Fairfax Rod and Gun Club

Valentine Open

April 23, 2020 By Cara Woodard

Although the shoot was not held on Valentine’s Day, the shooting conditions at Fairfax Rod and Gun Club (Manassas, Virginia) were certainly something to love on the day after Valentine’s Day. When shoot management arrived at the club, the thermometer read 15 degrees, but the forecast indicated that the temperature would double during the day. The “no wind” conditions proved inviting for the 34 shooters that came out to demonstrate their love of our sport.

Gun Champion and a dozen red roses went to Christopher Baisey. Runner-up and third resulted in the first shoot-off at our club for the year between three shooters – Col. T.W. Williams, Derek Vacco and Joe Scott. After the smoke cleared, Joe Scott captured runner-up and Derek Vacco was declared third. Lady Champion, Stephanie Treme, received an antique glass and sterling silver bud vase with a red rose. Class champs were Jason Armstrong (A), Col. T.W. Williams (B), Ted Bradford (C), Sean Scott (D), and Stephanie Treme (E). Garrett Baisey, for the third consecutive shoot, took the Junior Champion position. Once again, only a single shooter won the Handicap Option out of 13 shooters that entered. These side options are always fun and sometimes generate some unexpected results.

Many thanks to our referees – Stephen Halt, Bud Hitchcock, Derek Vacco and Dick Weinley – and our club manager, Jamie Martin, who had everything perfect for our Valentine shooters.

– Contributed by Jeff Bond

Blue Nose Open

April 23, 2020 By Cara Woodard

Headlines were just reporting the contagion in China, but 30 healthy shooters came out to the Blue Nose Open at Fairfax Rod and Gun Club (Manassas, Virginia) on the morning of January 25 under warming skies and still air. With near-record warmth, it was one of the best shooting days of the year so far – but more great days have been pre-ordered. However, it was still cool enough to justify a fire in the pavilion, augmented by fresh, hot coffee and even fresher Krispy Kreme donuts made just a couple of hours before. This shoot attracted four brand new shooters into our great world of registered skeet competition.

Gun Champion was captured by Col. T.W. Williams with a solid 98. Runner-up was Spence Miller, and third was awarded to Craig Childress. Winning the classes were Bob Myers (A1), Winston Huang, at his first registered skeet shoot (B1), Collin Christopherson (C1), Kevin Baker (D1) and Becky Myers (E1). No shoot-offs were required. Garrett Baisey captured the Junior Champion spot for his second consecutive shoot. Collegiate Champion went to Adam Bradford, one of our local George Mason University shooters. One interesting result was posted in the options: only one shooter won the Handicap Option with a 100 and took all the handicap money. Consider participating in the options because these side events add another fun dimension to the competitions.

– Contributed by Jeff Bond

Red Nose Open

March 13, 2020 By

At zero dark thirty, the roads were clear, the sky overcast and the air temperature a brisk 26 degrees. An hour later, a quick-moving band of rain/sleet/snow dusted the area, but none of this dampened or deterred 18 brave and hearty shooters from coming out to the Red Nose Open at Fairfax Rod and Gun Club in Manassas, Virginia, on the morning of January 18. A week before, we had clear skies, still air, and 70 degrees – weather we ordered for the Red Nose Open but delivered a week too soon. Shoot management has spoken to the provider and requested that our preference is for our solicited weather to be delivered on the exact date. Cold weather and less than ideal conditions on this morning probably prompted some to stay in their warm beds and hibernate a little bit longer, but they missed the roaring fire, hot coffee and fresh Krispy Kreme donuts served up in the pavilion.

After noses warmed and fingers thawed, Jonathan Honey captured the gun championship with a solid 99, missing only one target by a single millimeter. Runner-up was Jason Armstrong, and third was Col. T.W. Williams. Class firsts, with no shoot-offs required, were Bob Myers (B), Garret Baisey (C), Sam Rathbone (D) and Mike Osgood (E). Some interesting results were posted in our options: only one shooter won the handicap option with a 99 and took all the handicap money. Sometimes it really pays to participate in the option events.

Starting with the Red Nose Open, Fairfax has a registered skeet event every two weeks into mid-March. These early shoots at Fairfax focus on getting new shooters involved, introducing shooters from our two winter leagues into registered skeet and showing both of these groups of shooters how much fun we all have coming out, breaking targets and making smoke. The newer shooters today become the experienced shooters of tomorrow.

We had one honey of a squad participate in challenging conditions, but all participants had a good time catching up with shooters that they had not seen since last year. Everyone is looking forward to all the other 12 planned shoots at Fairfax later in the year.

Thank you to our club manager Jamie Martin for getting up with us and to the referees for performing their duties on such a chilly day.

– Contributed by Jeff Bond