Atlantic Provinces

Happy New Year from the Atlantic Provinces. It’s time to start looking toward the 2020 target year.

Most trapshooters here take a break during our winter months, but some do shoot year-round. The winter league at the Petitcodiac (NB) SC is popular with local shooters and runs from Jan. 4 to May 9. You will also find weekly shooting at the Moncton (NB) GC; the Annapolis Valley SSC near Kentville, NS; and the Highland GC in Yarmouth, NS.

Have plans to go stateside in 2020 to attend a Satellite Grand, the Eastern Zone or the Grand? Make sure you complete the most recent ATF Form 6 NIA application. Several shooters have reported to me that they have had their applications returned for either using an older form or being completed incorrectly. Read the instructions carefully and send it in early to avoid delays. E-mail is the quickest and easiest method of submitting your application. Even though not required, I suggest submitting the ATA Canadian invitation letter that is available on the ATA website by logging in to your My ATA account. Keep a copy of this invitation attached to your approved ATF Form 6 NIA. It may make your customs processing and entry into the U.S. easier.

The Atlantic Provinces November Shooter Profile subject is Paul Bailey—or Old Man Bailey, as we call him. Paul was born in Brier Island, NS, in 1933. He’s been married to Yvonne (from Bell Island, NL) for 62 years, and they have raised one son and three daughters. During his career as a radio operator with the Canadian Air Force, Paul (and the Bailey family later in life) has been to the high Arctic, Germany and all across Canada. After his 27-year military career, Paul became a patrol officer with the federal Department of Fisheries and Ocean. He has also been a fisherman since he was old enough to go lobstering and cod fishing with his father. Paul was a skeet shooter during his time in the Air Force and started shooting trap in 2001, only after he retired to Newfoundland to be closer to his daughters. Paul started shooting ATA in 2004 and has been traveling with us to shoots ever since. On Paul’s schedule for 2020 are the Southern Grand, Canadian Trapshooting Championships and Atlantic Provinces ATA Provincial. You can read all about Paul on our website.

The 2020 Atlantic Provinces ATA Provincial Shoot returns to the Highland GC near Yarmouth, NS, Sept. 3-6. If you like seafood and picturesque landscapes and want to experience East Coast hospitality, then this is the shoot for you. Stay tuned to our website as shoot details become available over the coming months.

For more information on the APTA, feel free to contact me at [email protected] or visit shootatlantic.com.

Andrea Bassan

ATA Delegate

Connecticut

Greetings, shooters, and happy New Year. I hope all had a merry holiday season, and those who hunt enjoyed the outdoors with success this fall. I would like to congratulate those who made the state team and achieved high averages. Target requirements: singles, 1,500; handicap, 1,000; doubles, 700.

State team—Dave Bicknell, .9499; Tony Lobo, .9338; Mike Hamlin, .9227; Robert Cooper, .9215; Robert Witter, .9211; Brian Scussel, .9160; Joseph Wheeler, .9186; John Russo, .9142; Hani Hafez, .9172; George Ware, .8775.

Entering high all-around averages were Bicknell, .9499, and Noelle Feucht, .8591.

2019 high averages: Singles—men, Bicknell, .9835; Lady I, Feucht, .9462; Lady II, Cheryll Pittera, .9256; sub-junior, Noah McCoy, .9130; junior, no qualifier; junior gold, Mike Hamlin, .9700; sub-veteran, Scussel, .9730; veteran, Wheeler, .9734; senior vet, Cooper, .9735. Handicap—men, Bicknell, .9192; Lady I, Feucht, .8379; Lady II, Anne Freestone, .8483; sub-junior, McCoy, .8531; junior, no qualifier; junior gold, Hamlin, .8782; sub-veteran, Scussel, .8900; veteran, Hafez, .8874; senior vet, Frank Morton, .8867. Doubles—men, Bicknell, .9469; Lady I—Feucht, .7932; Lady II, Pittera, .7580; sub-junior, McCoy, .8376; junior, no qualifier; junior gold, Hamlin, .9200; sub-veteran, Witter, .9217; veteran, Hafez, .8895; senior vet, Cooper, .9083.

I will endeavor to keep you posted on current events in the ATA and CTA. Please send me a note with any club news or winter league highlights. Here’s hoping for winter to pass quickly, and I’m looking forward to spring and trapshooting.

Cheryll Pittera

ATA Delegate

New Jersey

Happy New Year, everyone! A shout-out to faithful reader Mary Ann Lehmann.

As I wrote in the December issue, Sunday’s singles during the fifth President’s Shoot was won by Scott Kalnas’ 100. It was his first century. Congrats.

This is a reminder that our 2020 New Jersey State Shoot will be ending on the last Sunday in May. It will be May 28-31.

The 2020 ATA Gun Club Raffle tickets have arrived. This year the ATA will be raffling off a Kolar Prestige Trap LP Combo during the Grand American in Sparta, IL, this August; tickets are $20 each. The proceeds of the raffle go into the ATA Gun Club Fund, which donates monies to deserving gun clubs throughout the country. Tony Pietrofitta and I have tickets, so please help by buying one or two.

The Langhorne (PA) R&GC held their annual Shoot for Sight by the local Lions Club Nov. 3. As in the past, this year a large contingent of New Jersey shooters were on hand. Doug Bracher led the field with 192, Carlos Gomes took A with 190, Steve Siegert was A runnerup with 189, Ernie Onesti took B runnerup with 184, D class was won by Dick Nagy with 186, and John Furman took D runnerup with 175. Jack Godwin won senior veteran with 188. Nice shooting, guys.

Steve Ottrando reported that Mallard TC in Monroe Township held their 14th annual Thanksgiving Pie Shoot on a rainy Sunday, Nov. 24. Despite the rain, shooters filled 35 squads and won 36 pies that were purchased from Country Gardens Farmers Market Bakery.

On a sad note, Vincent Filardo of Manchester Township and formerly of Upper Saddle River, passed away Oct. 16; he was 89. Born in Calabria, Italy, Vinny came to this country in 1949, settling in Hackensack. He attended Fairleigh Dickenson University of Teaneck, graduating with a civil engineering degree. Prior to retiring, he was a civil engineer and co-owner of C&F Construction Co. Vinny enjoyed target shooting and joined the nearby North Jersey Gun Club in Fairfield. He became an ATA life member in 1977. During his shooting career, he registered 142,275 singles, 72,000 handicap and 39,450 doubles targets. Vinny, prior to selling it, had an extensive shop at his winter residence at the Silver Dollar, where he worked on models. He was a member of the Aeronautic Model Association. He was predeceased by his wife Mary in 2012 plus his four siblings, brothers Patrick and Paul and sisters Angelica Zagari and Rose Artuso. He is survived by his daughters, Dr. Josephine Filardo and husband Andrew Burns, Judy Ann Wehking and husband Gregory, and Kathy Filardo; son Vincent and wife Susan; 11 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Arthur W. Goodman, of West Orange, passed away Nov. 16; he was 94. Artie was born and raised in East Orange. After graduating high school, he joined the Marine Corps to serve his country during World War II. Following the war, he continued his education at Princeton University, where he graduated with an engineering degree. Art joined his father Herman in the family business, Goodman Sales Company in North Arlington, and as his two sons Howard and Peter grew up, they joined Art in running the company. Artie joined the ATA and became a life member in 1992. He was also a member of the North Jersey CTC in Fairfield. He enjoyed all kinds of shooting: trap, sporting clays, bunker, live pigeons and wobble trap. He enjoyed wobble trap so much that when the club was going to purchase a new trap machine, Artie donated the extra money to purchase a wobble trap instead. He would tell us of his exploits shooting in Australia while visiting his daughter. He would also show up at the club with another new shotgun and make critical adjustments to it on the line while shooting, after missing a target. He was a very generous person. When I was president of NJSTA back in 1996-2000 and wanted to improve the state shoot program by changing the format and selling ads to cover the cost of the printing, I solicited ads from club members who ran companies. Artie was the first to take a full-page ad and continued doing it for decades. He will be sadly missed. Art was predeceased by his wife Ruth Handler in 2017. He is survived by his sons Peter and Howard, daughter Donna and three grandchildren. Contributions can be made to Wounded Warrior Project in his name.

If you have an idea for an article or a question, I can be reached at 732-546-7910 or [email protected].

Joe Sissano

ATA Delegate

Ontario

Greetings from Ontario, Canada! At the time I am preparing this article, I am scrambling to look after legal work and get ready for our winter Executive Committee meetings in Sparta, which will be held in mid December.

There is not much I can report on from the province of Ontario at this point, other than to say that our new OPTA board continues to work hard for the shooters under the leadership of president Bert Blackburn. Neville Henderson, after many years of hard work and service to the board, has retired, and all of us have a debt of gratitude for his leadership.

I wish to remind our shooters and clubs that our Delegate team and category Delegate teams will now be a little different. They are now going to recognize all eight special age-based categories, and there will be 10 placements on this team. This is a more accurate reflection of the age demographics of our Ontario shooters who attend our shoots. The non age-based shooters will have a team composed of five members. Dominic Gitto has volunteered to assist me in helping to collate and tabulate the points for these teams. I want to thank Beau Douglas for his assistance over many years.

I wish the best of the new year to everyone as you get ready for taking in some of the major Satellite Grands that are scheduled this winter and spring, if you are fortunate enough to be able to travel south of the border.

Paul Shaw

ATA Eastern Zone Vice President

Pennsylvania

Following up on the 2019 target year, the ATA has released the lists of target totals thrown by each ATA club, as well as the targets thrown by each state’s ATA clubs. Pennsylvania clubs threw 4,383,275 registered targets last year, good enough for the third-high total in the association, behind only Illinois and Ohio. This represents 7.8% of the total targets thrown in the ATA and is an increase from 2018 by 46,325, when Pennsylvania clubs threw 7.6% of the ATA’s targets.

The top five clubs in Pennsylvania all threw more than 100,000 targets each. Leading the way was Bradford GC with 208,700, followed by North End R&GC with 158,100, Bedford Co. SC with 129,975, Valley G&CC with 119,425, and Ruffsdale GC with 118,825. Congratulations to the above clubs as well as all clubs and volunteers throughout Pennsylvania.

Last year the PSSA threw 2,462,475 targets, a slight increase from 2018’s 2,446,350. Again, this places PSSA in third, behind only the World S&RC and the Cardinal Center.

Through the months of January and February, Pennsylvania has 11 clubs hosting 38 shoots: Western Pennsylvania SC, Flourtown-Sandy Run SA, Lower Pottsgrove SA, Silver Lake R&GC, Stringtown SC, Keystone SA, Hallstead Great Bend R&GA, Swamp Creek R&GC, Millvale SC, Bedford Co. SC and Waynesboro F&G. You can find the dates in Trap & Field and on the ATA website at www.shootata.com. Take the opportunity to support our PA clubs during the winter months.

It was brought to my attention that I missed one of our Keystone shooters when I listed the Grand American trophy winners. My apologies to Donald Weaver Jr. for omitting his class win in the Sterling Cut Glass Singles. Hopefully, he won’t forget about me at Sparta this year and make me walk home!

Steve Ross

ATA Alternate Delegate

Rhode Island

As we look back on the 2019 shooting season, I would like to recognize and congratulate our ATA All-American team members, state team members and high-average Rhode Island shooters.

Congratulations to Joyce Morris on a great 2019 shooting season and making the Lady II All-American team. Congratulations to John Federici on another outstanding shooting season, making the veteran All-American team.

Rhode Island high averages are singles, Ron Pedro, .9741; doubles, Federici, .9226; handicap, Jameson Smith, .8815; ladies’ singles, Sue Smith, .9435; ladies’ doubles, Sue Smith, .8540; ladies’ handicap, Linda Peckham, .8969; HOA, Federici, .9191; ladies’ HOA, Sue Smith, .8823.

Congratulations to members of the Rhode Island state team:

First team—John Federici, .9191; Ron Pedro, .9151; John M. Ruggieri, .9056; Louis DiPrete, .9011; Mike Jubin, .8973. Second team—Richard Riebi, .8864; Sue Smith, .8823; Davis Naylor, .8778; Dana Greatorex, .8726; Jameson Smith, .8683.

The annual awards banquet and election of officers meeting was held Oct 19. Elected as president, Mike Jaye; first VP, Dana Greatorex; second VP, John Ruggieri; secretary-treasurer, Barbara Jaye. Members of the board of directors: past president Joyce Morris, Greg Smith, Mike Jubin, Davis Naylor, John Shadoian, John A. Ruggieri and Matt Robinson. Thank you all for volunteering your time and efforts.

The 2020 RI Trapshooting Hall of Fame inductee is ATA life member Louis Palmieri. Over a long and accomplished shooting career, Lou registered 66,700 singles, 59,250 handicap and 47,050 doubles, totaling 173,050 targets. Lou won RI state Singles Championships in 1991, 1993 and 2005 and was handicap champion in 1998. Competing nationally, Lou won trophies at the Grand American, Eastern Zone and many state shoots. Lou is also a very accomplished skeet shooter, competing nationwide and winning state championships in 1972, 1978 and 1984. In 1980 he captured the United States .28-gauge title, and he was a member of the 1988 world five-man championship team. Lou served as president of the Warren R&GC and on the RITA Executive Committee and board of directors for many years. It is my pleasure to introduce my longtime friend. Congratulations, Lou!

The 2020 RI state shoot dates will be June 5-7 held at the Wallum Lake R&GC. Check out our website www.rhodeislandtrapshootingassoc.org for future shoot dates around the area. If any RI shooters have questions or want to report milestones or personal bests for this column, I can be reached on my cell at 401-474-0142 or e-mail [email protected].

Louis DiPrete

ATA Delegate

Alabama

Where has the time gone? Another year, and I hope it will be better than last year for everyone! Everyone got everything they wanted for Christmas, right?

In Alabama trapshooting has slowed down, but some of the clubs are still shooting, so go out and support them.

Please keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers. Without the men and women of our armed forces protecting this great country, we would not be able to enjoy this great sport. When you see a soldier, thank him or her for their service.

If you have any news to report or need my help, contact me at [email protected]. Keep loading ’em up and shooting well!

Wayne Sartwell

ATA Delegate

Mississippi

Happy New Year! Another year is upon us, and many of our trapper community are storing their guns for a few months to wait out the cold and generally unfavorable winter weather. Spring is a long way away at this point, but we Southerners can manage to sneak in a few good shooting days down here in the sunny South. We are fortunate that our climate allows shooting year-round. The trick is to take advantage of the good weather days and to forgo the bad ones.

As we move into 2020, we are seeing the advent of Scott Harrison’s new trapshooting venue down at Canemount in West Lorman. We are also fortunate to have Chip Worley’s resurrection of the Corinth GC in north Mississippi. Our Mississippi trappers are happy to have these two facilities and look forward to their addition to our trapshooting here in the Magnolia State.

Want to shoot some Mississippi trap? Check our schedules on the ATA website and come join us. Our two primary facilities are Capitol GC in Jackson and Coast R&PC down on the Gulf Coast at Biloxi. Both clubs offer year-round shooting and always welcome shooters from around the ATA.

Happy trappin’!

Jerry Tharp

ATA Delegate

Florida

Happy New Year, shooters! I hope everyone is rested and prepared as we enter the heart of our shooting season. During the next few months, January included, there will be a registered shoot somewhere in the state almost every day! We are very fortunate to have great gun clubs throwing ATA shoots, so I would love to see everyone stretch their legs and visit a club you might not have been to before. It’s a great way to make friends and ensure the prosperity of our sport by supporting the ATA, FTA, and our gun clubs. The full menu of registered shoots can be viewed at www.floridatrap.com.

On Nov. 7-10, the Silver Dollar SC hosted the FTA Fall Championships. Other than being a little breezy, the weather was borderline perfect, if I dare say it. Event winners were as follows: Event 1, Jorge Puignau; 2, C. P. Burke; 3, Donald Kerce; 4, James Shoemaker; 5, Dale Rasmussen; 6, Karen Harrington; 7, Dax DeMena; 8, Harry Franklin; 9, Christopher Molina. During Event 7, several team races were held, and those winners were: Gun Club, Markham Park; husband-wife, Thomas and Karen Harrington; Challenge, Scott Lauderback, James Cummings, Thomas Harrington, Karen Harrington and Tim Robinson.

The FTA also held a miss-and-out Friday evening, and much fun was to be had. The final three left standing were Bob Hutson, Jake Jacobs and DeMena. Bob skillfully took the title, and after what seemed like an eternity, a reduction in yardage resulted in Jake taking second place, followed by Dax in third. Many laughs and jokes made for a fun time. A detailed list of the winners can be viewed at the FTA website. I would like to thank the Silver Dollar and its staff for putting on a great shoot.

On Nov. 17 my wife and I attended a registered shoot at Imperial Polk Co. GC in Winter Haven. I’d like to thank the club and trap chairman Gary Brown for throwing a great shoot and putting on a fantastic lunch!

If anyone has any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected]. Until then, shoot straight!

Thomas Harrington

ATA Delegate

North Carolina

In 2019 we had four great shoots at the NCTA Homegrounds in Bostic. We did get sort of drowned at the state shoot in June, but the Southern Zone and Dixie Grand made up for it in spades.

We had close to a maximum number of shooters at the Dixie Grand, and the foggy weather and little threat of rain (which didn’t come) kept us from maxing out on Saturday’s Singles Championship. We hope to have two more fields for the 2020 shoot, if funds allow. I’ll keep you posted on progress.

The NCTA has been blessed with great folks who put in many volunteer hours at the homegrounds: Marty Hill, Jim and Jeri Wilson, Jim Hughes, Ron and Loretta Wilson, Dennis Taylor, Darvin and Donna Cornett, Brad Barnett, Tiffany Decker, Dan Johnson, Mel Pempsil, Tom Pitts, and the office staff. I’m sure I forgot someone, but thank you all for the hard work and effort you put into these shoots.

January is a good time to start planning the shoots you’ll attend. Support your local clubs, and we’d love to see you at the Hall of Fame Shoot this April at Bostic; lots of good accommodations close by and plenty of places to eat. Spend a few extra days and visit the area attractions, like Chimney Rock and the Biltmore House in Asheville.

You can check in at www.nctrap.com for state team and high-average lists—some new names and some old ones. Congratulations to all for some fine shooting in 2019.

If you have any questions or ATA issues you need resolved, please feel free to e-mail me at [email protected]. Shoot well, and I hope to see you all soon!

Bob Schultz

ATA Delegate

South Carolina

We had our state shoot planning meeting. The only real change this year is that we will shoot 200 targets on Friday in place of 300 that were shot last year. Reason being some of the shooters in the last event shot in failing light, and with shootoffs and the state meeting, it made for a long day.

In the attainment department, James Jacklin has reached 25,000 singles.

Thanks to Gary Olson, Gary Ferguson and myself, I am happy to announce our state team:

First team—captain Randy Knight, Gary Olson, Gary Ferguson, Kenny Inman, Jay Willson. Second team—Doug Stenback, Donnie Pigg, Ron Thompson, Jim Faber, Keith Truman. Categories—Jennifer Willson, Lady I; Teresa Knight, Lady II; Brodie Mahaffey, junior; Frank Ketron, sub-vet; Rodney Raines, veteran; Russ Middleton, senior vet.

Congrats to all, and added kudos to Teresa, All-American Lady II first team, and Randy Knight, All-American vet second team.

I hope you all have a great Christmas and you earn some yardage in the new year. Keep shooting.

Jim Faber

ATA Delegate

Tennessee

Welcome to 2020. First off I want to thank Rob Mathis for writing the last several monthly reports.

Let’s start the new year by announcing the 2020 state team. (AA after name indicates they are a member of the 2020 All-American team.) Congratulations to all.

Open—Robert Smith, .9647; Mitchel Loveless (AA), .9526; George Reese Jr., .9468; Donald Smith, .9425; Mike Burnette, .9201; Barry Allen, .9191; Richie Bolin, .9184; Mark Cantrell, .9131; Rick Sweeney, .9072; David Beesinger, .9064. Lady I—Brooke Barnett (AA), .9325. Lady II—Sandra Smith, .7725. Sub-junior—Brayden Morris (AA), .9360; Gage Jarnagin (AA), .9317; Landon Meadows (AA), .9265; Logan Meadows (AA), .9237; Lucas Davis (AA), .8765. Junior—Hunter Morton, .9351; Caleb Clayton (AA), .9344; Hayden Jacobs (AA), .9250; Colby Lancaster, .9236; Caleb Tetleton, .9147; Seth Swinea, .9142; Chandler Hinson, .9121; Jacob Taylor, .9080. Junior gold—Garrett Sweeney (AA), .9612; Dillon Tosh, .9547; Hayden Zeigler, .9518; Brandon White, .9327; Isaac Sharp, .9264; Seth Cooper (AA), .9238; Drake Fenwick, .9121. Veteran—Larry Hord, .9112; Walter Kern, .9111. Senior vet—George Reese, .9029; Herman Chandley, .8693.

I need to mention some major accomplishments last year by two Tennessee shooters. Congratulations to Dillon Tosh for winning the ATA World Doubles Championship. Also, in August Robert Smith broke 100 straight from the 27 to complete his ATA Grand Slam, becoming only the seventh Tennessee shooter to do so.

In 2019 I certified three new clubs, Crossville SSP at Crossville and Cherokee R&GC at Kingsport. The former Gallatin club has moved and is now the Middle Tennessee SA at Dixon Springs. All three clubs are planning monthly shoots.

January is a good time to make plans to attend the 2020 Tennessee State Shoot. The AIM State Shoot is June 16-17 followed by the state shoot June 18-21 at Nashville.

Read the Rulebook, please.

Check out our website at shootatatn.com for more info. For questions or further information, contact me at [email protected].

Billy Cook

ATA Southern Zone Vice President

Virginia

The VTA Executive Committee met Nov. 9 to set the schedule for the 2020 target year. The Hall of Fame Shoot will be June 6-7, the state shoot is July 1-5, and the Grand Old Dominion is Sept. 19-20. The West Virginia State Shoot remains the week following our shoot at Winchester. Our shoot programs will remain the same.

There was a change made to the handicap penalty rule. At future VTA shoots, all shooters who do not meet the target minimums in handicap will be penalized two yards beyond their assigned yardage; 21 yards minimum and 25 yards maximum. Senior vets are exempt from the target minimums. Previously, non-category males suffered a greater penalty.

The state teams and high shooter lists should be posted on the VTA website by the time you read this. In future years, target requirements to make the team will also be adjusted down for non-category males to match the requirements for all others.

George Hafkemeyer

ATA Delegate

Arkansas

Happy New Year! I hope everyone has survived the holidays.

I am excited to announce the 2020 Arkansas state team. Congratulations!

Men’s first—Logan Henry, Steve Mathis, Woody Barnes, Caleb Coody, Alan Julian. Men’s second—Jon Langenfeld, Robby Pennock, Jim Cooper, Mark Hill, Dalton Lamons. Women’s—Kayla Workman, Julie Newsom. Sub-junior—Logan Applegate, Mason Burris, Jayden Dalton, Maddox Tarvin, William Mahan. Junior—Rhet Baxley, Lane Ward, Clayton Walters, Coby Hollis, Blake Robertson, Cameron Cox. Veteran—Alan Sharp, James Kiddy. Senior vet—Larry Hicks.

I want to give a shout-out to Braydon Smith; he brought home a lot of hardware from his time in Nevada and Arizona. Another young Arkansas shooter showing out in Arizona was Logan Applegate, who also earned several trophies. Great shooting, Braydon and Logan. Way to represent Arkansas!

Congratulations and good luck to Katie Pryor. She has signed on with the Southern Arkansas University trapshooting team.

Be sure to check out the ATA and ASTF websites for shoots coming up.

Hebrews 11:1—Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

I can be reached at [email protected]. God bless.

Robby Pennock

ATA Delegate

Colorado

Broken Glass Along the Interstate, or
an Old Man’s Yarn

The year is 2000. An old man sat parked in his pickup, half asleep as he watched a group of glove-wearing high school students bending over to pick up shards of broken glass. This glass had laid in the desert just north of Grand Junction along the north side of Interstate 70 for as long as anyone could remember. The dirt road running alongside the Interstate was actually the old stagecoach road from Denver that ran through the ghost town of Carpenter on its way to Grand Junction. A Quaker settlement, Carpenter had been deserted ever since the early 1900s. The glass ranged in color from light to dark green to light lavender to dark purple. It was said the unsightly glass was the leftover remains of an old city trash dump, so the city fathers had organized the local students into a three-day work party, now ascending on the desert like a horde of locusts and putting the glass into buckets as they moved across the desert. The students were followed closely by a procession of farm tractors pulling low-slung trailers. When the buckets became too heavy, the kids would dump them into a large bin on one of the waiting trailers.

As the old man watched, he wondered if he was the only one still alive who knew the true history of the broken glass along the Interstate. The old man knew the city dump had never been that far out of town so couldn’t be the origin of the glass. One other rumor was that a semi-truck loaded with glass had run off the Interstate at high speed and overturned, spilling it across the desert. The old man knew the glass had lain beside the old Carpenter Road long before the early 1960s, when the Interstate had been built.

Warmed by the sun streaming through the windshield, the old man relaxed and closed his eyes, his mind’s eye drifting back in time to when he was a young boy living on a farm in Appleton, CO. He pictured himself sitting cross-legged on the ground in the shade of an old pear tree. He was listening intently as his grandpa, who was sitting on an old apple box, told the story of the greatest trapshoot the world had ever seen.

In 1876, 11 years after the end of the Civil War, two dusty men and one woman cautiously led two tired pack horses out of a deep and winding draw. Turning his horse so he could see their back trail, Art, out of Canada, laying his rifle across his lap, said to his saddle partner Dan, “I think we lost them.” Dan just nodded his head in agreement.

The third rider, Diane, pulled her six-gun, opened the loading gate of the pistol to check the loads, asked, “You think we should wait here for John?”

Art, taking off his hat and knocking clouds of dust from his shirtsleeves, said, “John can take care of himself. We are only a few miles from the Colorado River. Let’s see if we can get there before dark.” So the three riders turned their tired horses south and headed across the high Colorado plateau and the miles of purple sage that lay between them and the river.

It was late afternoon, and John, out of Rock Springs, WY, was getting up to leave when he saw movement out of the corner of his eye. It was a pair of riders leading a pack horse heading east. John waited and watched as the pair came to the back trail, which crossed in front of them. Coming to the tracks, the pair stopped to study them then turned south following the new trail.

John loosened the grip on his shotgun as the pair drew closer, for he recognized one of them as Craig, a big mountain man out of northeast Utah. John didn’t recognize the smaller man but soon learned he was called Scotty, a sharpshooter out of Idaho. John also learned that the pair, drawn by the winner’s prize of a $1,000, was headed to the trapshoot at Grand Junction.

After they reached the river and Art and Diane’s camp, they started unloading and caring for the horses. As soon as the animals had been picketed and the tents were up, the three dusty latecomers headed to the river to clean up. By mid morning the next day, the five riders were walking their horses down the main street of Grand Junction. The town owed its name to its being built at the confluence of the Gunnison and Colorado Rivers.

Art said, “Judging from all the tents I see, I’d say there are a lot of new people in town.”

Scotty turned to them and said, “Yeah, must be hundreds of people here for the trapshoot! I bet you won’t be able to find a place to stay the night or a place to eat in town. You’ll probably have to wait in line to get a tub bath that no more than a half dozen other people have already used.”

No one said anything as they moved slowly on down the street, watching carefully as men and women hurriedly crossed the street in front and behind them. They pulled up and stopped as four men, three of them wearing badges, stepped from the boardwalk into the street.

The four stopped and looked up when Craig said, in a stern voice as he looked down on them from his horse, “You boys looking to get run over?”

The four faces softened when they recognized who had spoken to them. One of them said, “Craig, you old sheep herder, what are you doing here? Last I heard you was over in Utah living up in the mountains, close to the mussel shell.”

Craig replied, “I was, but when I heard about this here shindig you was having, I had to come see for myself. Jim Bridger came by the cabin a couple weeks back and said this shooting match was shaping up to be like the old rendezvous we used to have back in the ’40s, before the war. Them was shining times before all the beaver was trapped out.” Stepping from his horse, Craig said, “Got some folks here I’d like you to meet.” Craig introduced Art and Diane first then Dan, John and Scotty. Turning to the men standing in the street, he said, “This is Wild Bill Hickok, Matt Dillon, Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday.” They all tipped their hats to Diane then shook hands with the men.

After the introductions were over, Scotty said, “Doc here is a Federal U.S. Marshal. Why so much law for this small town? Is there something going on we should know about?”

Matt said, “Colorado’s new governor ordered all of us here. Said he was worried about the bank.” Wyatt spoke up, “I hear tell Ike Clanton is around. Be just like him and his gang to try to rob the bank. I hear the banks got so much money right now they can’t get it all in the safe.” Matt added, “Bobby from Missouri came in yesterday saying he had run across the tracks of close to a dozen men that seemed to be circling the town. We rode out but lost them in the rocky hills east of town. It could be the Parker gang or even the James-Younger gang.” Looking around and seeing almost every man was carrying either a rifle or a shotgun plus a sidearm, John said, “They’d have to be stupid to try to rob the bank with this many guns in town.”

They talked some more then moved on up the street, heading out of town. Art and Diane reined in their horses at a large house just outside of town. Wild Bill had told them he thought the widow Benson and her two young sons might still have one room for rent. Leaving their horses at the hitching rail, the couple walked toward the front door as the rest of the riders turned, looking for a place along the river where they could camp.—to be continued

Did you miss the 2019 Autumn Grand this year? You sure missed a good one. Weather was as good as I have ever seen it, bright sunny days with just a little wind. What more can you ask for? Colorado’s shooter numbers were down a little (31), but I believe overall shoot numbers were up a little.

Scott Clark, Stan Baker, Don Blecha, Denis Bringelson, Susan Kuenzler, Mitchell Dudley, Stacy Rehor and Ray Stafford were just a few of the Colorado shooters who turned in good numbers. It looks like Ray, at 70+ years, has just caught his second wind and is ready to dominate the leaderboard again. If that isn’t enough motivation for you and you are a little down in the dumps about your shooting, go talk to Susan Kuenzler. After years of struggling this bright, positive lady just turned in her best-ever shooting performance. When it came time for her shootoff, Susan, with her never-say-quit attitude, just went out and took first place. Way to go, Ray and Susan; you are both an inspiration for us all.

I got an e-mail from Bob Beyer informing me that he has been elected president of the Delta TC. Next time you see Bob, be sure to congratulate him. I, as well as the rest of the state, wish him only the best in his new endeavor. Bob says his first priority is to start getting ready for the 2021 state shoot. Bob’s short-term goals are to find ways to diversify the club by adding more shooting disciplines. Bob says he would like to put in 5-stand or maybe skeet to start. Whatever he and the club decide to do, I’m sure it will be a big success.

Ruby Darling would like to leave Bob as well as the rest of you with this: “Think of yourself as on the threshold of unparalleled success. A whole, clear, glorious life lies before you. Achieve! Achieve!”—Andrew Carnegie

Irv Effinger

ATA Delegate

Missouri

Happy New Year, shooters! Hopefully everyone had a wonderful Christmas and is looking forward to 2020. Here in Missouri things have slowed down as far as clay-target shooting goes. It seems that hunting season takes priority over target shooting this time of year. That’s why you shoot targets the rest of the year—to be ready for hunting season, right?

I and my fellow board members at my local club and the state association always use this time of year to make plans for the next year/shooting season. This sport has always been somewhat expensive, and it seems there are new obstacles to overcome every year. Labor is one that is on the top of the list. Clubs that operate solely on a volunteer basis have a little advantage, if folks are willing and able to volunteer their time and effort to keep things going. Not all clubs can operate on a volunteer basis and must have paid employees to manage and take care of the facility. So when you see that the price of targets is going up (not saying that they are, but if they do), it is for a valid reason. It is difficult to maintain operations at an acceptable level, providing a service without increasing prices when your cost of doing business is increasing. Either services are reduced, or prices are increased. If you are willing and able to volunteer your time or services, it is greatly appreciated by gun club management and may have a positive effect on reducing future price increases.

There were nine MO shooters who made the trip to the Autumn Grand, hosted at the Tucson T&SC. Look for the shoot results in this issue. This is a shoot that is on my bucket list, and I missed it again this year. Oh well, maybe next year. What shoots are you planning on attending in 2020?

If anyone has anything they would like to have reported on, or has any concerns, please contact me at [email protected] or 816-863-9003. Shoot well and shoot often!

Stephen Ricketts

 ATA Delegate

New Mexico

Here it is after Thanksgiving and Christmas. I hope everyone had good holidays and safe travels. I ate my share and then some.

The Autumn Grand had nice weather. The NM crew did a good job and brought back a few trophies.

The shooting season is over for most of us for now. I hope to see you in the spring. Happy New Year!

Bob Leibel

ATA Delegate

Oklahoma

The rain quit just in time, but there was still a north wind for Shawnee’s annual club shoot Oct. 27. With 50 singles and 50 handicap, two shooters tied with 93s. Nathan Lemke and Bennie Livingston flipped a coin, with Nathan winning champion and Bennie runnerup. Terry Sims’ 92 was next. After a brief meeting, all club officers remain the same.

Ada’s Tuesday shoot was won by Joe Anglin with 46. The week before, Randy and Steve tied with 41s in an extreme crosswind.

The spring 4-H Shoot was canceled several times due to the weather. It was finally rolled into the fall 4-H Shoot Oct. 26 at the OTSA. With rain lasting right up to the start of the shoot on Saturday morning, attendance suffered. There were 224 boys and girls signed up to shoot (normal attendance is close to 300). Scores were very high, with Hunter Miller from Stephens County breaking 50 straight and 40 more over Riley Estes from Garfield County. Hunter won the special boys’ OTSA 4-H buckle. In the girls’ competition, Alex Angelly from Jackson County won the buckle with 49. These are some of the most polite and well-mannered youths you will ever see. The parents and coaches are to be commended for their support and encouragement.

Shawnee held the first derby shoot of the season Nov. 3, and weather was great, with 19 attending. Bennie Livingston’s 49 won the singles, and Jeff Trayer had 48. Jeff won the handicap with 47 and the doubles with 44. Gary Bristol was second, and I was third in the handicap. Kaleb Nowakoski, a new 18-year-old shooter, stopped by and shot doubles for the first time ever, breaking 40.

Ada held their annual club shoot, also on Nov. 3, shooters enjoying 50 free targets and a free barbecue lunch for the $25 membership fee. Forty-three attended the shoot (Shawnee had 19). Jim McDaniel won the 50 skeet event with 47. Randy Farmer won the 50 trap event with 46. Collin Rindal won the combined skeet and trap event. Larry Higgs won the novice event, while Austin Palmer won the youth event. All took home club belt buckles. Lowell’s birthday also happened to be Nov. 3. He turned 84, and Wayne Loyd is also now 84. Both are still shooting every week.

Weather was great, 73º with light south winds, for OTSA’s Nov. 10 derby. Rick Shaffer ran 50 in singles, with George Wise and Bill Dean having 49s. Nathan Lemke’s 47 was high in the handicap, with Kenneth Green, Robert Rimer and Wise having 46s. Robert’s 48 won the doubles, and Rose Shaffer’s 46 was next.

The very next day, Veterans Day, it was freezing drizzle, and several cities had to cancel their parades. Oklahoma State University put out 7,000 flags all over the campus to honor our veterans. Veterans Day is to honor the bravest among us. There are 6,800 Oklahoma National Guard members, and 18% of them are women.

Shawnee’s Derby Shoot Nov. 17 had 18 entries. Nathan Lemke’s 50 won the singles, and Jeff Trayer’s 49 was next. Mike Grove won the handicap with 44, and Nathan’s 41 was next. Kenneth Green, Dennis Patrick and Nathan all had 43s for the high doubles score. Mike Meeks could have and would have won the doubles but was disappointed when he dutched the last pair for a 42.

Anadarko GC held a turkey shoot, also on Nov. 17, that was well attended. Congratulations to Shelby Skaggs for attaining AA-27-AA status.

Ada’s Tuesday shoot Nov 12 was won by Justin Cavett with 46. Justin met with Tyler Rindal, and they went over the Oklahoma AIM program. Tyler told me he was impressed with Justin’s ideas on promoting new AIM shooters, putting together teams for the Grand, and on fund-raising for AIM activities.

Steve won Ada’s Nov. 19 shoot with 45. After receiving a new heart only eight months ago. Gary Belcher broke 24 to win the first line of singles quarters. OTSA’s Nov. 23 shoot had perfect weather—70º and light south winds. Nathan Lemke ran all 50 singles. Kenyon Bert, Bill Dean and Jeff Trayer all had 49s. In the handicap, Dennis Patrick, Bennie Livingston and Jeff all had 46s for the high scores. Kenneth Green broke 46 to win the doubles.

On Nov. 22 Ada held one of their Saturday Big 50 shoots, with 16 shooters attending. One was a 13-year-old 4-H shooter, registering targets for the first time. Zoe Traylor was awarded a free AIM membership and a free OTSA membership for shooting the event. She amazed everyone by breaking her first 25 straight on the way to a 48 that won the singles. She then broke 46 and won the handicap. The next day, she came back and broke 25, 50 and 75 straight. Lowell furnished her a box of shells and paid for the extra 25 targets to see if she could get a 100 straight. Zoe missed her 88th bird but still finished with 99. Good shooting, Zoe!

Roger Finkle is recovering after some health issues. After a fall led to a life-threatening staff infection, he spent several weeks in the hospital. He is now at a rehab and care center in Weatherford. Roger, we all wish you well and hope you have a speedy recovery.

Two airmen lost their lives Nov. 21 while flying a training mission at Vance AFB in Enid. The 37-year-old flight instructor and a 23-year-old airman were killed when their T-38 Talon plane skidded off the runway upside down into a field. We have also lost more airmen overseas this month. Let’s keep their families in our prayers.

Tim Deister

ATA Delegate

Texas

Welcome to 2020. I hope your New Year is blessed. It seems as I get older, time has a way of getting away from me. Here in the Panhandle, shooting has slowed to a crawl. Amarillo GC is the only club I know of that has registered shooting in the winter. If three or more people show up and want to shoot, they shoot. If not, they just shoot the bull.

This article will be very short because no one has sent me information to include. Please help me make sure my article is longer than my good friend and New Mexico Delegate, Bob Leibel’s.

If you didn’t make the Zone II shoot in El Paso, you missed a great time. The people there work their tails off to make sure you have a good time. Thank you very much.

It’s a new year, so I am not going to bring up anything about reading the Rulebook, releasing a squad positon you aren’t going to use, being courteous to the trap help, or any other stuff I have brought up from time to time.

If you have news, please let Princess or me know about it. As always, you can reach me by phone at 806-679-6889, e-mail me at [email protected], or snail mail to 800 Baltimore Dr., Hereford, TX 79045.

Till next time, y’all shoot well, y’all shoot often, and y’all have a great time.

Jerry O’Connor

ATA Delegate

Alberta

I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday season. By the time you read this, you will have already dated a check or two (or some other document) 2019 and had to scratch it out, correct and initial it. And, of course, you will have made your resolutions for the New Year, which I hope include shooting more targets and lots more 100s!

The schedule of shoots in Alberta for 2020 has been finalized. From May 2 through Sept. 20, our eight member clubs will host 21 registered tournaments, the marquee events being the Canadian Trapshooting Championships at Edmonton GC June 24-28 and the Alberta Provincial Trapshooting Championships, also at Edmonton, July 22-26. Mark your calendars for these important shoots. We will again be printing the “credit card”-style shoot calendar with sponsorship from APTA president and authorized Perazzi dealer Brad Johnson. Thank you, Brad, for supporting this project. I will work out some logistics for getting the shoot calendar out to our members.

Those of you who frequented the shootalberta.com website will have noticed that it disappeared from cyberspace some time ago. The good news is that a web developer has been engaged to build a new site and populate it with information. Once it goes “live,” you will be able to view the new website at the same old domain name: shootalberta.com. The schedule for this project is a work-in-progress, so keep your eye on the www.

The board of the Alberta Provincial Trapshooting Association would like to compile a list of e-mail addresses for APTA members so we can better keep in touch. If you would like to be included in the list, send me an e-mail. Put “APTA e-mail list” in the subject line of the message and send it to me at [email protected].

Best wishes for the new year!

Jim Thomson

ATA Delegate

Arizona

The Autumn Grand: Talk about Arizona shooting at its best! You could not beat this year’s event. Weather was picture-perfect. T-shirts and shorts predominated, not a whiff of rain, and the wind was not a factor. Everyone mentioned how nice it was. That everyone was made up of 577 shooters from 49 states and provinces. California led all non-residents, followed by Texas, Colorado and Wyoming. The Midwest sent their usual large contingent, and even New Englanders discovered why you just cannot top Arizona in the fall.

The Preliminary Grand began Oct. 31 with singles. Things were a little sticky for our side at the beginning, but Karen Bergman came to the rescue by winning the Preliminary Doubles in Lady II, and Gerry Williams helped things along by taking senior vet. Karen then won Friday’s singles in Lady II. Rick Durkee showed his stuff as high gun at 25-26 yards in the Preliminary Handicap. That brings us to the Tucson Singles Championship, where it was another story. I keep mentioning how our juniors show no respect for their elders, beating us on a regular basis. That has apparently spread further than we know. Junior gold shooter George Clark, who is finishing his studies at UofA, won the event with a perfect 200 plus shootoff. Even better, he also won the Autumn Grand Singles Championship with another 200 straight plus three more perfect rounds in the shootoff.

In Sunday’s Doubles Championship, Danny Treanor and Bob Mlynarz tied for the Class A title but lost on a forfeit. The Handicap Championship closed things out. Mark Yarbro was the high sub-vet, Tim Robb took the veteran crown, and Clark won junior gold.

The Preliminary Singles, Event 9, began Grand Week. Canyon Ferris and Jim Sharp both shot 100 straight. William Medlicott was not far behind at 99 and tied with five others in Class B. Event 10, the Preliminary Handicap, produced two other Arizona winners: Randy Stiarwalt in 19-21, just ahead of Mark Yarbro, and Ferris led all in junior gold. Jim Sharp lost out in senior vet on a forfeit. Our bionic man and another senior veteran, Barry Roach, gave it a good go in the Premier Singles with 100 straight, but the dreaded carryovers did him in. He bounced back though, besting Gerry Williams in a shootoff and took the Prescott Handicap senior vet title, while Yarbro beat all from 19-21, and David Landwerlen’s nice 98 was high in 25-26. Ferris then won junior gold. Event 14, the Ben Avery Singles, saw Clay Merson winning C, with John Hardman falling by the wayside on carryovers. Next was the Pleasant Valley Handicap, and Merson continued his winning ways in the 19-21 group. Dan Forbes lost out by one at 27 yards, and Ferris and Colton Hartley tied for junior gold, with Canyon taking the shootoff.

The Casa Grande Doubles was No. 16, and once more Canyon triumphed in junior gold with an outstanding 99, while Yarbro lost D in carryover. Event 17 was another doubles, this time in honor of Double Adobe, and Jim Sharp returned to the winner’s circle as Class A champ. Darvin Thomas, Vince Bianco, Gerry Williams and David Landwerlen all had 100s in the Singles Class Championship, but only David survived the carryovers and with it, the Class A title. Then came the Garden Canyon Handicap, and we had two winners featuring two familiar names: Stiarwalt, who triumphed at 19-21 yards, and Canyon, beating all others in junior gold. Tim Robb gave everyone else lessons on how to shoot doubles, with the only 100 in the Doubles Class Championship, good for the veteran crown. Ferris won junior gold in the Caesar Guerini Preliminary Handicap Championship.

Saturday was the Singles Championship, and our juniors came through. Alexa Paxson, another UofA student, won Lady I. Colton Hartley was high gun in B. I might add that Colton is in training to become a firefighter and has had little time for trapshooting.

Greg Holden and Yarbro salvaged some non-junior pride, winning A and D, respectively, in the Doubles Championship. Jay Alderman finished as the senior veteran runnerup. The last event was the Autumn Grand Handicap Championship, and here was Paxson once again winning Lady I. Alexa turns 21 on Jan. 11. Ferris took junior gold, but it was not easy. Another one of our guys, Jack Peterson, forced a two-round shootoff.

In the Preliminary all-around, Clark triumphed in junior gold, and Yarbro finished on top of C class. Vince Bianco was tops in the HOA for AAA. Canyon was our only winner in the championship week HAA, taking junior gold. In the HOA, Gerry Williams lost senior veteran on a coin flip.

Smoke and chips: Tucson did a superb job: great targets, plenty of help on the line, no midnight shootoffs, and plenty of happy faces. If you have never shot Arizona or are on the fence about going, the Spring Grand is right around the corner. Preliminary days start Feb. 12, and the shoot continues until the 23rd. I cannot promise you that the weather will be as great as it was for the Autumn Grand, but I am willing to bet that it’s better than where you are coming from—Hawaii and California excluded. Average high in Tucson for February is 68°. Put the snow shovels and felt boots away and come on down to one of the top shoots of the year in one of the country’s best facilities.

It’s also time to start planning for the Arizona State Shoot March 17-22 at Ben Avery in Phoenix. BA is a super place with a great background and 16 traps. Food, vendors, super weather, good Competition Factor—it has it all.

The secret is out: Gerry and Kristi Williams are our joint inductees as the newest members of the Arizona Trapshooting Hall of Fame, and I could not think of a more popular choice. Their shooting prowess speaks for itself. Both Gerry and Kristi are many-time All-Americans, but even more important is their continuing support of the ATA and trapshooting in general. Gerry is a Trustee of the Trapshooting Hall of Fame in Sparta, and his job as master of ceremonies at the annual dinner cannot be topped. He would have made a great news broadcaster, and Kristi is the best raffle ticket seller ever. A complete, long list of their achievements and contributions is part of the Arizona Hall of Fame documentation. One more thing—while buying breakfast at the Autumn Grand this year, I was asked if I was a veteran (it was Veterans Day). When I answered yes, I was told that all veterans’ breakfasts were courtesy of the Williamses. I know that they have made larger contributions, but it was greatly appreciated. Thanks, Gerry and Kristi, and congratulations!

Around the state: I have no late scores to report, but February is a very busy month in Arizona. We start off with a two-day shoot at Ben Avery Feb. 1-2, and Double Adobe goes into action on the first. The scene then shifts to Casa Grande Feb. 5-9. Next is the Spring Grand American at Tucson, with the preliminaries running Feb. 12-16 and the Grand from the 17th to the 22nd. Then it is back up to Ben Avery Feb. 28-March 1, and if you feel lucky, Double Adobe shoots on Leap Year day, the 29th.

See you on the line.

John Bergman

ATA Delegate

Oregon

Welcome to 2020 from the great state of Oregon! As we start filling our shoot cards in this new decade, let’s look back at a few of the significant accomplishments of shooters and clubs in Oregon during 2019.

The Medford GC Big 50 program continued its decade-long run by hosting another successful 16-week summer program from late April to early August. Shooting every Tuesday, the participants combine their daily 16-yard and handicap scores to qualify for the coveted year-end champion’s buckle. The 2019 Big 50 champion, with a modest score of 96, was former Pennsylvania shooter Pete DuCharme. Pete missed the 2018 buckle by one target and was not to be denied in 2019. At the 2019 Oregon State Shoot, Pete shot at and hit his 50,000th ATA singles target and was recognized with a cake and presentation of the pieces of the actual target during the ATA Western Zone competition at Medford several weeks later.

In 2018 the OSATA state Board of Directors established a three-zone format to encourage more Oregon clubs to support ATA competition and give our shooters greater opportunities to accumulate registered targets. The program continued to grow in 2019, with five-person teams from the southern and northern zones competing at the state shoot for the unique zone champion trophies. The southern zone team, headed by Daro Handy and including Julie Spindler, DuCharme, Dex Tourville and Brent Perry, repeated as zone champions.

Oregon had a recent record number of shooters attend the 2019 Grand American, with five of our best making the long hike to Sparta. Thanks to Cole Costanti, Ryan Costanti, Richard Shrode, John Adams and Bob Robertson for representing Oregon and bringing home a number of trophies. In addition to shooting well, Cole Costanti was awarded a Trapshooting Hall of Fame scholarship. Congratulations to Cole for his outstanding accomplishments during 2019 and a special note of appreciation to mom, Amy Costanti, for her unwavering support of Cole, brother Chase and ATA Delegate husband Ryan, as all three qualified for first team state All-Star status in 2019. More on the complete All-Star roster next month.

The year 2019 saw the creation of the first-ever Oregon State Amateur Trapshooting Association website. Visit us at www.osata.us to see a bit of our history as well as what’s happening in the future here in Oregon. Pending approval by the board at our winter meeting, the 2020 state championships will be hosted in northeast Oregon at the Hermiston GC. Dates are June 5-7, and I’ve been told that the weather will be perfect and all targets will fly true. The program, travel directions and other relevant data should be posted on the website by the time you read this article. This continues the rotation through the three Oregon zones, giving all Oregon shooters the chance to attend a state shoot “close to home” on a predictable basis.

Look for another article from Oregon in the February T&F. Until then, we wish everyone a happy and peaceful 2020 and, as always, good luck and good shooting!

Mike Mann

for ATA Delegate Ryan Costanti

Utah

The ATA shooting season has pretty well ended in Utah, and hunting season has taken over. It is also time for turkey shoots.

I can report on the Nevada State Shoot that took place in late October at the Clark Co. SC in Las Vegas. Quite a few shooters from Utah made the trip and shot very well. Our local big dog, Joe Sudbury, had a great week, as did Steve Johnson and Sudbury’s grandson Justice. In one of the earlier singles events, grandfather and grandson not only shot together, but they both ran the full note! What made this very special for both shooters was that it was Justice’s very first 100. Congratulations are in order to young and “old” alike.

Shortly after the Nevada State Shoot came the Autumn Grand in Tucson. I often tell fellow shooters that if you can attend only one of the Satellite Grand shoots in Arizona, you should try for the Autumn Grand since the weather is usually good this time of year. This was certainly the case this year. Actually, the weather was better than good; it was fantastic, and the sunsets were spectacular. Once again Utah had a good contingent, and most of them brought home some hardware. Most notable were Sean Hawley and Grayson Stuart. Grayson either won sub-junior or took second place in virtually all of the events. He also took the high-over-all and all-around champ in his category and broke his very first twin-bird 100.

Be sure to check out the scores at shootscoreboard.com and the story in this issue.

This is the time of year when we can reflect back on the good times we had the past target year and remember friends we have lost as well as those friendships we have maintained and kept strong. An example of this was at the Cedar City shoot, where it was nice to see Wynn Isom and Bruce Allred sharing a laugh and talking about the “good old days.”

Ed Wehking

ATA Western Zone Vice President

Washington

Happy New Year! I hope you have all had a good holiday season. Many of us here are busy cranking loads out of the reloader, getting guns tuned up, and getting our calendars marked for shoots in 2020. Plans are in the works for the Northwest Grand, Inland Empire Handicap and the state shoot, all to be held at the Spokane GC. The first big shoot of the year will be the Camas Prairie Handicap at Walla Walla. The Colton GC will be a host site for the Western Zone for the third year running, and many other clubs have their plans ironed out for one- and two-day tournaments. We have a lot of opportunity to put ATA targets on our cards here in Washington.

I was fortunate enough to take part in the Autumn Grand again this year. It was great to see a contingent of shooters from Washington. A few of our residents garnered some success on the Tucson T&SC grounds. Jim Douglas moved closer to the back fence by blasting a 99 in handicap Nov. 3 and had several good scores during Grand Week. A. J. Vossen scored back-to-back perfect scores in singles during the Pre-Autumn Grand and brought home trophies during the main week of competition as well. The Nostrom family of Jeff, Gena, daughter Sophie and son Hawker all took part, with some pretty good scores recorded. Gena earned her first trapshooting trophy ever and picked a good time to do it, as she won Lady I honors in the championship handicap. It is wonderful to see families enjoying our sport together and having Washington’s shooters venture out to show the rest of the country what we’re made of. Rumor has it that some guy named Lewis even got a trophy in Tucson. Check out the story here in Trap & Field to see how well our state was represented.

We have numerous clubs hosting fun and game shoots this winter. I’ve found that asking a young shooter who showed up with dad or grandpa’s old field gun or Model 12 to partner in a buddy backer can be a lot of fun. Watch the smile on a kid’s face when they break some targets shooting with the “big boys,” and the next thing you know, you’ve got an up-and-coming ATA shooter on your hands. These and club registered shoots are our grassroots, and the enthusiasm created there proves to be vital in helping our sport survive and flourish.

You can keep track of the ATA activity here in the Evergreen State by watching our website, shootwsta.com, and by following the Washington State Trapshooters Facebook page. Send us news from your clubs, and we’ll be happy to share it. Don’t misplace your snow shovel, either. You might need it in the next couple of months to clean off the walks in order get some practice in at your favorite club. We look forward to seeing you in the clubhouses and on the line at shoots in 2020.

Shoot straight and keep your powder dry.

Sean Lewis

ATA Alternate Delegate

Wyoming

The Nevada State Shoot had 13 Wyoming shooters in attendance, with Warren Johnson winning the out-of-state junior gold in the Handicap Championship and HAA. Next came the Autumn Grand, with 30 Wyoming shooters attending. Be sure to check shoot scoreboard for all the scores and this issue for both shoot stories.

Nico Elardi

WSTA Director