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Lopata Classic at Clinton-Irwin Rod and Gun Club

December 23, 2024 By Cara Woodard

Clinton-Irwin Rod and Gun Club near Grove City, Penn., held their Lopata Classic on August 2-4. Jerry Lopata was a longtime past president, and he and his family have been major benefactors of this club for years.

Left to right – Joe Gans V, Joe Gans III, Jack Petrosky, John Welch, Sr.

Twenty-nine shooters participated in one or more events in this five-gun shoot. Chris Kline’s 393 made him HOA Champion. Bryson Fox (387) was HOA runner-up, and Jack Harshbarger was HOA third  after he winning a shoot-off of 383’s with Matt Bartosch.

Nineteen competitors shot doubles on Friday afternoon under overcast skies in humid conditions. Kline’s 96 made him outright gun champ; Bryson Fox and Don Steinert, respectively, were runner-up and third after shooting off their 94’s. Class firsts went to Rich Vensel (A), Evan Martin (B), Joe Gans 5 (C) and Joe Gans III (D).

Saturday was foggy in the morning and raining, heavy at times, most of the day. The rain did pause in time for shoot-offs, but then restarted and continued through much of the night. The 12-gauge event was first, and 26 shooters participated. Kline ran them and was Champion. There were three 99’s. After shoot-offs Jack Harshbarger was runner-up, Bryson Fox was third, and Matt Bartosch was AA1. Other class firsts included Tom Shields (A), Scott Hazlett (B), Paul Augustin (C), John Welch (D) (after a shoot-off of 93’s with Joe Gans 5), and Jack Petrosky €.

The 20-gauge was shot by 26 competitors on Saturday afternoon. Kline was gun champion, but not until he won a shoot-off of 99’s with Scott Hazlett, runner-up. Matt Bartosch was third after winning a shoot-off of 98’s with Evan Martin (A1). Other class firsts included Bryson Fox (AA), Paul Augustin (B), Brian Fox (C) and Robert Dezort (D).

Sunday morning dawned foggy, but soon turned mostly sunny and warm, for 28 shooters in the 28-gauge. Bryson Fox took the champion title with a 99; Adam Vollmer was runner-up and Brian Steinert third. Class firsts went to Bartosch (A), Mark Eckert (B), Joe Gans 5 (C) and Joe Gans III (D).

Twenty-eight participants shot the .410 on Sunday afternoon. Kline took the championship with a nice 97, while Vollmer’s 95 was good for runner-up; Bryson Fox was third. Class first places, respectively, went to Brian Steinert (A), Brian Fox (B), Scott Hazlett (C), and Jason Callahan (D).

Registration, score compilation and posting, and payouts were handled by Dee Leake, Casey Vensel and Wayne Haines. Referee duties were handled by Matt Ohler, Terry Leake, Greg Lopata, Dave Smerkar and Rich Vensel. Lenny Vensel, Rich Gaw, Dick Bunch and Bob Sharkey handled field duties including keeping watercoolers and traps filled.

A nice lunch was provided by the club on Saturday and Sunday (meatball sandwiches, ham BBQ, hotdogs, potato and macaroni salad and yummy zucchini bread). Thanks to Darlene Burns and Dee Leake for all their efforts preparing and serving the food.

Sub-Junior shooter Jack Petrosky from Ford City, PA, shot his first ever 25-straight in the 12-gauge event, shooting on the same squad as his grandfather, John Welch.

There was $3,200 in added prize money, including $200 donated by the club. Shoot sponsors included the Lopata family (Jerry, Greg and JJ); Herman Holdings, LLC; Dick Bunch; Jim McCormick; and Dave Smerkar.

– George Gleich

Jack Petrosky
20 GA – Chris Kline – CH, Scott Hazlett – RU
Bryson Fox – 28 GA CH and HOA RU
Casey Vensel and Wayne Haines
Chris Kline – HOA CH, DBLS CH, 12 GA CH, 20 GA CH, .410 CH

The ‘Gans Moblie’

Filed Under: Clay Target Nation - ARTICLES, NSSA News, NSSA Shoot Reports, Shoot Reports, Skeet, Skeet Events, Skeet News, Skeet Photos Tagged With: clay target shooting, Clinton-Irwin Rod and Gun Club, Lopata Classic, skeet, skeet shooting

Clinton-Irwin’s Klody Memorial Open

June 26, 2018 By Sherry Kerr

The Clinton-Irwin Rod and Gun Club near Barkeyville, Pennsylvania, hosted the 11th annual Klody Memorial Open on June 8-10. John Klody was a tireless volunteer at this club during the time that the second field was being built, and field 2 is named in his honor.

Fourteen shooters shot at least one gun in this 5-gun shoot. Rich Vensel’s 388 took HOA champion honors, and Kenny Riddile was HOA runner-up with 387; Vensel was HAA champ with a 481.

The weather was variable, sunny, clear and calm on Friday and Saturday and very wet on Sunday. Unfortunately, the earlier prediction of rain for the entire weekend probably convinced some shooters to stay home.

Ten shooters went after Doubles on Friday afternoon. When the smoke had cleared, Ernie Avolio’s 94 was good for champion and A1. Other class firsts went to Chris Greenlee (B) and Mark Johnson (C).

Saturday morning’s 12-gauge event included 14 shooters. Rich Vensel smoked 100 targets, taking the 12-gauge championship and AA1. This was Rich’s first registered 100 straight, and his hat was appropriately vented. Avolio broke 99 and was A1; B, C and D firsts went to Scott Holman, Dale Snow and Gary Schuette, respectively.

Fourteen shooters also participated in the 20-gauge event on Saturday afternoon. Avolio and Riddile were high with 99s; after a short shoot-off, John emerged as champion and AA1, and Kenny was A1. Paul Augustin, Cecil Smith and Schuette, respectively, took B1, C1 and D1.

Sunday morning dawned wet; lots of Frogg Toggs and similar attire were in evidence. The 28-gauge event was first, and 11 shooters participated. Riddile was champion and A1 with a 98. Other class firsts included Avolio (AA), Vensel (B) and Jeff Riddle (C) after a shoot-off with Greenlee.

On Sunday afternoon, with the skies still leaking, it was time for the .410. Vensel continued his good shooting, despite the rain, and took the little-gun championship and AA1 with a nice 97. Class first places went to Augustin (A), Riddle (B), George Gleich (C) and Schuette (D).

Nice club, nice people, good birds, good lunches. Clinton-Irwin would love to see you at their next shoot.

– Contributed by George Gleich

Rich Vensel- HOA, 12 GA and 410 Bore Champ
Ernie Avolio- Doubles and 20 GA Champ
Kenny Riddile- HOA Runner-up and 28 GA Champ
Rich Vensel- First 100 Straight

Filed Under: Clay Target Nation - ARTICLES, Kudos, NSSA Shoot Reports, Skeet, Skeet Events, Skeet Photos Tagged With: Clinton-Irwin Rod and Gun Club, Klody Memorial Open, NSSA, skeet

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