Clay Target Nation

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

George Mason University Benefit Open

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Each year Fairfax Rod and Gun Club (Manassas, VA) hosts an Open competition to raise funds for the George Mason University Trap and Skeet Shooting Club. As such, the students themselves are the assigned referees for the squads. For any newer student participants, a referee clinic, led by Chief Referee Lane Hartle, was held 10 days before so that all could receive their official NSSA Referee credentials (which are now good for three years) and become more familiar with registered skeet. This year the students from George Mason University were Stephanie Treme (captain, senior), Stephen Halt, Lindsey Davis, Cullin Bowers, Jack Kemp, Josh Wheeler, Gavin LaSala, Grant Breem and Cade O’Kelly. Keep an eye on these names, as it is likely that we will see them again as they progress in their skeet careers in the coming years. Ms. Treme is the only graduating member of the GMU Club.

Saturday’s weather was crisp with clear skies, but windy, making for some very sporty 20-gauge targets for the 39 shooters. Winners included Muhamed El-Zoghbi – champion, Collin Christopherson – runner-up, James Burch – third, Jonathan Honey AA1, Jason Armstrong A1, Lonny Evenson B1, David Honey C1 and Mathew Honey D1.

As the day warmed, 52 shooters tried their skills at 12-gauge with the following results: Jim Hickerson – champion, Fred Wood – runner-up, Jason Armstrong – third,  Muhamed El-Zoghbi A1,  Steve Kling B1, Joe Scott C1, Mark Manns D1 and David Robertson E1.

We would like to recognize two Zone I shooters that traveled to our Club from the colder northern climes – Richard “Bear” Gath from New Hampshire and Danielle Murdock from Connecticut but going to school at the University of Maryland. A good time was had by all.

Sunday’s events were two sets of Doubles. With another morning in the wind, the Doubles One event had the following results: Jason Armstrong – champion, Muhamed El-Zoghbi – runner-up, Mike Wollard – third, Jonathan Honey A1, Michael Moats B1, Matthew Honey D1. Our Doubles Two event had calmer conditions. After the morning’s “practice,” Muhamed El-Zoghbi turned in a very fine 98 for champion, with Jason Armstrong at runner-up and a four-way shoot-off for third that resulted in Lonny Evenson outlasting the others. The other class firsts were Mike Wollard AA1, Mike Ramsey A1, Michael Moats B1 and Paul Hunt D1.

Thanks go to Jamie Martin for maintaining the grounds, preparing the fields, stacking firewood for the pavilion, providing water on the fields, and ensuring that all the machines were running smoothly; Dutch Hillenburg for donating coupons for discounts in the pro shop; and Connie and Van Keys for the warm, delicious food.

– Contributed by Jeff Bond
– Photos by Jeff Bond and Ray Shields

2019 Junior World Goes to Fort Bragg

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The National Skeet Shooting Association, Cross Creek Skeet Association, and Fort Bragg Clay Target Center invite all Sub-Junior, Junior and Collegiate shooters to participate in the 2019 Junior World Skeet Championships. The NSSA Junior World is a special event for our youth shooters to take part in their own championship event. The NSSA’s three youth categories are Sub-Junior, any person who has not reached their fourteenth birthday; Junior, any person who has not reached their eighteenth birthday; and Collegiate, a fulltime undergraduate student in an accredited degree-oriented learning institution. Parents and coaches are also welcome to shoot at the event, but preference is given to the youth participants.

The Junior World is an important shoot to our youth concurrent shooters vying for All-American teams, as many All-American points are awarded at this event. However, those not interested in All-American status need not be deterred, as the Junior World is a great way to venture to a new club, meet new people, and make lifelong friends. The Junior World is also a special event because of the age divisions, allowing those of a similar skill level to compete against each other.

While the Junior World program includes multiple gauges, it is not required to compete in all the events. It is perfectly acceptable to sign up for just the 12-gauge event if that is all you wish to compete in. While Fort Bragg has 12 skeet fields, it is important to pre-register so shoot management can plan and make all the necessary arrangements for a successful shoot.

Looking for more to do than shoot while heading to Fort Bragg? Fort Bragg Clay Target Center is located at 651 East Manchester Road, in the town of Spring Lake, in the Sandhills Region of North Carolina. The Sandhills of North Carolina has plenty to offer any family that comes to visit. The military history of Fort Bragg, the Airborne-Special Operations Museum, revitalized downtown Fayetteville, local towns with numerous antique shops, nearby world-class golf courses and so much more make this a very special place. Additionally, North Carolina beaches are only two hours away, and the North Carolina mountains are approximately four hours away.

I can promise you much work has already been put into making the 2019 Junior World a huge success, and much more effort will take place over the next few months to make the 2019 event very special. Registration opened on April 1, so if you haven’t already, make sure to complete your pre-registration form and mail to Cross Creek Skeet Association, Jim Tiner, 2141 Pridgeonfarm Road, Fayetteville, NC 28306.

Pre-registration form, hotel and general information can all be found on the Junior World page at bit.ly/JrWorld.

For any other questions regarding the Junior World, contact me at nboyd@nssa-nsca.com or call 210-254-1533.

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

Salisbury Gun Club Celebrates Rick Fears with 28-Gauge Shoot

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Friends and family gathered at the Salisbury Gun Club recently in honor of Rick Fears, a member of the Salisbury Gun Club since 1965. The celebration kicked off with a 50-bird, 28-gauge shoot won by Don Handy. The shoot was named “The Rick Fears 28-Gauge Classic” because over Rick’s long skeet shooting career, he fell in love with the little 28 gauge and shot it in the 12, 20 and 28-gauge events. Following the shoot, participants gathered with Rick and his family, plus a host of both old and new friends to enjoy lunch and fellowship.

After lunch, the crowd was treated to a good-natured roast of Rick and a brief summary of Rick’s long skeet shooting career. Rick earned places on 18 All-American Teams from 1985 through 2009 and 36 Maryland State Teams. He was inducted into the Maryland Skeet Hall of Fame in 1998. He has recorded 136 100-straights in registered competition, including 10 in the .410 bore. During Rick’s long career, he has registered more than 255,000 targets, shooting in events in 37 states. He has been a perennial club champion at Salisbury Gun Club, maintaining an event average of 98.3.

– Contributed by Norman Bunting

 

Gil Rodler Memorial

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Memorial skeet shoots are all about remembering and memorializing some of our greatest shooters. That’s the case with the Gil Rodler Memorial. He attended every Pennsylvania State Skeet Championship from 1954 until 2013. Further, he won more of those PA Championship titles than just about anyone. But the longevity of his year-after-year PA State Championship attendance does set him apart – 60 straight years.

But there’s more. He won national titles like the U.S. Open Doubles Championship. While Gil shot a Krieghoff Model 32 for most of his 4-gun career, he shot Doubles with a Perazzi MT6 with a Modified choke in the second barrel. He was noted for shooting the second doubles target way, way out there and smashing it. Gil was also well known as not only a serious competitor, but one with grim determination that showed on his face, his body, his every muscle. These days we’re told to relax while shooting. Rodler never shot relaxed.

September 3, 2018, was the fourth annual Gil Rodler Memorial. It takes place at the Tarentum District Sportsman’s Club near Sarver, PA. Our tradition for this shoot is always Labor Day – as well as 50 targets in the .410, 28, 20 and 12 gauge – in that order – so a one-day shoot. With the club’s three fields we are limited to 30 4-gun shooters (four flights), and this year’s shoot was filled within 24 hours of announcement – testimony to local shooters who have such respect for Gil Rodler, and to the Tarentum District Sportsmen’s Club as well, with its totally renovated clubhouse and all new Lincoln skeet, trap, 5-stand and sporting clays traps.

Well-known Pennsylvania shooter Roy Holtz won the High Overall Championship with a 195. Josh Crofutt was only one target behind for runner-up. Crofutt also won the .410. Tom Shields was 28-gauge champ, Josh Crofutt the 20-gauge, and Tim Holtz won the 12-gauge.

The club always puts out a great lunch spread, and this year’s Rodler Memorial was no exception. Kudos to kitchen help Regina Nemergut, Marie Palmer (who also shot the full program) and all the others who helped. Running the shoot was Dave Cominsky, using the NSSA skeet shoot software.

This club intends to keep the Rodler memory alive with a Labor Day shoot for years to come. The 50-target, 4-gun format has been very popular with our local shooters. We shoot the 12-gauge last to eliminate the need for cleaning barrels by tube-set shooters. We shoot 50 .410s first. Shooters bring their 28-gauge guns or tubes and shells. Consequently, immediately following the 50 .410 targets, we’re able to start the 28-gauge with no delay. Same with the 20- and 12-gauge events: shoot the 20 first and go right into the 12-gauge with no time lost. We find this an efficient way for each competitor to get in 200 targets in the day. We try to finish shoot-offs early enough that shooters can get back to their families for the rest of the Labor Day holiday.

– Contributed by Nick Sisley

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