Clay Target Nation

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

Joe Van Memorial Shoot

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The 11th annual Joe Van Memorial Shoot was held July 20-22 at Carlisle Fish and Game Association in Carlisle, PA. Joe VanDenburg was Skeet Chair and supporter of skeet for many years at Carlisle and was responsible for starting many new skeet shooters.

Our five-gun shoot this year hosted 28 shooters from five states. Barry Horner of Keymar, MD, a Veteran shooter of only seven years, shot his first 100 straight in Doubles, winning that event. Carlisle is his home club, and he is coached by Denny Lehman. The rains started early Saturday morning and continued all weekend, soaking all our brave participants. But Matt Sanders of Abbottstown, PA, must have been rainproof, as he cleaned up in all the other guns, shooting an HOA of 397.

Thanks to all who helped make this shoot a success.

– Contributed by Tom Wolfe

 

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 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

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

Tuffy’s Pet Food Open at Fort Thunder

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L-R: Jack Sveningson, David Gaboury, Raymond Polensky, Mark Vanderbloomer, Bob Rick, Scott Melchisdeck, Roland Hanson.

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

In the 12-gauge event, Scott Melchisedech shot a perfect 100 to win class A and gun champion. Runner-up was Mark Vanderbloomer (97) and third was Bob Rick (96). Other class winners were Roland Hanson B1 (96), Raymond Polensky C1 (94), David Gaboury D1 (93) and Stella Raser E1 (85).

Gun champ and class A in 20 gauge went to Bob Rick with a score of 98, followed by runner-up Scott Melchisedeck, also at 98. Other class winners included Mark Vanderbloomer B1 (96) and Raymond Polensky C1 (94).

In the 28-gauge event, Bob Rick won gun champion and class AA first with a score of 98. Winning other classes were Scott Melchisdeck A1 (96), David Michealynn B1 (91) and David Gaboury C1 (97).

Bob Rick shot a 95 in the .410-bore event to win the gun championship and class A first, with Scott Melchisedeck at event runner-up (94). Mark Vanderbloomer won B1 (91), and Jack Sveningson was C1 (88).

In Doubles, Mark Vanderbloomer won the event and B class with a 94. Bob Rick was A1 (92) and Raymond Polesky won C1 (87).

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

– Contributed by Jodi Gluck

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