Clay Target Nation

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

Nebraska State Skeet Championships

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The 91st annual Nebraska State Skeet Championships were held August 18-20 at the Lincoln Trap and Skeet Club (LT&SC) in Lincoln. The action started on Friday with the Oak Creek Engineering Champ of Champs event, with 25 targets in each gauge/bore, starting with the .410. Kurt Mann bested all others with an impressive 99.

Jacob Uphoff – 28 GA CH, HOA CH, HAA CH

Friday afternoon brought pleasant weather – the last of such weather for quite a while – and the Cornhusker Winnelson Doubles event. Squadmates Chris Lutz and Kurt Mann shot off 97’s and were champion and runner-up, respectively. Third place went to Blaine Frizzell, one of the notable Junior shooters from the weekend, and class winners included Jacob Uphoff (A), Bill Buettgenbach (B), John Rossi (C) and Mike Vainosky (D).

Shooters and guests were treated to pizza and appetizers after the Doubles shoot-offs. Thanks to Jerry Classen and all who contributed.

Saturday morning brought clear skies, calm winds, and a preview of the impending heat for the Morton Buildings 20-gauge event. When the smoke cleared, two 100-straights were shot, both by Junior shooters. Mason Pillard outlasted Blaine Frizzell in the shoot-off to take his first state title, along with his first 100-straight in the 20 gauge! Third place was Kurt Mann. Class winners were Derek Pollock (AA), Chris Lutz (A), Don Serna (B), Michael Day (C) and Mike Vainosky (D).

Oddly enough, the Nebraska winds stayed fairly light for the afternoon and the Class One Machine .410 state championship event. Chris Lutz had the lone 98 to take the championship buckle. Runner-up was Derek Pollock and third place was Jacob Uphoff. Class winners were Tristin Duff (AA), Rob Predmore (A), Tim Hartzog (B), Charles Burgess (C) and Mason Pillard (D).

On Saturday evening, shooters and guests enjoyed a wonderful steak dinner from Del Gould Meats with sides and more desserts than you could count. Thanks to everyone who grilled, provided food and drinks, etc.!

Sunday brought a continuation of high temps and humidity for the Conreco 28-gauge event. Two of Nebraska’s great young shooters, Jacob Uphoff and Michael Day, shot 100-straight for champion and third place respectively, with Rob Predmore taking runner-up after shooting his first 100-straight in the 28-gauge at a state championship shoot. Blaine Frizzell (AA), Chris Lutz (A), Adam Classen (B), Charles Burgess (C) and Don Hansen (D) took class honors.

Sunday afternoon brought out almost 75 shooters vying for the Anderson Auto Group 12-gauge title. Three perfect scores were posted, with Lane Sorensen taking his first ever state title, Jacob Uphoff claiming runner-up and Kurt Mann taking third place. Class winners included Derek Pollock (AA), Rob Predmore (A), Charles Burgess (B), John Rossi (C), Rick Standley (D) and Kaela Hinze (E). The highly coveted Zych Drywall 5-Man Team Trophy went to Bill Buettgenbach, Jake Uphoff, John Rossi, Michael Day and Mason Pillard.

The Kolar HOA title went to Jacob Uphoff with a very impressive 394. Rob Predmore (393) was runner-up, and third place was Chris Lutz (391). Class winners were Derek Pollock (AA-386), Kurt Mann (A-389), Blaine Frizzell (B-389), Roger Plooster (C-385), Rick Standley (D-349) and Kaela Hinze (E-335). Lady HOA champ was Claire Kee, and Junior HOA champ was Jacob Uphoff. Chris Cobb (CO) was high gun for out-of-staters, shooting an HOA score of 386.

Highlights from the weekend included a great showing from the young shooters from around the state, with Jacob Uphoff taking three state titles and shooting 200-straight on Sunday. There was a great turnout of shooters from outside of Nebraska, including representation from South Dakota, Colorado, Missouri, Kansas and even New Mexico. Their presence was appreciated, and we hope the trend continues in the future! A big thanks goes out to the LT&SC staff and all the volunteers that helped keep the shoot running smoothly. The 2024 Nebraska State Championships will be headed west to Grand Island next year. We hope to see you there!

— Contributed by Chris Lutz

Mason Pillard – 20 GA CH
Lane Sorensen – 12 GA CH

Minnesota State Skeet Championships

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The 2023 Minnesota State Skeet Championships were held at the Minneapolis Gun Club in Prior Lake, Minnesota, on August 25-27. The weather was ideal throughout all events, with a few tricky periods of wind to keep shooters alert. Jared Miller, a 17-year-old Junior from East Bethel, Minnesota, led a field of 42 shooters, winning High Overall, High All Around, .410 Bore, and Doubles championships.

Jake Boerboon

Bob Muehlenkamp, Brian Hendrickson, and Justin Staebell managed recording of the scores and winners using MySkeet software which provided online access to reports throughout the tournament. It communicates with the NSSA database, eliminating many tasks in the registration process and avoiding the misspelling of competitor names and their associated information (classifications, concurrents, etc.). Mike Quigley did a great job handling the shoot-offs.

The Friday Doubles event drew 26 competitors. Two Juniors claimed top honors. Jared Miller won the Doubles Championship with the lone 96, and 18-year-old Junior, Gabriel Anderson, won the runner-up title. The Doubles class winners were Tadd Stanton (A – another Junior), Bruce Pearson (B), Jeffrey Schneider (C), and Art Peterson (D).

MSSA President Randal Baker hosted the annual year-end meeting, noting that 33 Minnesota shooters posted 100-straight scores to date, and first-100 straights were posted by Justin Staebell, Brodie Schaefer, and Randy Vaske.

David Baker posted the first perfect score of the tournament in Saturday’s 12-gauge event. Gabriel Anderson’s 99 claimed his second runner-up title. Class winners were Matt Robinson, Jared Miller, Tim Olson, Erin Quaranta, Emily Wraspir, and Jon Parranto in classes AA through E.

David Baker’s 99 won the 20-gauge championship after a shoot-off with Tim Olson and senior veteran Don Tesch. Tim Olson took runner-up. Bob Rick won class AA, followed by Chad Herrmann, Jared Miller, Don Tesch, and Roger Carlson in classes A through D.

Jacob Boerboon won Sunday’s 28-gauge event by posting an uncontested 100, his first-ever perfect score in the 28-gauge. A lone 99 posted by Jared Miller earned the runner-up spot. AA-1 went to David Baker, and Randy Vaske, Tim Olson, Bart Ott, and Mark Cameron won classes A through D.

Jared Miller posted the lone 99 in the .410-Bore event to win the gun championship outright. Dan Kampa posted a 96 to win the runner-up spot, followed by David Baker (A), Tim Olson (B), Erin Quaranta (C), and Jon Parranto (D). Mike Quigley made Minnesota state history by shooting (and breaking) his 200,000th registered target.

Jared Miller’s 393 won the High Over All Championship over runner-up David Baker, who posted a 390. Jared Miller also won the High All Around Championship. HAA runner-up was Jacob Boerboon.

The MSSA thanks Mark Cameron and his staff at the Minneapolis Gun Club for hosting another excellent state championship.

– Contributed by Ronald Chandler

Jared Miller
David Baker

Ray Harding Open at Fredericksburg Rod & Gun

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Fredericksburg Rod & Gun Club held the first Ray Harding Open (a rename of the Battlefield Open) on July 15-16 to honor Ray Harding who gave so much to Virginia skeet during his life.  Ray shot skeet for 50 years, was president of the VSSA for two terms, was skeet chairman and NSSA Director for 20 years, and served on the club’s Board of Directors for most of his skeet career.

HOA CH Conor Stephens and Lady HOA Lindsay Coffman

Photos of Ray were displayed and shooters talked about him all weekend. Ray had a hobby of carving and painting intricate wooden pins of birds, dogs, fish and grouse feathers. Each gun champion at the shoot received a grouse tail feather pin as a memento of the shoot and Ray.

The first shooter to be “pinned” was Fred Wood, who won doubles. Conor Stephens was 12-gauge champ with the only 100 of the weekend, followed by 28-gauge champ Dick Weinley and 20-gauge champ Gil Traore, both with blistering 99s. Conor repeated as .410 champ, but the pins were “one to a customer.” James Reinhold was presented with the fifth pin in the box for his fine shooting (doubles third, 12-gauge A1, 28-gauge runner-up, 20-gauge A1, .410 third, and HOA runner-up, even as he refereed after each time he shot in the hot and humid weather. His HOA score was his personal best, just six birds behind HOA Champion Conor Stephens.

Judy Harding took delight in presenting pins to the champs and noted she had found more (of Ray’s carvings that she can present next year.

– Contributed by Judy Harding and Becky Myers

Judy Harding 12GA CH Conor Stephens
20ga CH Gil Traore

Judy Harding and Doubles CH Fred Wood

3F Summer Classic

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The 3F Club in Lewiston, New York, hosted the 3F Summer Classic on July 14-16. The 3F continues to host one of the top money shoots in New York with over $3000 added money. The shoot had 45 participants with two squads from our Canadian colleagues, and it was nice to see them back. The weather for the weekend was great with sunny blue skies and light winds and HOT except for the 30-minute microburst Saturday afternoon when some got pretty wet.

Friday’s doubles event resulted in a lone 99 by Canada’s Charlie Peacock for the championship. Mat Kelley took runner-up with a 97. Class winners were Steve Wood (AA), Clay Tietjen (A), Mike Smith (B), Ron Casella (C) and Scott Daniels (D).

Saturday’s morning 12-gauge event posted a first registered 100 straight by Mike Smith, along with straights by Steve Wood and Veteran Ricky Laurito. When the dust settled, Wood emerged as champion with Laurito runner-up. Class winners were Kody Hoth (AA), Clay Tiejen (A), Mike Smith (B), Dan Nichols (D) and Weston Nichols (E).

After the lunch break sponsored by Ventry’s Pizza, shooters took to the fields to start the 28-gauge event. Four 100’s were posted and another first 100 straight by Jon Zywiczynski, along with Matt Lenehan, Jeff Ventry and Steve Wood. After a lengthy shoot-off, Wood captured the title, with Ventry runner-up. Class winners were Jon Zywiczynski (AA), Matt Lenehan (A), Fritz Ochab (B), Paul Barnas (C) and Zeljko Blazic (D).

On Saturday night, shooters and guests were treated to cocktails, hors d’oeuvre, shrimp, pulled pork, Natural Link locally made Italian sausage, fruit trays, and dessert table.

Sunday had ideal weather conditions for the day. The lone 100 in the 20-gauge was posted by Charlie Peacock, who took the championship, followed by four 99’s shooting for runner-up. Matt Kelly, Kody Hoth, Mike Smith and Jon Zywiczynski. Kody emerged as runner-up. Class winners were Mat Kelley (AA), Jon Zywiczynski (A), Aaron Burnett (B), Owen Cooley (C) and Weston Nichols (D).

Everyone’s favorite, the .410 event, posted two fine 98’s by Jon Zywiczynski and Charlie Peacock with Jon outlasting Peacock to take the champion spot. Class winners were Jeff Ventry (AA), Matt Lenehan (A), Johnny Sibani (B), Paul Barnas (C) and Weston Nichols (D).

The HOA crown came down to a pair of 395’s and a battle of the borders: New York’s Jon Zywiczynski and Ontario’s Charlie Peacock. After they squared off, Jon Zywiczynski managed to fend off Charlie to take the HOA Crown. Remaining class winners were Steve Wood (AA), Matt Lenehan (A), Aaron Burnett (B), Owen Cooley (C) and Zeljko Blazic (D).

Thanks to our key sponsors this year, we were able to keep our traditional added money payouts in these uncertain times. Sponsors were Duane Manth and family, Dawson Enterprises (Ammo and Reloading Supplies, Massillon, OH), Cambria Game Farms, Niagara River Fishing Station, and the Ventry family for the .410 blind. Without the generosity of our sponsors, the shoot would not happen. Thanks to our referees who did an excellent job and had the stamina to hang in there in the heat, and to and all our volunteers who made this shoot possible: Mike Clarke, Fredo Vanoni, Dave Sobiegray, Jeff Ventry, Mat Kelley, Kody Hoth, and Aaron Burnett; Jackie Ventry and Lisa Kelley for running the shoot and dinner table. Thank you to all the shooters for making our event a growing success. Please join us again next year and bring along your new shooting friends.

– Contributed by Dave Sobiegray

WorldWide Summer Classic

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Many years ago, Gordon MacRae sang “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin” in the musical “Oklahoma!”, and indeed it was on August 6 as the Victor Rod and Gun Club in Victor, New York, hosted the seventh annual WorldWide Summer Classic. The weather was as near perfect as it gets in Western New York, with light winds and temperatures in the 70’s. This 12-gauge and doubles one-day registered skeet shoot, with $3000 in added money, is highly favored by shooters in the region. 

The shooters started to arrive for registration early in the morning. Shooter registration was fast and efficient for the 45 shooters due to a new, streamlined pre-registration process. The shooters were in very good spirits as they gathered in the pavilion. They enjoyed catching up with old friends while making new friends. The machines were dialed in to throw great targets against a great background. Everyone was eager to start the competition. The freshly cut and trimmed fields awaited the shooters.

The morning started with the 12-gauge event. Both Christopher Dole and David Cooley crushed all 100 targets for the only perfect scores of the day. After a brief shoot-off, Dole emerged as 12- gauge champ with David becoming the runner-up. Bill Kalwas and Mat Kelley took their scores of 99 into a shoot-off for AA class 1st and 2nd. Kalwas emerged as class AA1 after a lengthy and exciting shoot-off. Chad Seelbinder had the lone 99 score in B class to claim B1. Mike Haff and Victoria Ferchaw also had scores of 99. Mike emerged the winner of the shoot-off over Victoria to claim A1. Rounding out the other 12-gauge winners were Walt Aldrich (C) and John Yackiw (D).

At midday, the kitchen crew prepared a great lunch, much to the delight of the hungry crowd.  For the afternoon doubles competition, the winds remained relatively calm. Owen Cooley and Bill Kalwas each broke 99 targets. Kalwas won a short shoot-off to claim the doubles title, with Owen Cooley taking the runner-up spot. Doubles class winners were David Cooley (AA), Scott Janowski (A), Jeff Ventry (B), Terry Prem (C) and Jack Mutchler (D).

For the ninth year in a row, a shoot-off was not required to crown the HOA champ. Bill Kalwas bested the field with a superb 198×200 score. This was Bill’s second HOA Champion title in a row. David Cooley and his son Owen shot off for HOA runner-up. This father-son match-up drew the interest of the crowd. David was able to beat Owen after a spirited shoot-off, with Owen taking A1. Owen is a Junior shooter and a rising skeet star. We will be seeing him a lot on future winners’ stands. The remaining HOA class winners were Kody Hoth (AA), Dan Berry (B), Jack Mutchler (C) and William DiSalle (D).

Everything ran smoothly from the registration process through the shoot-offs due to the tireless efforts of the members of the Victor Rod and Gun Club.

We cannot thank Rick Simmonds enough for generously sponsoring this shoot. Rick is a long-standing member of VRGC and an avid shooter. We also want to thank Chief Referee Jim Thompson and his crew of referees, who did a fantastic job as always. Most importantly, we would like to thank the shooters. Without shooters willing to travel from across the region to participate, we could not have a successful shoot. We are very fortunate to have such a passionate group of skeet shooters in this part of the country. We look forward to another great shoot in 2024.

– Contributed by Wes Bailey

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