Clay Target Nation

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

Paratrooper Open at Fort Bragg Clay Target Center

By

Fort Bragg Clay Target Center in Spring Lake, North Carolina, was the site for the Paratrooper Open, July 8-10. A total of 74 shooters competed, with 58 shooting 4 guns. Turn-out was great, and the center was once again in excellent condition, considering it just hosted 81 shooters two weeks earlier for the U.S. Open.   

The weather caused a bit of excitement – in fact, Friday morning it was questionable if we could even hold the shoot as planned. A severe thunderstorm Thursday night and a nearby lightning strike knocked out all the skeet machines. Thanks to the hard work by the staff, trap mechanic and several shooters assisting, parts were replaced and cords rewired in record time. Enough fields were working to start doubles at 1 p.m. and execute the shoot as planned. Another storm Friday afternoon resulted in the doubles finishing Saturday morning. Saturday was a scorcher with the heat and humidity, but Sunday brought clouds and a bit of rain, along with temperatures 20 degrees cooler.

There was a 3-way tie in Doubles with scores of 98. Alison Boyette was champion, Paul Stemac runner-up and Jason Cloninger third. There was also a 3-way tie of 100s in 12-gauge with Alison winning champion, Scott Graham runner-up and Charles Lawley third. With scores of 100, Alison won a shoot-off against Tim Koller to win the 20-gauge championship; Stuart Brown was third. There were seven scores of 100 in 28-gauge, with Richard Nixon winning champion, Chip Simmons runner-up and Noah Dove third. There were shoot-offs of 99s and 98s in .410 bore for the top 3 awards — with Stuart Brown taking champion, Robert Shelley runner-up, and Chip Simmons third.

Stuart Brown won HOA by one target with a 396.  Two 395s shot off, with Alison Boyette winning HOA runner-up and Scott Graham taking gun third.

The weekend concluded with shoot-offs in a Youth Handicap HOA event. Jim Tiner presented awards to the winners:

Sub-Junior / Junior group – Mary Beth Parris 1st, Ridge Pearson 2nd, Addison Wallace 3rd

Collegiate group – Alison Boyette 1st, Henry Hardin 2nd, Noah Dove 3rd.

Belinda and Jim Tiner thank everyone who helped with set-up, serving food, and clean-up to make sure the event was successful and fun for all.  Also, thank-you to the MWR staff who had the facility prepped, resolved major issues that could have affected the shoot, and to Stuart Brown for perfect targets.

– Contributed by Belinda Tiner

Paratrooper Open

By

The Fort Bragg Clay Target Center in Spring Lake, North Carolina, was the site for the Paratrooper Open, July 10-12. Shooters were definitely ready to see friends and break targets, and the youth shooters were tough competitors! Despite the heat and humidity, shooters persevered throughout the weekend and posted very good scores.

Mattison Russell won HOA, Lady HOA and Junior HOA with a 396. After the four-way tie of 395 was shot off, (Junior) Corrie Cloninger was runner-up, Mark Smith was third, Stuart Brown was AAA1 and Jay Bunting was AA1. Kevin Suitt was A1 (392), Michael Meyerhoeffer B1 (387), Mackenzie Morris C1 (375) and Aryssa Bowland D1 (371). Sub-Junior champion was Mackenzie Morris, and Collegiate champion was Henry Hardin (384).

Larson Harkins won Doubles and Junior Champion with the lone 100 straight. Jim Tiner, shoot manager, presented Larson with a 100-straight pin. The youth prevailed, with Mason Watkins, a Junior, taking runner-up with the only 98, and Collegiate Noah Dove winning his shoot-off with a 97 for third. Spectators were treated to shoot-offs in B and C classes. One person commented that they hated to see the B class shoot-off end – the ladies made it exciting with Anna Wood and Corrie Cloninger going into the second box before the shoot-off ended. Class winners were Jay Bunting (AA), Scott Graham (A), Anna Wood (B), Jeff McNany (C) and Josie Cloninger (D). Sub-Junior Champion was Mackenzie Morris, Noah Dove won Collegiate and Corrie Cloninger was Lady Champion.

There were eight perfect scores of 100 in 12-gauge. It was an exciting finish with Mattison Russell and Stuart Brown going into the second box in the shoot-off; Mattison won 12-Gauge Champion and Lady Champion. Stuart Brown was runner-up, and Larson Harkins was third. Class winners were Jay Bunting (AAA), Paul Stemac (AA), Brian Leazer (A), William Davis (B), Blake Argo (C), Larry Harrington (D) and Kurt Culbert (E). The youth champions each posted top scores of 100 – William Davis won Sub-Junior, Mattison Russell won Junior, and Anna Wood won Collegiate. Several shooters had their first straights — Anna Wood shot her first 100 straight, Joshua Wayne his first 75 straight and Josie Cloninger her first 50 straight. Each was presented a pin marking their accomplishment.

Kevin Suitt won 20-Gauge Champion with the lone 100 straight. Grayson Williams won a shoot-off for runner-up, and Jason Cloninger was third. Class winners were Kevin Hostinsky (AAA), Thomas Myaard (AA), Brian Leazer (A), Nathan Byrd (B), George Shuman (C) and Aryssa Bowland (D). Sub-Junior Champion was Mackenzie Morris; Grayson Williams, Junior; Henry Hardin, Collegiate; and Mattison Russell, Lady.

There were six 100 straights in 28 gauge – once again, the shoot-off went into the second box and the Juniors took the top awards. Gun champ was Mason Watkins; Larson Harkins, runner-up; and Mattison Russell, third. AAA Class had five scores of 99, with Kevin Hostinsky taking AAA1. Other class winners were Jay Bunting (AA), Clint Kreuser (A), Kadie Anderson (B), George Shuman (C) and Tim Dove (D). Sub-Junior Champion was William Davis, Junior Champion was Mason Watkins, Collegiate Champion was Blake Argo and Lady Champion was Mattison Russell.

Corrie Cloninger won the final event, the .410 bore, with the only perfect score and Corrie’s first 100 straight in .410. Stuart Brown won the 99 score shoot-off for runner-up, and Mason Watkins was third. Kevin Hostinsky won AAA, Mattison Russell AA, Kevin Story A, Jeffery McNany B, Aryssa Bowland C and Bill Kluttz D. Sub-Junior Champion was Mackenzie Morris, Junior and Lady Champion was Corrie Cloninger, and Aryssa Bowland, Collegiate.

– Contributed by Belinda Tiner

 

 

 

Paratrooper Open

By

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.

Skeet

Sporting Clays

National Shooting
Complex

Museum &
Hall of Fame

About