in 1977 began learning his trade at the Fairfax Rod and Gun Club under the tutelage of Roy Winkler. Ray explained, “We formed a study group so we could discuss the rules of skeet, pick out various rules, and review specific ways of applying them to situations we might come up against in the real world. That was the beginning of my training, and it has served me well over all these years as my foundation for making difficult calls.”

When asked if he thought the rules of skeet were fair to all shooters, Ray replied, “I believe so. Basically, the rules serve everyone the same. The rules of skeet shooting should not be used to help or hurt any individual shooter, but rather to level the playing field so that no shooter can have an unfair advantage over another. The rules let me treat all shooters the same to the best of my ability. Maybe the only exception is when I have a new shooter to the game in my squad. I try to keep an eye on that one and make sure he/she does not get excited or nervous and call for the wrong bird or call for a bird with an empty gun – you know, stuff like that.”

“Over the years I’ve been associated with many wonderful and gracious people, but none that I can recall who were more so than Wayne Mayes,” said Lerner. “He was always respectful of new shooters as well as veterans of the game, and of course, he was such a wonderful shot. I will always remember making a difficult call on a member of Wayne’s squad, and after the shoot Wayne came over, stuck out his hand, and said, ‘Congratulations, you made the right call, and I don’t believe everyone would have gotten it right.’ Wayne Mayes, can you imagine that?

“Naturally, I’ve refereed for a few who did not enjoy Wayne’s reputation,” he continued. “There was this one character who had a habit of having a misfire on high 2, which essentially gave him unfair practice on that target. Sure enough, he tried that trick on me, but I was ready. I took out a black marking pen and put a big X on that shell, looked him in the eye and said, ‘I assume we won’t have any more problems here.’ We both understood that meaning, and there were no more issues.”

Another special memory for Lerner was refereeing for a near-perfect squad. “Over the years, I’ve pulled for some of the best shooters in the world, many achieving perfect 400X400 scores, but only once did I pull for a squad that I thought would go 500X500, with all five shooters going 100 straight. Unfortunately, one shooter lost a bird in the last round, giving the squad a 499. Still, I remember that being a thrill for me, and I can tell you I was working hard that day.”

Ray’s friends describe him as a quiet, unassuming man with a strong sense of fair play and a huge family of friends in the skeet world. They say he always shows up well prepared and gives all shooters the opportunity to perform to the best of their ability. After more than 40 years of dedicated service from Lerner, the shooters he serves wish him many more successful years of officiating skeet.

– Contributed by Philip Cathell

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