Clay Target Nation

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

Schmidt Takes The Rock With 400×400

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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

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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

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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

Restart Open at Kern County (CA) Gun Club

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Who does’t want a “Restart” once in a while? And the beginning of each year, New Year’s, just begs for one. Thus it was decided that’s what everyone needed at Kern County Gun Club in January. Organizers knew it was touch and go on the weather when they set the date. But Saint Peter stepped up, and in keeping with California weather, the conditions were fantastic.

HOA Chili Rob McCormick and Ty Younts
HOA Chili Rob McCormick and Ty Younts

The format? A one-day, two-gun tournament comprised of 12 and 20 gauges, along with an HOA.

Generous sponsors have added nice loot for the winners as well: flats of shells for gun and class champions, engraved crystal trophies for HOA winners, and special awards for Lady and Junior champions.

Cliff Bolt has done a fantastic job promoting the Kern County events, and the Restart Open was no exception. The maximum capacity of 50 shooters was filled. Shooters from as far away as Montana and Minnesota were in attendance. In addition to local Bakersfield area shooters, Southern California was also well represented. Everyone did their best to be tuned up and ready for competition. A nice group of shooters convened at the club on Friday for last-minute practice. Good idea, as it turned out; you would need to shoot well to win.

Led by Jon Cunningham, the club was in top-notch form. Dean, Jeff, and Jeffrey Rouell, Jr. put a shine on the property. Not a thread was out of place. The referees were spot on and cheery. If you haven’t experienced the Kern County hospitality, you owe yourself a visit to the club. You won’t be disappointed.

Squadding was organized by Rick Douglass, and Hall of Famer Hal Stewart had the computers teed up well in advance. A handful of folks were registered on Friday. Then beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, the lovely and gracious Tina Stephens took the helm, registering shooters and doing the administrative tasks. Alongside Tina was trainee Misty, who turned out to be a quick study. The volunteers at skeet shoots are the backbone of the sport. Be sure to say “thank you” to those tireless workers at every event.

The 12 gauge commenced with the first flight at 8:30. There were plenty of good scores but no hundie. The door was still open when the second rotation took the fields at 10:00. The stars lined up for one competitor, Rob McCormick, breaking his first-ever 100 straight. Rob is a SoCal celebrity, one of the generous sponsors of the sport. Chili Rob as he is known, has been at it for a few years, nipping at the straight a few times. Congratulations Rob, well deserved. And the score held up, the sole perfect of the gauge.

There was plenty of good shooting: two 99s, a 98, and seven 97s fought for the scraps. In the end it was McCormick at gun champ, Cliff Bolt runner-up, Ty Younts AA1, Mike Archer A1, Harold Jeffers B1, Hal Stewart C1, and Ron Schaefer D1. Sean Collier was the Junior champ, and Kathryn Friesen was Lady champ. One gun down, one to go.

Did I mention that lunch was included in the program? And what a lunch it was. The West Coast famous Buoni BBQ was on hand — BBQ pork loin, BBQ beans, salad and sides. The only downside was the food coma following the feast. Thank you to Frank, Lori, and Dominic for feeding us. What a treat.

Immediately following lunch, the first rotation of 20 gauge shooters took the field. Conditions were still great and high scores followed. This time it was another SoCal shooter who stepped up. Hall of Famer and National Director Keith Phelps cleared the field with his 100 straight. He was followed by three 99s and three 98s. After shoot-offs, it ended up Phelps as gun champ, Keith Key runner-up, Buoni AA1, local shooter Tracy Edwards A1, Chili Rob McCormick B1, Ron Schaefer C1, and Joe Kerchinski D1. Again, Sean Collier was the Junior champ and Kathryn Friesen was Lady champ.

Drama was developing on the HOA front. Three shooters were in the hunt, followed by a couple who needed help from the leaders. Dominic Buoni has been whipping just about everyone’s tails, so he sort of had a bullseye on his back. McCormick was only down two targets but finished early, having to wait on results. Younts was also right there with the other two. It was really anyone’s game. When the dust settled, McCormick’s 198 captured the HOA title. Buoni and Younts shot off their 197s for runner-up, with Younts prevailing. Buoni took AA1, followed by Keith Key A1, Phelps B1, Shaefer C1, and Kerchinski D1.

Guess who the Junior and Lady Champs were? You got it, Collier and Friesen. In addition to the perfect scores, there were several personal bests during the day. Congratulations and great shooting, everyone.

The one-day tournaments have been well received at Kern County Gun Club. Bolt and Cunningham have been instrumental in promoting and supporting the skeet program. The results are obvious. After all, people vote with their feet. At this event alone, five new NSSA members were signed up. It’s satisfying to have a full shoot and see smiling faces. Thank you, guys. Please keep up the good work.

— Contributed by Chris Baker

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