Clay Target Nation

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

North Carolina State Closed Championships

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The North Carolina State Closed Skeet Championship was held September 13-15 at the Fort Bragg Clay Target Center with 87 shooters participating, including 17 youth. The youngest shooter, Josie Cloninger, is 12 years old – and won HOA C Class. Although rain was forecast for most of the weekend, we had very comfortable temperatures, and only one Friday squad got wet while shooting.

Jay Bunting- HOA

Friday started with 72 shooters entering the doubles event. Mason Watkins was Doubles Champion and Junior Champion with the lone 99. Three scores of 98 shot off, with Stuart Brown runner-up and Jay Bunting third. Class champions were Mike Faust AAA, Mark Smith AA, Victoria Stellato A, Matthew Eller B, Westley Kiter C, and Addison Wallace D. Addison Wallace won her shoot-off of 88s to win Sub-Junior Champion. Anna Wood shot off with Victoria Stellato to win Collegiate and Lady Champion.

Saturday evening continued with 12-gauge and 20-gauge shoot-offs. There were three perfect 100 scores in the 12-gauge event, which had 85 shooters. Steve Timmons won Champion, Jay Bunting runner-up, and Ben Brandon (with his first 100 straight) was third. Class Champions were Victoria Stellato AAA, Corrie Cloninger AA, Jeffrey DeSantis A, Mitch Simpson B, Ron Hostinsky C, Kurt Culbert D, and Doug Brown E. Youth champions were William Davis, Sub-Junior; Corrie Cloninger, Junior; and Ben Brandon, Collegiate. Victoria Stellato shot off with Corrie Cloninger to win Lady Champion. As Military Champion, Timothy Riordon, received the R. L. ”Jack” Parks belt buckle. A special 5-man handicap event was held based on the 12-gauge squads. Two squads had the same total score. Squad members Jay Bunting, Mark Smith, Chip Simmons, Victoria Stellato and Mike Pittard each won a belt buckle.

Donnie Parks won the 20-gauge shoot-off to win Champion, and Jay Bunting was runner-up. Tom Myaard won a six-person shoot-off to win third. Class champions were Stuart Brown AAA, Mark Smith AA, Chip Simmons A, Jeff McNany B, Aryssa Bowland C and Kurt Culbert D. Aryssa shot her first 75 straight, and her score of 98 was her personal best in 20 gauge. Addison Wallace won a shoot-off for Sub-Junior Champion, Corrie Cloninger was Junior Champion, and Victoria Stellato won her shoot-off to win Collegiate and Lady Champion.

The 28-Gauge Champion shoot-off had four perfect scores – Bruce Colclough won Gun Champion, Jeffrey DeSantis runner-up, and Victoria Stellato third. Class champions were Stuart Brown AAA, Blake Argo AA, Timothy Riordan A, James Delosh B, David Nelson C, and Westley Kiter D. William Davis won a shoot-off for Sub-Junior Champion, Corrie Cloninger shot off to win Junior Champion, and Victoria Stellato’s perfect 100 won her Collegiate and Lady Champion.

The shoot-off for .410 Champion was between two Junior shooters with scores of 99. Mason Watkins was Gun Champion and Junior Champion, and Corrie Cloninger was runner-up and Lady Champion. Jay Bunting was gun third with a 98. Class champions were Victoria Stellato AAA, Kevin Hostinsky AA, Jeffrey DeSantis A, Ron Hostinsky B, Josie Cloninger C, and Westley Kiter D. Josie Cloninger was Sub-Junior Champion, and Victoria Stellato was Collegiate Champion.

Jay Bunting posted a 397 to win the HOA title outright. Runner-up was Victoria Stellato (395), and Corrie Cloninger won a shoot-off for third (393). Other HOA winners were Kevin Hostinsky AAA, Mason Watkins AA, Jeffrey DeSantis A, James Delosh B, Josie Cloninger C, Westley Kiter D, Wendelle Gray E, William Davis – Sub-Junior, Corrie Cloninger – Junior, Victoria Stellato – Collegiate and Lady Champion.

High All Around Champion was Jay Bunting with a 495, and Champion of Champions was Corrie Cloninger.

We want to thank everyone who helped make the shoot a success — the referees who worked tirelessly all weekend, all the volunteers, and the staff of the Fort Bragg Clay Target Center.

– Contributed by Belinda Tiner

2020 North Carolina State Teams/Champions

 

First Team Second Team
Riley Dellinger .9790 Brandon Lawley .9625
Stuart Brown .9789 Mark Smith .9614
Kevin Hostinsky .9757 Chris Bates .9612
Jay Bunting .9741 Noah Dove .9604
Otto “Chip’ Simmons

Mason Watkins

 .9651

.9651

 Tom Myaard .9589
Ladies Champion Military Champion
Corrie Cloninger .9587 Shane Self .9213

 

Junior State Team
Henry Hardin .9840
Trace Davis .9770
Grayson Williams .9717
Anna Wood .9557
Ben Brandon .9538

Paratrooper Open

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The Fort Bragg Clay Target Center in Spring Lake, NC, was the site for the Paratrooper Open on July 6-8, drawing a total of 88 competitors – including 14 youth shooters – from NC, SC, GA, TN, NY and AZ. Despite a rain delay Friday and a heavy downpour during the 12-gauge and into the 20-gauge event, shooters persevered and posted very good scores.

Junior shooter Riley Dellinger won the HOA shoot-off to win the Paratrooper Open with a 395. He had the Paratrooper Trophy in his sight for several years and was happy to accomplish this goal. HOA runner-up was Mark Smith (395), and Stuart Brown (393) was third. HOA plaques were also awarded to Sub-Junior champion, William Davis (357); Junior Champion, Riley Dellinger (395); and Lady Champion, Kristen Masencup (381).

HOA class winners were Jay Bunting AAA1, Scott Graham AA1, Larry Blount A1, Jared Sberal B1, Steve Lloyd C1, Dariel Dellinger D1 and Doug Brown E1.

Riley Dellinger won Doubles with a 99, out-scoring 43 competitors. Chris Bates and Kevin Hostinsky scored 97s and won gun runner-up and third, respectively. Class winners were Jim Lindell AA1, Jay Bunting A1, Carter Brown B1, Steve Lloyd C1 and Tim Dove D1. Sub-Junior Champion was William Davis, Junior was Riley Dellinger, and Kristen Masencup was Collegiate and Lady Champion.

Noah Dove and Larry Blount shot perfect scores in the 12-gauge event. Junior shooter Noah Dove won the shoot-off, with Larry taking runner-up. Jay Bunting won a shoot-off to win gun third with a 99. Class winners were Stuart Brown AAA1, Charles Lawley AA1, Gary Gorrell A1, Jared Sberal B1, Steven Russell C1, Bill Kluttz D1 and William Davis E1. William Davis won Sub-Junior with a 95, Noah Dove won Junior with a 100, and Kristen Masencup won Collegiate and Lady with a 97.

There were four 100 straights to shoot off in 20 gauge: Stuart Brown won champion; Riley Dellinger, runner-up; Richard Nixon, third; and Mark Smith, class A first. George DeSanto won AA1, Jared Sberal B1, Steve Lloyd C1 and Dariel Dellinger D1.

After shoot-offs and dinner Saturday evening, surprisingly, many shooters still had energy to participate in a challenging shooting game where random teams of two shooters shot trap targets from the skeet stations. It was very entertaining and a lot of laughs for the shooters and observers.

Sunday was a nice sunny day for shooting. The 28-gauge shoot-off of 100s resulted in Jay Bunting winning gun champion and Riley Dellinger, runner-up. A shoot-off of 99s determined gun third, David Stevenson, Scott Graham AAA1, Victoria Stellato AA1 and Mark Smith A1. Other class winners were Stephen Campbell B1, Steve Lloyd C1, and Mike Restall D1. Sub-Junior champion was William Davis, Junior champion was Riley Dellinger, and Collegiate and Lady champ was Victoria Stellato.

The final event, .410 bore, was won by Paul Stemac, and runner-up was Jim Lindell. Scores of 97 shot off, with Chris Spinder winning gun third, Riley Dellinger AAA1, Kevin Hostinsky AA1 and Henry Hardin A1. Classes were Mason Watkins B1, Jim Spinder C1 and Doug Brown D1. Sub-Junior champion was William Davis, Junior champion was Riley Dellinger, and Kristen Masencup, Collegiate and Lady Champion.

Several shooters met personal goals at this shoot. Parker Rowan, a Junior shooter, shot his first 25 straight in 12 gauge. Nancy Roberts shot her first 25 straight in 28 gauge.

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