Clay Target Nation

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

Christian Sets New World Record At Great 28

By

A world record was set at Gun River Skeet and Trap Club in Plainwell, MI. You may be wondering—what world record?  400 and 500 single-gun events are now being recognized, and Gun River hosted the first 400 28-gauge event of the season. The shoot was completely full with 30 competitors.  All meals were catered and free to all.  In the field were four open world champions including the current 28-gauge world champ, Bruce Christian, as well as four class world champions.  There were two events on Saturday and another two on Sunday, totaling a 400 bird race.  The weather was great—sunny and a little windy.

For Event 1 on Saturday, there were two 99’s posted. Dave Schiebel came out as champ and Al Magyar runner-up. Dave Scott was AAA1, Don Nelson AA1, Greg Sapick A1, James Springer B1, and Joe Mathu C1.  In Event 2, one lone 99 was shot by Bob Dubridge, making him champ over runner-up Denny Tannis, trailed by Bruce Christian as AAA1, Don Nelson AA1, Tom Pavlack A1, Chris Lozano B1, and Joe Mathu C1. 

After a great day of shooting, what’s next?  A party, of course!  Tom and Darcy Pavlack hosted a grillin’ party for all with burgers, brats, smoked chicken, salads and Tom’s smoked homemade beef jerky, followed by a decadent dessert of locally made ice cream with all of the toppings.  Thank you to Paxton Arms for your generous donations of the shooting merchandise given away at the party.  Event and HOA winners were recognized with special awards in a big “reveal,” each receiving unique engraved and paint-filled picture rock awards. Engraved picture rock coasters were also handed out to all shooters.

Sunday culminated in two more events. Event 3 produced four 98’s, and after the smoke cleared, Tom Pavlack was event champ with Bruce Christian as runner-up, Howie Bailey AAA1, Don Nelson AA1, Edward Bowker A1, Jim Meles B1, and Joe Mathu C1. In Event 4 Dave Schiebel’s lone 99 designated him again as champion with Bruce Christian runner-up, Don Nelson AA1, Edward Bowker A1, Ed Bowker B1, Joe Mathu C1, and Holly Bowker D1. That is not a misprint; there are three—yes, count them, three—Bowkers in that event.

There was $2,000 in added money dedicated for HOA, and one of our sponsors Sweet Manufacturing put up an additional $500 for any competitor posting a 4×4. Realizing that no one was going to meet that goal, they decided to give the money away regardless.  An announcement Sunday morning that the HOA winner would receive the entire $500 was well received by all.  At the end of the day, there was a clear winner—Bruce Christian posted a 391 and a new World Record.

I want to thank all of the volunteers that helped make this event a success, but I especially want to thank Jason Johnson for all of his hard work. His efforts toward this weekend made the entire event a great time for all. The only person who may get more thanks will be his wife, Michelle, for putting up with us—warts and all—for the entire weekend.  Thanks to all who shot. We hope to see you next year!

– Contributed by Tom Pavlack

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

Schmidt Takes The Rock With 400×400

By

May 12-14 was a great weekend at Blue Rock Sportsman’s Club in North Little Rock, Arkansas, as they hosted one of their premier events, The Rock. The shoot began Friday morning with a 100-target SCTP event, and the participants posted some great scores that foreshadowed what was to come during the main event. For details on the SCTP event, check out the Youth Shooting Development column on page 30 of the August issue.

The Doubles event began Friday afternoon as the rain started to move in. The conditions did not deter Brad Goodart or Brandon Cade, as both posted perfect scores. Goodart defeated Cade for the championship, and Blue Rock member, Clay Baldwin, captured third place after a number of shoot-off boxes. After all the shoot-offs were completed, participants and guests enjoyed free drinks and a great BBQ spread.

The 12-gauge event began Saturday morning under perfect conditions, as the threatening weather passed in the night. Eight competitors managed to break perfect scores, and when all was settled, Benton, Arkansas native James Howey was victorious over runner-up, Michael Schmidt, and third-place finisher, Easlen Moore, my former squadmate. Blue Rock changed the program a little this year to allow participants to shoot the big guns in the morning, meaning the 28 gauge would be shot on Saturday afternoon. Four 100s were posted in the 28-gauge event, and Dennis Burns emerged the winner over Joshua Guess and Paul Newman, who took runner-up and third, respectively.

When the last shots of the evening were fired, competitors were treated to a wonderful shrimp boil with all the sausage, corn and potatoes you could eat. An assortment of complimentary ice cream bars and popsicles was also available throughout the weekend.

On Sunday morning, shooters took the field with the 20 gauge in hand. Thirteen shooters posted perfect scores, and all were eager to battle it out on the shoot-off field. Clay Baldwin earned the championship deep in the second box over runner-up Jake Ratcliff and third-place Jonathan Hopper. In between shooting times, lunch was available free of charge, or you could check out the Elite Shotguns mobile unit run by Aaron Willoughby. Aaron and Dan Lewis were on-site to answer any questions on guns, glasses and all shooting needs. Their customer service is as good as it gets, so make sure to check them out if they are ever in your area.

As usual, the .410 was shot late on Sunday, with three perfect scores posted. Michael “Big Shooter” Schmidt managed to get through the weekend without a miss to post his 27th 400×400 and take home the HOA championship. Brad Goodart and Caile Bradham also broke perfect scores with the little gun. After the smoke cleared, Schmidt took the gun title over Goodart, runner-up, and Bradham, third. These three also stood atop the High Over All podium with Schmidt the champion, Goodart at runner-up and Bradham third, following a 395 shoot-off with Paul Newman and Van Lewis. Katherine Pierce captured the Ladies HOA title in front of second place finisher, Mallory Stanton, and third place, Carol Goodart.

Thanks to all the shoot sponsors, including Kolar, Elite Shotguns, Lincoln Traps and Ducks Unlimited. The support from sponsors makes The Rock and all Blue Rock shoots must-attend events. The hospitality shown by Blue Rock and its club members is unmatched, so if you have never experienced one of their shoots, be sure to make the trip in 2018.

– Contributed by Nathan Boyd

The “Elemental” Paxton Arms Metroplex

By

Path to success: Start your shooting career in American Skeet as a Junior + college at Lindenwood where much focus was put on International skeet + on to the real world (kind of) and a job at Krieghoff International + back to American Skeet in 2017 = win the HOA at the first two shoots in which he competes, the second being the Paxton Arms Metroplex. Quite a journey for young Nick Boerboon.

A breeze was blowing at the Dallas Gun Club on Friday and Saturday, April 28-29, but targets held well. Houston Deshotels (son of Hall of Famer Luke) broke ’em all in the Doubles event but had to shoot off against TSSA president Jack Davis to claim the top prize. Nick Boerboon won the shoot-off of 99s for third.

Nick Boerboon hinted at what was to come later when he bested Johnny DeLeon, runner-up, and Nicholas Godfrey, third, in the 12-gauge shoot-off.

Young eyes and reflexes are good to have, but burning desire is another quality that young Nick Godfrey has, and it is starting to show. He was the 20-gauge champ with contemporary Houston Deshotels at runner-up. Claiming third place was a young lady who seems to have unlimited potential. Lauren Burge broke her first 100 straight that day, but all of us who know her were not surprised. She is on track to go wherever she wants in the sport. Saturday at the Metroplex was a highlight of your newest generation of skeet champions.

On Saturday night, shooters feasted on Wagyu burgers, brats and hot dogs cooked on the grill by a bevy of volunteer chefs, including Jim Biddle, Al Magyar, Billy Ray Suggs, Tom Pavlack and Nick Boerboon. (Vegetarians dined elsewhere.) All the beef was donated by Ran Davis (myskeet.com). Thanks, Ran!

After fighting fairly high winds for two days, shooters were hoping for a break from the skeet gods. Not to be. Instead, on Sunday the gusty winds increased and shifted from the north, where they do the most damage to the intended flight path of the elusive flying orbs. Someone described the conditions on Sunday as “elemental,” as the targets could randomly choose to seek out the moon, sun, various planets or the Earth. We mortal shooters had no psychic connection with the White Flyers.

Two hard-fought and well-earned 99s were tops in the 28 gauge. Robert Ennes claimed the championship, with Tom Shepherd and Nick Boerboon settling for runner-up and third.

If you had a 9 as the first digit of your .410 score, you had a GREAT day. Houston Deshotels shot a near-impossible 97 to take the .410 outright. Andrew Benson broke the only 95 to claim the runner-up spot, and Mark Windham took third after a shoot-off of 94s.

After many calculations due to the lower scores, Nick Boerboon bested all with his 389 for HOA champion. Andrew Benson was runner-up with 388, and Nicholas Godfrey took third with his 387. Looks like young reflexes was the key to the windblown targets!

In Ladies action, it was almost a clean sweep for another up-and-coming shooter with youth on her side. Lauren Burge, with her mom and dad cheering her on, won four of the five Ladies events, including the HOA. Lindsay Plesko denied her a clean sweep by winning the 28 gauge.

Many shooters left the shoot with battered and bruised egos and average cards, but I did hear a few comment that they enjoyed the challenge. (Note to all out-of-town shooters: naturally, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday brought clear skies and not a breath of wind.)

Kudos to the staff at Dallas Gun Club and all who make the shoot happen, including Woody Anderson, Jim Speer, Ran Davis, Sheri Suggs, and Jack and Glea Davis. Thanks to sponsors “3 on 8,” Briley Mfg. and Krieghoff Intl. Special thanks to Mary DiGiovanni and Ann Hill who manned the time-consuming “2-Man Team Challenge” scoreboard.

How did Hall of Famer and Past President of the NSSA Al Magyar earn his new nickname “Tumbleweed”? Ask him next time you see him.

Come on back next year – Robert Paxton has guaranteed perfect conditions in 2018.

– Contributed by Robert Paxton

Ballentine Breezes to Zone 7 HOA Championship

By

Ah, Las Vegas. Whether you know it for its nightlife, gambling or celebrity sightings, it is also the home of the Clark County Shooting Complex, a jewel of gun clubs and the newest to join the list of clubs that can host the Zone 7 Skeet Championships. The CCSC boasts 24 skeet fields and what seems to be a half-mile of RV spots. With field space galore, the Vegas Skeet Association worked hard to show that they are ready to host both small and large shoots for years to come.

Turnout was strong for 2017 Zone 7 Skeet Championships. All 13 states in Zone 7 were represented on the scoreboard. The Sub-Junior and Junior shooters in the zone showed up in full force and proved they were contenders in all guns. Of course, the wind also showed up in full force, but shooters just stepped up their game.

Arizona Sub-Junior shooter Victor Cordova topped the field of Doubles competitors with his 98. Battling it out for the next spots were Jack Bernardi, runner-up, and Doug Coulter, third, both shooting 96s. In the 12 gauge, Tim Nagel (MT) turned in the only 100 to claim the champion spot. Rob Lopez and Vegas Junior Steven Bivins came close, dropping only one target, with Lopez winning the shoot-off for runner-up. Nick Ballentine, returning 2016 HOA Champ, started making his mark with a 98 to take AAA1, as did Chad Sims, coming in from Hawaii to take AA1. Stephen Guerrero from Colorado turned in an impressive 98 down in D class.

Everyone took a short break from the trials of skeet in the wind to enjoy a Friday night banquet where Lynn Meisinger Cogdill was inducted into the Zone 7 Hall of Fame. Lynn began shooting in 1998 at her home club in Missoula, Montana. Relentless practice and her competitive nature quickly moved her not only to the top of the list of Ladies shooters but also gave her bragging rights to the 2006 Montana State HOA Championship and the 2010 28-gauge championship at the U.S. Open. Three squads of Montana shooters, along with Lynn’s family, joined us in congratulating Lynn on her induction.

Speaking of top Ladies shooters, Emily Steinbaugh came in with the lone 99 in the 20-gauge event to win the gun championship, leaving a rash of 98s to shoot it out for the other spots. Joining Emily on the White Flyer podium were Nick Ballentine, runner-up, and Victor Cordova, third. For the rest of the 98s, it was Lopez over squadmate Dan Lewis for AAA1, Sims over Washington Junior shooter Nathan Barron for AA1 and Tanner Bissell A1.

More 100s started to show up in the 28 Gauge as the winds finally decided to give us a break. Chad Sims held his ground for gun champ over two Junior shooters, followed by Bivins at runner-up and Ryan Meger from Arizona who took third. And as always, it came down to the .410. There were a few 99s already in by the time Nick Ballentine took the field. Not fazed by the fact that he needed his top game to take not only the .410 but also the High Over All, Nick put the only 100 on the board. Dave Anderson took .410 runner-up spot, and Meger came in third.  When the scores were tallied, it was Ballentine as the HOA champ with a 395. Bivins, runner-up, bested Meger, third, in a battle of the 393s.

Credit for the success of the 2017 Zone 7 Skeet Championships was shared by the toils of the Vegas Skeet Association, the hard work and creativity of Theresa Bivins, who gave the social events a Vegas touch, Chief Referee Traci MacWalter and assistant Ken Bartee, along with shoot management: Zone 7 President Billy D. Williams, VP J.R. Hildebrand, Secretary/Treasurer Tim Drago, and the Zone 7 registration staff of Bob Williams, Mark Coca, Ron Shoemake and Gail Lambrecht.

– Contributed by Gail Lambecht

Youth Skeet Camp In Crossville, Tennessee

By

Fairfield Glade Sportsman Club in Crossville, Tennessee, hosted an NSSA Youth Skeet Camp on June 5-6 at their Caryonah Hunting Lodge. Thirteen happy youth participated in the two-day camp, instructed by NSSA Level III Instructor Terry Hetrick, a member of the Pennsylvania Skeet Shooting Hall of Fame and holder of numerous national titles. Sheryl Webb assisted Hetrick.

“I was so impressed with the young shooters that I had the pleasure of working with,” said Hetrick. “It is such a pleasure and so very rewarding to know and experience the enthusiasm these young folks have.”

The camp was partially funded by an NSSA grant. Hetrick and Webb expressed to NSSA how grateful they were for this opportunity to offer more shooting instruction to the youth.

Skeet

Sporting Clays

National Shooting
Complex

Museum &
Hall of Fame

About