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New York State Championships

December 16, 2020 By kimcrisp

The 88th annual New York State Skeet Championships were held at Rochester-Brooks Gun Club in Rush, NY the weekend of August 28-30.

In a year forever changed by the COVID-19 pandemic, where only a handful of tournaments were held in New York, 115 shooters participated in this year’s competition. An excellent turnout, only a few entries shy of 2019, especially considering that Canadian shooters, who usually cross the border to come to New York for tournaments, were still in lockdown north of the border.

However, the New York State Shoot is open for titles and purses, and in a year where shooters are going where the targets are, the loss of Canadians was made up by the gain in shooters from neighboring states like Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.

The first event of the weekend is always the Referee Championship, with Mark Holthouse winning that medal with a score of 96×100.

Trading guns and ammo for buttons to push, the referees then took to the field for the first flight of doubles on Friday afternoon. The weather was in a cooperative mood, and mechanic Roger Brooks had fine-tuned the Laporte machines, resulting in perfect scores from J.D. Fowler, Dave Ballerini and Dennis Lehman. Doubles shoot-offs are always interesting, and sometimes just a couple of stations will determine the results. In this case, local favorite J.D. Fowler broke two pairs, Lehman settled for runner-up, and Ballerini missed on the first station to win third. 99s shot off for New York runner-up and third medals, but that shoot-off didn’t last any longer than the championship. Craig Parsons broke two pairs for runner-up, and Brian Mayeu settled for third.

Doubles class winners included Larry Bonavita (A), Clay Tietjen (B), Doug Goodman (C) and Ron Casella (D), while Amy Cawley won her first Junior title and Victoria Barner captured Lady with an excellent 97×100.

Mother Nature can turn on you, on a dime – and that’s exactly what happened as Saturday morning dawned. Luckily, the heavy storms that blew over the club before the start of the first flight of the 12-gauge did not return the rest of the day. Not so lucky, as the strong winds behind the weather front more than made up for the lack of rain.

Twelve-gauge shooters were greeted with the best conditions of the day, and five survived to break perfect scores. Seven stations into the first round, Bryan (B.J.) Jensen had won not only his first New York championship title, but, we’re told, the first-ever gun championship. Denny Lehman took runner-up and Jim Grundman, another local New York shooter, won third. Matthew Lenehan captured the New York third medal and B1. Other class winners included Steve Wood (AA), Tom Longolucco (A), Fritz Ochab (C), Jerry Reeves (D) and Alan Maenza (E). Vincent Basile won the Sub-Junior medal, Amy Cawley captured Junior Champion and Catherine Forbush won the Lady title with an excellent 99×100.

Saturday afternoon’s 20-gauge event was a whole other story, however, as winds averaged around 45 mph, and as weather people will gleefully point out, “with gusts to 60 mph.” Ugly to say the least! As Dirty Harry would say, “are you feeling lucky?” and three shooters managed to get through 100 targets where only one bird proved impossible to hit – or maybe they got the hard ones and missed a perfect target because they didn’t recognize the flight path. In any event, Steve Wood, David Ballerini and Dave Cook all kissed the ground coming off their respective fields with great scores of 99×100.

In a shoot-off that went six stations, Ballerini emerged as Champion over Steve Wood, and Dave Cook captured third. Peter Bogdon won the New York third medal in a shoot-off of 98s. Other class winners included Tom Longolucco (A), John Mutchler (B), Fritz Ochab (C) and John Greco (D), with Jackson Nichols winning Sub-Junior Champion, Amy Cawley taking the Junior title, and Victoria Ferchaw’s impressive 98 was good for the Lady concurrent.

For the trivia champions, New York’s records indicate that the last time a New York State 20-gauge title was won with less than a perfect score, you must go back to 1970 to see all-everything New York shooter George Lehr winning the title with a 99. And he told us exactly who he shot off against, too!

The best shoot-offs of Saturday evening, however, are the two most popular events. The first is the 5-man 12-gauge Handicap shoot-off for a beautiful belt buckle. Only four teams qualified, with the Western New York team of Lenehan, Lenehan, Lombardo, Cawley and Nowak clearing station 3. The even-better shoot-off Saturday night, however, is the all-kids event with eight entries this year, handicap awarded by 12-gauge class, shooting doubles under the lights for six flats of ammo sponsored by the Mitchell-Heitman Fund. Congratulations to Jackson Nichols and Owen Cooley.

Luckily, like a hurricane, when wind blows that hard, it’s gone by morning, and Sunday was a much nicer day for everyone. However, recovering from rough shooting, getting the smooth and easy back, only Pennsylvania hot-shot Denny Lehman was able to find perfection to win the 28-gauge championship outright. Only one 99, too, with another non-resident shooter, Tom Longolucco from Rhode Island taking the runner-up spot on the podium, leaving the shooters who scored 98×100 to shoot off for open third, New York Champion, runner-up and third. In two stations shy of a full box, Steve Wood won it on station 4 going around, followed by Charlie Parks (Ohio) and Craig Parsons (New York runner-up), and Ed Smith (New York third). Class champions included Glenn Carboneau (A), Victoria Barner (B ), Robert Nowak (C) and Dan Nichols (D). Jackson Nichols won his second Sub-Junior medal, and Amy Cawley won Junior. Victoria Ferchaw won another Lady title with 97×100.

Another dip into the trivia drawer, again to see when the last time a New York State champion hit the podium with less than a perfect 100 – this time, back to 1977, when Michael Graham won it with a 99.

And then there’s the .410, the baby bore. The sun was shining, the winds were calmer, the sky was clear, and Craig Parsons, needing a big comeback from the 20-gauge, proceeded to smoke 100 targets out of the sky. Matthew Lenehan’s 98 was good for runner-up, and in a shoot-off of 97s, Ed Smith won the third spot on the podium by breaking a pair on the first station. Class winners included David Ballerini (AA), Don Lewandoski (A), Paul Barnas (B), Catherine Forbush (C) and Bill Costello (D). Jackson Nichols continued his Sub-Junior winning ways, and Amy Cawley swept the Juniors with another medal. Mary Alice DeFrancesco won the Lady title, with Catherine Forbush taking the New York Lady medal.

The first shoot-off Sunday was the HOA tie between David Ballerini and Steve Wood, 393×400, with Dave emerging as open Champion and Steve taking his third New York title of the championships. HOA class winners included Tom Longolucco (AA), Matthew Lenehan (A), David Cook (B), Chris Dole (C), Robert Griffith (D) and Joan Paddock Doyle (E).

The final event of the shoot, Champ of Champs, was won by Don Lewandoski.

Rochester-Brooks thanks all of the shooters who decided to brave the virus and attend NewYork’s season-ending tournament. Also, thanks to Clark Hartness for including Rochester Brooks in the season-long beta test of his shoot software. Competitors loved the texting of scores and shoot-off notifications, not to mention scrolling scores on cell phones and devices.

Thanks to NSSA who, in spite of trying financial times, supported five state shoots with $1,000 awards. Rochester-Brooks applied for and received this support, and we were pleased to be able to pay it back to shooters as prize money to HOA classes.

Thanks also to Scott Holmes, Rochester Brooks club manager, to Roger Brooks, chief mechanic, and to on-field mechanic Mark Bartles and target-setter Mike Krol. Thanks to Dan Caryl, New York Chief Referee, for the excellent referees; this has been a difficult year in that regard, and we received many compliments from shooters on the quality of our field referees. Thanks also to club staff, to Trish the Food Fairy and her crew for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and to the registration and cashier people, for working under unusual circumstances, while ensuring the safety and health of all who participated.

– Contributed by Andrea Lehr

Filed Under: Clay Target Nation - ARTICLES, Skeet, Skeet Events, Skeet Photos Tagged With: New York State Championships, Rochester-Brooks Gun Club, skeet

New York State Championships

January 17, 2020 By

The New York State Skeet Championships were held at Rochester-Brooks Gun Club in Rush, New York, the weekend of August 23-25. 

Friday’s festivities always kick off with the Referee Championship, where Dave Sobiegray’s 96 won the day. In the doubles event, only two shooters were able to break 99×100, and unbelievably, the first station settled the championship. Dan Morris clinched both the Open and Non-resident titles, while Bernard Lenehan captured his second New York State Championship. The battle of 98s for third was more like it, lasting well into the third box before Craig Parsons missed high 4 coming back the second time, resulting in David Cooley occupying the third step on the podium. Class winners, in addition to Craig, were Rick Ayers, Steve Malcolm, Glen Safford and Mark Jesske.

Saturday kept shooters under mostly cloudy skies the entire day, with a threat of rain that never materialized. In the morning 12-gauge event, only three perfect scores were recorded, by Canada’s Reg Hooper and squadmates Aaron Benton and Andrea Lehr. Less than a box later, Aaron had won both the State and Open titles, with Reg settling for runner-up and Andie taking third. Again, the battle of 99s was the one to watch, with Craig Parsons coming out on the winning side over Dess Ivanov, who settled for a spot in class. Other class winners included Dan Morris, Jeff Ventry, Brian Milanese, Ed Calabrese, John Yackiw and Joan Doyle Paddock.

Saturday afternoon’s 20-gauge event produced a half-dozen perfect scores, with another shoot-off lasting less than a box. Long Island’s Larry Bonavita captured his first New York State title, in a near-sweep of the podium with runner-up Craig Parsons sandwiched between Larry and Long Island teammate Mike Cerce on the third step. Class winners included Dan Morris, Jim Grundman, Donna Fusco, Clay Tietjen and Gregory McChesney.

The highlight of Saturday evening, the last shoot-off before dinner and awards presentations, is always the 12-gauge 5-man handicap team shoot-off. Those teams scoring 500 or better usually form a long line behind station 3, doubles miss and out by team score, to settle who wins a beautiful belt buckle for everyone on the team. However, this year only four teams qualified, with the experienced Rochester-Brooks squad prevailing over the Outlet Outlaws.

Sunday dawned sunny and clear, and the first 28-gauge flight produced a perfect score before Great Lakes clouds rolled in for the remainder of the day. Five shooters took to the championship field, where Dana Driscoll captured the title in two stations. The battle for runner-up and third lasted only one more station and resulted in Ian Smingler taking runner-up, with Ed Calabrese on the third step of the podium. Class winners included Dess Ivanov, Bob Griffith Jr., Brian Quealy, Kerry Henderson and wife Cheryl cleaning up in D class.

The afternoon .410 event totally shook up HOA standings. “It’s always the .410,” and this time the rule ruled. Brad McRae and Aaron Benton posted 99s, and in a shoot-off where both missed on the first station, Aaron won the title on the next. The quest for third lasted a little longer, with Dana Driscoll making the podium in a shoot-off of 98s. Class winners included Dess Ivanov, Zach Andruchow, Victoria Ferchaw, Michael Asel and Ron Casella.

Coming into the .410, there were several competitors down only a bird or two, but with the little gun, the cream rose to the top. In a tie of 396s, Ian Smingler beat Dess Ivanov on the first station to capture his fourth New York State HOA Championship. Aaron Benton, with the lone 395, won third outright. Class winners included Mike Cerce, Dana Driscoll, Samuel Marks, Andrea Lehr, Gregory McChesney and Joan Doyle Paddock. 

The New York State Championships is always a fun event that welcomes shooters from outside the state, and this year was an excellent lead-up to the last U.S. Open to be shot mano a mano. Thanks to Scott Holmes and his terrific staff at Rochester-Brooks, with special thanks to Roger Brooks, the world’s best mechanic who dealt with, and solved, a host of target problems. Chief Referee Dan Caryl recruited excellent pullers, and registration, scoreboards and shoot-offs ran smoothly and efficiently. 

 

– Contributed by Andrea Lehr

Filed Under: Clay Target Nation - ARTICLES, Skeet, Skeet Events, Skeet News, Skeet Photos Tagged With: New York State Skeet Championships, Rochester-Brooks Gun Club, skeet

New York State Skeet Championships

December 28, 2018 By Sherry Kerr

Shooters from New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida and Canada arrived at Rochester-Brooks Gun Club two weeks after the Zone 1 Championships to contest the New York State Skeet Championships.

Friday’s action kicked off with the Referee Championship, with Mark Snyder defeating Mark Holthouse in a tie of 97s. The referees swapped guns for clipboards for the Doubles event on Friday afternoon. Two perfect scores later, Craig Parsons defeated Ian Smingler on the first station of the shoot-off for champion and runner-up honors, respectively. In the shoot-off for third between Mat Kelley and W.C. Parks, Mat ascended to the podium while Charlie took AA and the non-resident championship.

Victoria Ferchaw, Catherine Forbush

Class winners in Doubles included Peter Bogdon, Victoria Ferchaw, Doug Goodman and John Yackiw, with the Junior championship won by Hunter Dickerman and the Ladies podium held by Ferchaw, Victoria Barner and Catherine Forbush, in order.

Shooters arriving on Saturday morning were happy to see clear skies and slight wind. The targets were great, and the scoreboard lit up with 100s and 99s, with a 98 down into D class. Nine perfect scores took to the shoot-off field; Ian Smingler finished in the runner-up spot, and Craig Parsons won his second title of the weekend.

George Lehr and Dess Ivanov continued to shoot for third and class AA, with Ivanov reaching the podium. Other class winners included W.C. Parks, who also captured another non-resident champion medal, Michael Asel, Dawn Smart, Scott MacIntosh and Canada’s Don Legere. Matthew Lenehan took the Junior award, with Bryan Bale taking third. Cindy Johnson’s 98 won the Ladies championship outright.

The 20-gauge championship was also contested Saturday afternoon, and again, there were nine perfect scores. In four stations, Scott Sobiegray won over runner-up Michael Ferchaw and third Colin Smingler. Class champions included Bernard Lenehan, Richard Ayers, Fritz Ochab, Scott MacIntosh and Alan Maenza, with W.C. Parks winning another non-resident champion pin. Hunter Dickerman took champion in the Junior group, and Catherine Forbush took the Ladies honors.

Saturday evening’s last shoot-off is always the 12-gauge 5-man team handicap. Every team and shooter participates, with handicaps based on the shooter’s class, total team score miss and out. Congratulations to the winners of a beautiful belt buckle: Bruce Raymond, Matthew Lenehan, Bernard Lenehan, Michael Asel and Charles Lombardo.

Sunday afternoon’s HOA race started out as a tie between Craig Parsons and Mat Kelley with 298s, but at the conclusion of the .410 event, four shooters were called to shoot off 395s. Dan Morris prevailed for Open HOA champ and non-resident champ titles. Parsons and Ivanov went two more stations before Craig won yet another NY resident HOA championship.

In the 28-gauge event, five perfect shooters were summoned to shoot-offs. Mat Kelley took the top step and Michael Cerce runner-up. Brad McRae finished third and was non-resident champ, while Dana Driscoll took AA1 and NY third. Other class winners included Richard Ayers, Donna Fusco (who also took the Ladies title), Charles Lombardo and Don Legere. Hunter Dickerman won Junior honors.

The wind increased in the afternoon, and the lone 99 in the .410, for the top step of the podium outright, was scored by Canada’s Dan Morris, with a shoot-off of 98s for NY champion, runner-up and third. In that shoot-off, seven stations into the box, Aaron Benton let a low 5 slip by, totally disappointed — until Michael Cerce missed the pair! Aaron won the NY State resident title, and Dess Ivanov finished third.

Class winners in the .410 also included Reg Hooper, Donna Fusco (also the Ladies champion), John Mutchler and Andy Nolan. Hunter Dickerman won the Junior concurrent.

As the remaining HOA ties were settled, class winners included W.C. Parks, Donna Fusco, Scott MacIntosh, Mario Mastrangelo and Don Legere. Hunter Dickerman won Junior HOA champion, and Donna Fusco took the top step of the Ladies podium. Victoria Barner and Catherine Forbush shot off for runner-up and third, finishing in that order.

The last call to the shoot-off field was for the Champ of Champs event. Three perfect scores were recorded by Michael Cerce, George Lehr and Dess Ivanov, and it was over in a station. Lehr hit the pair for what he says gives him a span from his first NY title in 1970 to 2018 for his most recent. Cerce and Ivanov took the runner-up and third positions, respectively.

Rochester-Brooks was pleased to host both the Zone I and NY State championships this summer, and we’re looking forward to bringing the U.S. Open back to the great Northeast in 2019.

– Contributed by Andrea Graham Lehr

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

Matthew Lenehan, Bernard Lenehan, Charles Lombardo, Michael Asel and Bruce Raymond
HAA- Craig Parsons
HOA- Dess Ivanov, Craig Parsons, Mat Kelley

Filed Under: Clay Target Nation - ARTICLES, Skeet, Skeet Events, Skeet Photos Tagged With: New York State Skeet Championships, Rochester-Brooks Gun Club, shotgun sports, skeet

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