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Generations Couples Shoot

December 26, 2018 By Sherry Kerr

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.

L to R: Shane and Kate Crawford-RU, Cindy and Jeff Harding-Ch, Michael Vescovi and Kiersten Kruise-3rd

Filed Under: Clay Target Nation - ARTICLES, Kudos, Skeet, Skeet Events, Skeet Photos Tagged With: Generations Couples Shoot, Generations Skeet Club

20th Firebird 400 at Generations Skeet Club

July 23, 2018 By Sherry Kerr

Rich Vensel and the squirrel

Generations Skeet Club’s 20th annual Firebird 400 was held at their beautiful, still new, four-field club near Patton, Pennsylvania on July 6-8. The weather was lovely all week-end, 70 to 80 degrees, mostly clear and dry with variable winds. The shoot was a sell-out, with 48 competitors shooting at least one gun. Dan Felton was HOA champion after winning a shoot-off of 391s with Mike Wollard, runner-up, and Chris Kline, third. Missy Vescovi was Lady HOA champion.

Doubles were shot on a lovely but windy Friday afternoon, with 26 shooters taking the field. Kline’s 97 won him champion honors. Class firsts went to Wollard (A), Chris Norris (B), John Davies (C), and George Gleich (D).

The 28-gauge shooting with 40 participants began on Saturday morning. Kline shot the only 100 straight and was champion. Class firsts included Felton (AA), Ed Call (A), Richard (“Frenchy”) LaRosa (B), Mark Postlewait (C), and Rick Sherry (D).

Forty-three shooters shot the big gun on Saturday afternoon. Wollard posted the only 100 straight and was 12-gauge champ. Kline (AA), Roy Holtz (A), LaRosa (B), Jared Shaffer (C), Davies (D), and Steven Dickerman (E), were class champs.

The Saturday night feast in the Youth Barn was superb! Pat Leyo provided, and Joe Vescovi prepared and served, delicious prime rib. Pulled pork, barbeque chicken, baked beans, skin-on potatoes, corn-on-the-cob, and various vegetables and salads, along with a large selection of yummy desserts, rounded out the meal. The gobs (if you aren’t from PA, you might call them whoopie pies) were an especially big hit! Beverages included cold beer on tap, soft drinks, and home-made wine. The kids enjoyed playing sports at the Youth Barn each day, and Saturday night the group headed to Lake Eddie to enjoy swimming, jet skiing, tubing, fishing, and a campfire.

Sunday morning, and time for the .410-bore with 38 shooters; yes, the .410 was shot first. Hunter Dickerman’s 99 took the championship outright. Class firsts went to Wollard (AA), Adam Vollmer (A), Michael Moats (B), Jeff Wright (C), and Steven Dickerman (D).

The 20-gauge event was last and took place on Sunday afternoon with 44 shooters. There were four 100 straights. Wollard won the shoot-off and was champion, with Felton besting LaRosa and Frank Smithmyer to take A1. Shaffer, Davies (after a shoot-off with Tom Hilyer) and Joe McGarvey took firsts in B, C, and D classes.

The three-man blind, with teams picked by the computer and based on .410 scores, was won by the team of Wollard, Vollmer, and Hilyer, with each receiving $50. Gleich bought the winning team in the blind auction and cleared $117.

Paul Hunt, from Ashburn, Virginia, had his first registered 25 straight in the 28-gauge; his hat was properly vented! Katie Burrows fired her first registered targets ever and had a fun time busting clays. You’ll be seeing more of her in upcoming shoots.

“The Squirrel” made an appearance over the weekend. This tradition, begun in 1996 by Scott Harvey, involves a lovely little stuffed gray squirrel that is awarded occasionally, and sometimes surreptitiously, to a shooter who does something very good or very bad during the shoot. The rodent was “awarded” to two people this weekend. Rich Vensel received it after he missed his last 12-gauge bird for a 99 on Saturday, and it found its way into Hunter Dickerman’s shell pouch after he missed the last bird in his .410 round for a 99 on Sunday. Great shooting to both, but missing the last bird has to rank right up there with having a root canal with no Novocain! Potential runners-up for the award included Theresa Call who forgot to bring her shotgun to the shoot and George Gleich who “smoked” 70 birds in the 28 gauge.

Tori Holtz ably handled registration, scorekeeping, and posting. Michael Vescovi was chief referee, and his fine group of young referees included Paige McMullen, Adam Bobak, Courtney Burgoon, Kelsey Krug, Mikayla Lansberry, and Zach Stoltz. Numerous members of the Generations family pitched in as needed to keep things running smoothly.

Last, but certainly not least, Pat Leyo brought many doughnuts on Saturday and Sunday morning, and they were enjoyed by all. When he walked into the clubhouse on Sunday morning, a convoy of youngsters followed him in to get first pick!

 – Contributed by George Gleich

 

Rich Vensel (L) and Hunter Dickerman with the squirrel
Chris Kline (L): Doubles and 28 GA Champ, Mike Wollard (R):12 GA and 20 GA Champ
HOA Winners: Chris Kline 3rd (L), Dan Felton Ch (C), Mike Wollard RU (R)
410 Champ: Hunter Dickerman
Paul Hunt, 1st 25-Straight

Filed Under: Clay Target Nation - ARTICLES, Kudos, Skeet, Skeet Events, Skeet Photos Tagged With: Firebird 400, Generations Skeet Club, NSSA, skeet

Ralph Holtz Memorial at Generations Skeet Club

June 26, 2018 By Sherry Kerr

Generations Skeet Club (formerly the 7-H Skeet Club) hosted the 15th annual Ralph Holtz Memorial Shoot at their beautiful fields near Patton, Pennsylvania on June 1-3.

Even though the weather people had been calling for rain for this weekend, Friday and Saturday were nice, partly cloudy with light breezes and a bit muggy. Sunday, on the other hand, fulfilled the prognosticator’s predictions by raining all day!

Forty-eight shooters shot at least one gun. Chris Kline’s 392 was good for HOA champion; Mike Wollard was HOA runner-up with a 391. Missy Vescovi was Ladies HOA champ.

Twenty-two shooters shot Doubles on Friday afternoon. Kline’s 98 made him champion. Class firsts went to Wollard (A), Scott Grossett (B), Brad Botteicher (C) and George Gleich (D).

The 28-gauge shooting began on Saturday morning with 34 shooters participating. Dan Felton was champion with a nice 99 after a shoot-off with Joe Vescovi. Class firsts were Joe Vescovi (AA), Roy Holtz (A), Ed Call (B) after shooting off 96s with Kevin Spessard, John Davies (C) and Tracey Snyder (D).

Shooting continued on Saturday afternoon with 38 shooters in the 12-gauge event. Frank Smithmeyer had the lone 100 straight and was champion. Clay Gormish won a shoot-off of 99s with Joe Vescovi and took AA1. Wollard, Josh Crofutt, Grossett, Davies and Brian Long, respectively, were A, B, C, D and E class winners. Allison Shaffer from St. Marys, PA had her first registered 25 straight.

The food was abundant and delicious on Saturday evening. The meal was a combination affair serving as the banquet for the winter skeet league held at Generations and the Holtz Memorial Shoot repast.

The .410 bore was shot on Sunday morning. After all the little bullets were fired, Wollard’s 98 was good for champion, after a shoot-off with Kline. Class firsts went to Kline (AA), Gormish (A), Adam Vollmer (B), Gary Trilli (C) and Doug Long (D). The Three-Man Blind event, based on .410 bore scores, is always fun with secret ballot bidding for the eight computer-picked teams after the meal on Saturday night. The winners were Joe Vescovi, Kline and Doug Long after they won a shoot-off with Leyo, Gormish and Trilli. Wollard bought the winning team.

The 20-gauge event was last and took place on Sunday afternoon with 34 shooters. Ryan Holtz, Leyo and Joe Vescovi shot 99s; Ryan won the shoot-off to take the championship. Leyo, Vescovi, Tim Holtz, Davies and Shaffer, respectively, took firsts in AA, A, B, C and D classes. Terry Smith, from New Germany, PA, shot his first registered 25 straight.

A hat shoot was conducted at the end of the day. Allison Shaffer’s and Terry Smith’s hats were well perforated to commemorate their 25 straights this weekend.

The shoot management team included Tori Holtz, registration and scorekeeping, and Michael Vescovi, chief referee. Young, non-shooting referees included Kelsey Krug, Mikayla Lansbury, Paige McMullen and Jake Beebe, who did a great job.

– Contributed by George Gleich

 

HOA Champ Chris Kline with Ashley and future skeet champ, Briley
Mike Wollard- 410 Bore Champ and HOA Runner-up
L-R: Dan Felton- Doubles Champ, Chris Klein- 28 GA Champ, Frank Smithmyer- 12 GA Champ
Ryan Holtz- 20 GA Champ
Tracey Snyder from Altoona, PA shot an 87 in the 28 and took D1 and Lady RU. This was Tracey’s first class win in just her second year of registered shooting.
Terry Smith from New Germany, PA, shooting in his second registered shoot, had his first registered 25 straight in the 20 gauge. His hat was vented as well.
Allison Shaffer from St. Marys, PA had her first registered 25 straight in the 12 gauge during the Holtz Memorial shoot. Her 93 was good for Junior champion and Lady runner-up, and she also took D1 in the 20 gauge. Her hat was appropriately vented!

Filed Under: Clay Target Nation - ARTICLES, Kudos, NSSA Shoot Reports, Skeet, Skeet Events, Skeet Photos Tagged With: Generations Skeet Club, NSSA, Ralph Holtz Memorial Shoot, skeet

Leyo and Grossett Winners at Blackbird Open

May 28, 2018 By Sherry Kerr

Scott Grossett wins 12GA Champ and earns his first 100 Straight

The Blackbird Open was held at Generations Skeet Club near Patton, Penn., on May 6. Seventeen shooters participated in the 20-gauge event in the morning, and 15 shot the 12-gauge in the afternoon. Pat Leyo posted a 198, the high total score for the day. It was cool, overcast and rainy all day long, but not windy. (Some folks think it is always windy at Generations – not true!)

Leyo won the 20-gauge event with a nice 99. Class winners included Tim Vescovi (AA-97), Tom Shields (A-97), George Gleich (B-96), Bryan Long (C-91) and Joe McGarvey (D-86).

Scott Grossett ran them in the 12 gauge and was a bit damp, but outright champion. Class firsts went to Tim Vescovi (98), Leyo (99, with a shoot-off with Joe Vescovi), Mark Postlewait (95, with a nice 5-station shoot-off with Shields), McGarvey (95) and Long (92), AA, A, B, C and E, respectively.

It was a day of firsts: Scott Grossett shot his first ever registered 100 straight, Tim Vescovi ran his first registered 25 and 50 straights and was AA-1 in both guns in his first registered shoot, and Vance McLaughlin booked his first registered 25 straight. Scott’s and Vance’s hats were vented, but Tim left early, so his hat will be addressed later.

Thanks to Katie Eberhart for running the desk and Michael Vescovi for serving as chief referee. Young, non-shooting referees included Adam Bobak and Jake Beebe – good job! Thanks also to Pat Leyo for bringing many delicious doughnuts and Scott Grossett for a steaming pot of homemade pheasant chili; perhaps the way to win the shoot is to bring food?

– Contributed by George Gleich

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

Pat Leyo – 20GA Champ
Tim Vescovi – First 25 and 50 Straights
Vance McLaughlin – First 25 Straight

Filed Under: Clay Target Nation - ARTICLES, NSSA Shoot Reports, Skeet, Skeet Events, Skeet Photos Tagged With: Blackbird Open, Generations Skeet Club, NSSA

Kline and Vescovi Dominate Firebird 400 at Generations

November 13, 2017 By Sherry Kerr

Generations Skeet Club’s 19th annual Firebird 400 was held at their beautiful four-field club near Patton, Pennsylvania on July 7-9. The weather was changeable all weekend, 70 to 80 degrees, cloudy to clear, wet to dry and windy to calm; all-in-all, good weather. Fifty-two shooters shot at least one gun. Chris Kline was HOA Champion with a fine 396 and Joe Vescovi was runner-up with a 393. Missy Vescovi was the Lady HOA Champion.

Doubles were shot on an overcast and windy Friday afternoon with 25 shooters. Mike Wollard’s 98 won him champion honors. Class firsts went to Kline (AA), Pat Leyo (A), Mark Postlewait (B), John Davies (C) and Doug Long (D).

The 28-gauge shooting with 40 participants began on Saturday morning under overcast skies with a few sprinkles. Joe Vescovi shot the only 100 straight and was champion. Class firsts included Kline (AA), Pat Leyo (A), Bob Myers (B), Mara Leyo (C) and Jared Voris (D).

Shooting continued on Saturday afternoon when 45 shooters took the field for the 12-gauge event. Weather included clouds, a few heavy downpours and some sun. Kline posted the only 100 straight and was 12-gauge champ. Frank Smithmyer, Wollard, Pat Leyo, Postlewait, Jared Shaffer and Vance McLaughlin, respectively, were AA, A, B, C, D and E class champs.

As usual at Generations, the Saturday night feast in the youth barn was superb! Joe Vescovi prepared the delicious prime rib. A cadre of ladies, including some of the shooter spouses, worked together to prepare lobster mac-and-cheese and other yummy dishes, complimented by home-made wine and other beverages. The kids enjoyed playing sports at the youth barn each day, and Saturday night the group headed to Lake Eddie to enjoy swimming, jet skiing, tubing, fishing and a campfire.

On Sunday morning, it was time for 42 shooters to take on the .410 bore. The skeet gods were obviously confused by the different scheduling, and the weather was great: cool, clear and no wind to speak of. Joe Vescovi’s 100-straight took the championship outright; class firsts went to Kline (AA), “Frenchy” LaRosa (A), Michael Vescovi (B), Mitch Chirdon (C) and Doug Long (D).

The 20-gauge event was last and took place on Sunday afternoon with 47 shooters. Great weather with a few puffy white clouds prevailed. Kline had the lone 100 and was 20-gauge champion. Bob Rairigh, Ryan Holtz, Fred Wood, Voris, and Becky Myers took firsts in AA, A, B, C and D classes.

The newly engaged Tori Holtz handled registration, scorekeeping and posting; congratulations to Tori and Zach! Michael Vescovi performed chief referee duties, and a fine group of young referees including Paige McMullen, Zach Stoltz, Kelsey Krug, Mikayla Lansberry and Jake Beebe did a great job. Numerous members of the Generations family pitched in as needed to keep things running smoothly.

The three-man blind, based on .410 scores, was won by the team of Joe Vescovi, Jeff Meidinger and Doug Long, each receiving a $50 prize. George Gleich bought the winning team in the blind auction and pocketed $138.

Joe McGarvey and Vance McLaughlin shot monthly targets and applied for Complimentary Limited Memberships to NSSA in June and shot their first registered tournament birds this weekend. Joe shot a nice 85 in Doubles, and Vance took E1 in the 12 and D1 in the 20. Welcome to registered skeet shooting, Joe and Vance!

– Contributed by George Gleich

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

Joe McGarvey (left) and Vance McLaughlin
Joe Vescovi—28 and 410 Champ and granddaughter Lanie
Joe Vescovi (left) and Chris Kline—12, 20 and HOA Champ
Mike Wollard—Doubles Champ
Vance McLaughlin (left) and Joe McGarvey

Filed Under: Clay Target Nation - ARTICLES, NSSA Shoot Reports, Skeet, Skeet Events, Skeet Photos Tagged With: Firebird 400, Generations Skeet Club

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