Clay Target Nation

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

Tom Cutlip Memorial

By

The summer of 2022 saw West Virginia Clays of Charleston lose one of its favorite sons, Thomas Cutlip. Tom had been a long-time member and officer and friend to the skeet shooting community in West Virginia and the surrounding area. He is sorely missed. The weekend of June 3, 2023, the first Tom Cutlip Memorial shoot came to fruition. 

West Virginia and the surrounding area is very active in the Scholastic Clay Target Program, and this weekend was the first registered targets for 11 young shooters from Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. Fourteen-year-old Carter Shafer took C1 in the 12-gauge with a 94, D1 in the 20-gauge with 94 and HOA C1. Triple-Sub Tyler Dahse was 12-gauge E1 with a score of 93. Sub-Junior Alexandra McGrew was C1 in the 20-gauge with 90, C2 in the 28-gauge with 89 and won her first shoot-off in .410-bore for D2.

The adults shot well also, with Joe Charles taking 12-gauge gun champ with 99 and 20-gauge gun champ with 97. Bob Estep was 28-gauge gun champ with a fine 95 on his first registered targets. Scott Sparks took the .410-bore with 92. A special thanks to Jill Taylor, shoot chairwoman, and Brenda Horne for the best food on the planet. With any luck, this will be a recurring event in honor of a fine gentleman, Thomas Cutlip.

– Contributed by David Ashworth

Photo Gallery: John Teresi Shoot

By

The John Trees Shoot was held at Stockton Trap & Skeet Club on April 15, 2023. With 38 shooters competing, Anthony Juarez took home HOA Champ, followed by Jack Campbell in RU, and Rocky Romo in third.

Click on a photo to enlarge.

All photos taken by Shakib Akbari

Buckeye Classic

By

HOA Champion – Jack Grehan

Skeet shooting is back in full swing at Wright-Patterson Rod & Gun Club. The club, located in Dayton, Ohio, overlooks the Huffman Prairie Flying Field where the Wright Brothers perfected their controlled, powered flight ability. Just beyond the open field is Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. While shooting, you may get a flyover from a C-17 Globemaster and other aircraft. With nothing but blue skies, this gun club has one of the best backgrounds you can find. The fields are lined with trees just beyond station 4 on all five fields, providing ample shade on stations 3,4, and 5 during the hot summer days. This contributes to an enjoyable experience while shooting great targets thrown by Promatic machines.

The Buckeye Challenge, dating back to the 90s, is one of the club’s annual shooting events scheduled in the summer, adding to its appeal. While participation has dwindled in the past few years, the Wright Flyers Skeet Association is enthusiastic to bring back its shine! At this year’s event on July 29-31, the shoot boasted 27 12-gauge shooters and a total of 19 4-gun shooters. Shooters joined the club from multiple states including Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and New York.

Friday began with a comfortable breeze, clear skies, and an impressive group of shooters competing in the doubles event. Andrew Winders was crowned Doubles Champion, posting a 98. Class Champions were Bruce Christian (AA), Peter Bogdon (A), Connard Bailey (B), Andrew Smith (C), and Connor Picard (D).

For the next 2 days, shooters enjoyed impeccable weather, allowing for some impressive shooting. The 12-gauge event was won by Jack Grehan with a 100. Class winners were Bruce Christian (AA), Ryan Melcher (A), Peter Bodgdon (B), Andrew Smith (C), Mickey Moore (D), and Bill Bush (E). The 20-gauge was also won by Jack Grehan with a solid 100, posting his first 200×200. Pat McCartney also shot his first 100 in 20-gauge but, more importantly, his first 100 registered ever! He was able to walk away with the A-class title. Additional winners were Kevin McDonald (AA), Robert Palmer (B), Mickey Moore (C), and Bella Earley (D).

On Sunday, Jack Grehan continued his streak of 100s, posting yet another milestone with his first 300×300 and taking the 28-gauge title. Class winners were Bruce Christian (AA), Peter Bogdon (A), Pat McCartney (B), Mike Picard (C), and Bella Earley (D). Finally, the .410 bore event came along and Jack Grehan posted a 99. He was so close, and you could hear the squad lose their breath as a low 6 continued to fly unbroken. But he finished strong and posted an impressive weekend. However, his title reign was put to an end by Tom Davis from Kentucky who also posted a 99 in the .410 event and won the shoot-off against Jack Grehan who took A-class. Class winners included Bruce Christian (AA), Greg Volz (B), Pat McCartney (C), and Connor Picard (D). HOA Champion Jack Grehan had a successful weekend and earned his impressive score of 399×400. HOA Class champs were Kevin McDonald (AA), Tom Davis (A), Peter Bogdon (B), Mike Picard (C), Conor Picard (D), and Bella Earley (E).

We would like to thank Outdoors Environments, Inc, Briley Mfg., and SGS Performance Eyewear for their sponsorship of the shoot. We look forward to upcoming years and are eager to welcome registered shooters from all over the world! Be sure to visit the NSSA website for updates on next year’s Buckeye Challenge.

– Contributed by Andrew Winders

Skyline Open at Skyline Skeet and Trap

By

The Skyline Skeet and Trap Club in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania, hosted its 14th annual Skyline Open on July 8-10. Skyline is a privately-owned shooting facility. The weather was beautiful all weekend. 

The Skyline Open is a typical 5-gun shoot that begins with doubles on Friday and ends with the ,410 on Sunday. The Mankanzana Challenge is a four-gun handicap event with a grand prize of a seven-day hunt in South Africa or $1,000 cash. For the fifth consecutive year, the Mankanzana Challenge was held in conjunction with the Skyline Open.

Clay Tietjen’s HOA score of 384 was high for the Open, John Nichols took Open HAA honors and Debra Meade’s 367 made her Lady HOA Champion. 22 shooters participated. Tony Johnson won the Challenge (20 participants) and chose the cash prize.

Eleven shooters shot doubles. Ethan Call finished with a 98 and was Champion. Class winners were Dan Nichols (AA), Ed Call (A), Jackson Nichols (B), Doug Goodman (C) and Weston Nichols (D).

The 12-gauge was shot on Friday and Saturday. Ed Call shot a 99 and emerged as 12-gauge champion. Class winners were Doug Paddock (A), Tietjen (B), Johnson (C, after winning a shoot-off of 98s with Bob Griffith Sr.), John Quealy (D) and Jackson Nichols (E).

The 20-gauge event was shot on Saturday. Ed Call ran them and was outright champion. Class first places included Tietjen (AA), Doug Paddock (A), Ethan Call (B), Johnson (C) and Dave Pickles (D).

The 28 was shot on Sunday morning. Bob Griffith Jr.’s 97 was good for champion. Dave Cook was A1, Steve Lucas B1, Bob Nichols C1, and George Gleich D1.

The .410-bore shooting took place on Sunday afternoon. Johnson’s 94 made him gun champ. Class winners were Paddock (A), Bob Griffith Jr. (B), Lucas (C) and Quealy (D, after winning a shoot-off of 88s with John Nichols).

The Mankanzana hunt includes four trophy animals (impala, blesbuck, springbuck and warthog). Fran Bussiahn, professional hunter and owner of Mankanzana Safaris, and Theresa Call put this grand prize together for Skyline’s shoot. There were 20 entrants in this event. Final scores were based on their four-gun (HOA) totals plus a class-based handicap in each gun. The results were close with Tony Johnson winning with a total HOA, including handicap, of 399; in hot pursuit and tied at 396 were Dave Cook, Stephen Lucas and Clay Tietjen. Johnson chose the $1,000 option for his prize.

A special 28-gauge Lewis Class event was sponsored by Debra Meade in memory of her loving companion Bill Straub who passed away in 2021. The $150 prize money went to Bob Griffith Jr., Lincoln Nichols and John Nichols ($50 each).

The two-man blind event winners (based on 12-gauge results) were Ethan Call and Bob Griffith Jr. (first) and Bob Nichols and Tony Johnson (second).

Three generations of the Nichols family, from Addison, NY, shot this shoot. Bob, the grandfather and Dan and John, his sons, shot, as did Weston and Lincoln (Dan’s sons) and Jackson (John’s son).

Theresa Call handled office duties (registration, score posting, etc.). Ed and Ethan Call helped keep things humming outside (filling houses, mechanic’s duties, etc). Special thanks to Kalan Knickerbocker for pulling and scoring with help from shooters, Ed and Ethan Call, Hunter Dickerman, Clay Tietjen and Deb Meade. Special kudos go to Hunter Dickerman, who now lives in Florida but drove back to Skyline to help at his former home field and see everyone. His dad Steve served as grill chef all weekend – thank you, sir!

The club was looking great, reflecting a lot of hard work by the entire Call family. As usual, the food was abundant and delicious all weekend and included steaks and lasagna on Saturday night and Skyline’s famous pies. Much thanks to Theresa and Mattea Call for the food.

– Contributed by George Gleich

 

Stockton Classic at Stockton Trap and Skeet Club

By

Beautiful Northern California weather did not disappoint for the first Stockton Classic held July 15-17 at the gorgeous Stockton Trap and Skeet Club. Stockton’s 10 perfectly designed fields, clear, blue background and shady park provided an environment like no other. Staff and volunteers did a tremendous job hosting this event, and our wonderful sponsorship provided ample added money to entice shooters to fly in from around the country.

The sold-out event started Friday afternoon with doubles. Three perfect scores were posted in this event. After a lengthy shoot-off, winners were Paul Giambrone (champion),  Dave Anderson (runner-up) and Craig Parsons (third).

The main championship began Saturday morning with the 12-gauge event. There were eight straight 100s. It was an exciting moment when local favorite Rocky Romo (champion) outlasted Luke Morgan (runner-up), in a multi-box shoot-off to claim the championship. Another local favorite, Joe Fry, claimed third overall in this impressive field.

The 20-gauge event kept the excitement going with 10 perfect 100s. After another multi-box shoot-off, Paul Giambrone (champion) took the top of the podium. Central California native Daniel Bock’s strong performance earned him the runner-up spot, and Clay Baldwin made his first podium in third place. Lauren Burge claimed her second Lady Champion of the weekend with her perfect 100.

Four shooters still had perfect scores by end of day Saturday, foreshadowing a close race for the HOA Championship. They Included Clay Baldwin, Daniel Bocks, Luke Morgan and Craig Parsons.

Saturday night dinner in the park was sponsored by the club. A local taco truck was brought in with all-you-can-eat tacos and beverages. Shooters socialized into the warm evening and relaxed before the final events on Sunday.

The next morning opened in reverse order, starting out with .410. Five 99s topped the score sheets in the little gun event. A strong shoot-off brought Joe Fry back to his second podium and first championship of the weekend. Runner-up was Andy Peter, with Kevin Monteleone taking third.

It was anyone’s game going into Sunday afternoon’s showdown in 28-gauge. Five straight 100s set up an epic battle for the podium. Two local men made it to the end, with Central California’s Daniel Bocks taking champion, Craig Parsons taking runner-up and Bay Area’s Jack Campbell locking in third. A highlight of this event was Caroline George and her impressive 100 straight, making her Lady Champion.

The perfect 400 eluded us for the weekend, but Craig Parsons’ 398 was strong enough to capture the HOA title outright. Joe Fry locked in the runner-up spot with a 397, and Clay Baldwin brought in third with a score of 396.

Concurrent HOA winners included Lauren Burge (Lady), Joe Fry (Triple-Sub), Clay Baldwin (Sub-Sub-Senior), Andy Peter (Sub-Senior), Craig Parsons (Senior), Bill Marble (Veteran), Josh Deburger (Military), Robert Ennes (Retired Military), Water Cheng (Military Veteran) and Sean Gibson (First Responder).

Thanks again to all of our sponsors and volunteers who made this such a great event. Special thanks to all of the shooters who traveled from around the country to support this shoot. We hope everyone enjoyed themselves and will return for an even greater event next year.

– Contributed by Brad Erickson

Skeet

Sporting Clays

National Shooting
Complex

Museum &
Hall of Fame

About