Atlantic Provinces

Well, it’s late April as I’m writing this, and there hasn’t been much of spring in Newfoundland yet. Another snowstorm over the weekend brought more snow and has further delayed the opening of the clubs. Seems like Sheila’s Brush (see last month’s article) has made several visits this “spring.” The rest of the Atlantic Provinces have been enjoying more seasonal temperatures, so there’s hope that spring will soon arrive in Newfoundland.

Pre-squadding is now open on sosclays.com for the Atlantic Provinces ATA Provincial Shoot. Members of the St. John’s Rod & Gun Club are looking to host shooters Sept. 2-6 for the 800-target competition that runs with 200 targets per day over four days. The opening day will be fish stew for lunch and a Big 50 warm-up shoot.

The SOS Clays Silver Bar Shootout is back for this year’s shoot, and thanks to a couple sponsors, we’ll be offering the American Canadian HAA Lewis. It’s a free Lewis with no entry fee. Shooters just need to complete all three championship events to be eligible. It’ll also be a reverse score Lewis, with the low score forming the first class. Thanks to Jim Lavelle and Kolleen Adams from New York for the great idea and sponsoring the event. Complete details are in the shoot program, which is available on www.shootatlantic.com. If you’re attending this year’s shoot and need ammo, I would strongly recommend you take advantage of the ammo preorder option from our shoot sponsor. The deadline for ordering is July 1.

Good luck to all shooters attending the 2026 Canadian Trapshooting Championships at the Edmonton Gun Club June 24-28. You can keep up to date with scores on SOS Clays and on the Canadian Trapshooting Association’s Scoreboard on shootcanada.ca.

For more information on the Atlantic Provinces Trapshooting Association, feel free to contact me at aabassan@gmail.com or visit shootatlantic.com.

Andrea Bassan

ATA Delegate

Connecticut

Hello to all! We were all profoundly saddened upon the sudden passing of the ATA Executive Director Lynn Gipson. Lynn served as the ATA Executive Director and tournament director for the Grand American for 14 years. A lifelong trapshooter, Lynn was dedicated to the promotion of our sport. Our thoughts and prayers for his family and friends as they go through this difficult time.

The Northwestern Connecticut Sportsman’s Association held their marathon to kick off the season here in Connecticut. The weather has not exactly been sunny and warm on the weekends, but April showers bring May flowers, right? Hamden Fish and Game will host the first regular registered shoot of the season with many more to follow at all the Connecticut association clubs. I look forward to seeing you all as the season begins again. I just received my Connecticut state program in the mail and really enjoyed looking through it. The CTA has named Malcolm Ross this year’s State Shoot Honoree, and to be inducted into the Hall of Fame is Rich DeSerio. Be sure to check out their bios in the program book or download the book on the CTA website www.cttrap.com. Congratulations to both these worthy gentlemen. You don’t want to miss this year’s state shoot June 26-28 at the Hartford Gun Club. So much goes into the planning and executing of this event with you, the participants, in mind. Many thanks to the board for all their hard work and attention to detail. It’s going to be great!

Please email me at cap145@yahoo.com with any highlights you would like to share from the field! I would love to hear about them.

Cheryll Pittera

ATA Delegate

Massachusetts

Greetings, shooters! Hope everyone is enjoying the warmer weather. Things are in full swing, and our New England state shoots are upon us. We wish everyone the best of luck! Get out there, support your state organizations, and most importantly, have some fun!

A little explanation. I was recently asked why it seems to take so long to get things mentioned in the magazine column. Well, there are many moving parts to publishing the ATA magazine, as you can imagine. This will be the column for the June publication. As I write this, it is April 24!

With that being said, congratulations to our North Leominster 2025-2026 Winter League winners. It was not an easy winter league by any stretch. Shooters battled numbing cold, wind and as everyone knows, a bit of snow. It was great to see the dedication of all shooters who toughed out the conditions and showed their faces every other Sunday! Class AA winners were Paul Donovan (1st), Mike Lombardy (2nd), John Ruggieri (3rd). Class A: Will Rychlik (1st), Don Juozalitis (2nd), Bruce Murphy (3rd). Class B winners were Tom Monahan (1st), Dave MacMaster (2nd), Peter Mastrogiovanni (3rd). Class C winners were Rich Goddard (1st), Wayne Laferriere (2nd), Dick Hewett (3rd). Class D winners were Dave Bean (1st), Dean Wood (2nd), Fred Bedard (3rd).

Great shooting, guys. It was certainly earned!

MATA and the shooting community would like to offer our deepest thanks to Peter Mastrogiovanni and Mark DeLuca. The years of dedication to the NLRG Winter League and its shooters have made it what it is today. Peter and Mark announced upon completion of the 2025-26 season, they will be stepping back and taking a well-deserved rest. Thank you, guys! Your efforts have not gone unnoticed.

Again, good luck to all wherever you may be shooting. Hope to see you all out there!

William Rychlik

For ATA Delegate Robert Nihtila Jr.

New Jersey

Hello to all New Jersey shooters. As we come out of the very challenging weather of the 2025-26 winter, we are still battling with an unpredictable spring weather pattern, with cold and windy conditions making it easy to stay home and not shoot.

By the time you read this article, the state shoot and southern zone shoot will be in the history books. Watch for complete coverage in an upcoming issue. Your association has worked very hard to move the state shoot to a greater experience for you all. They have signed up sponsors providing better trophies and opportunities for great prizes. With this said, please help your board to continue improving your experiences by looking forward for more sponsors for future shoots. Invite business owners to your local clubs and be an ambassador to trapshooting.

The NJSTA has approved a motion at the April meeting to use a professional webmaster. They will maintain the site and provide links for all of our clubs with sponsors and promotions specifically for the shotgun shooting community. I look forward to this being implemented.

Congratulations to Joe Sissano for shooting his 400,000th registered singles target. Joe continues to shoot both locally and across the country while performing his duties as our ATA President. When you see Joe, thank him for his lifetime commitment to our sport.

I hope to see you all at the upcoming shoots.

Tom Clarke

ATA Delegate

New York

Hello from the Empire State of New York. I hope everyone is doing well and out shooting some registered targets now that the warmer weather has arrived.

Unfortunately, I must report the death of another New York shooter. Cliff Haaf of Manlius passed away April 14. Cliff was 77 years of age at the time of his passing. He was an inductee into the New York State ATA Hall of Fame in 2021. During his career, he registered 78,400 singles, 51,500 handicap and 44,000 doubles targets. Cliff started registering targets in 1994 and was classified at 23.5 yards. The entire Board of Directors of the New York State ATA wish to express their deepest sympathies to Cliff’s entire family on his passing. He will be missed by all of us.

The entire ATA was shocked in learning of the passing of ATA Executive Director Lynn Gipson on April 18. Lynn had been the Executive Director of the ATA for the past 14 years. Lynn also had been the tournament director for the Grand American, making the tournament successful. Lynn was a wonderful man, always with a smile on his face. He was 67 years of age at the time of his passing. We all extend our deepest sympathies to Lynn’s family on his passing. All of us who are members of the ATA are going to miss him and his leadership.

Some target attainments to mention. Jim Flint has registered 100,000 doubles targets. Salvatore Barone has registered 75,000 doubles targets. Finally, David McMasters had registered 25,000 handicap targets. Congratulations to these fine gentlemen on their target attainments.

Remember that the New York State Shoot will be held July 7-12. The state shoot has been expanded from a five-day tournament to six days. Also, the New York State ATA will be hosting the ATA Eastern Zone Tournament this year. The dates are July 16-19. We all hope you plan to attend.

For all shooters who attend the Grand American, the dates for the 2026 Grand American through the 2036 tournament have been posted on the ATA webpage. The 2026 Grand American will be held July 29-Aug. 8 at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, IL.

If anyone wishes to have something placed in one of these articles, you can contact me at Trapshooterdavec@yahoo.com or phone at 585-519-9543. Please stay safe and healthy. May God bless.

Dave Cichelli

ATA Delegate

Ontario

Greetings from Ontario, Canada.

For circumstances currently beyond my control, this article will be necessarily brief. Sorry.

Some of the Satellite Grands have been attended by some of our Ontario shooters with good results. As our registered shoots get closer to the Grand American, it will be hard to fit all the competitions in as usual.

Great shooting to all.

Paul Shaw

ATA Delegate

Alabama

As I write this month’s article, it’s April, and the outside thermometer is reading 94°! This weekend we’re supposed to have a cold front coming through, which would drop it down to about 90°.

I hope everyone is getting out to have the opportunity to shoot somewhere.

On a sad note, Alabama lost one of their shooters early this month. John Densmore was the manager for the Magic City Gun Club in Pinson. John loved to shoot trap, and he loved to help anybody out with the sport. He will be dearly missed. As soon as his son sends me some information, I’ll add it in a future article.

I hope everyone had the opportunity to go to Georgia for the Georgia Trapshooting Championships. Check out the results in this issue of T&F.

Joke of the month: Bobby’s grandfather, a former Marine Corps gunnery sergeant, took a job as a high school teacher after he retired from the Marines. He injured his back and had to wear a plaster cast under his shirt, and the students didn’t know this. On the first day, he walked into the rowdiest class in the school . . . the kind that eats new teachers alive! Knowing he was a former Marine, the kids were already planning to test him. A breeze blew his tie, and he calmly picked up a stapler and stapled it to his chest. The room went dead silent. As for the rest of the year . . . let’s just say discipline was never an issue again.

Word of the month—Goobers: Peanuts. “It’s fun to put goobers in a Coca-Cola and watch it foam.”

Please keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers. Without the men and women of our U.S. armed forces protecting this 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 need my help or have any news to report, contact me at wasartwell@charter.net.

Wayne Sartwell

ATA Delegate

Florida

Recently I have been asked, “How can I make it into the Trap & Field Magazine?” Good question. A few ways come to mind, with the first being that you or your gun club representative contact me about your outstanding achievement! Another is by ATA recognition. For example, shooting your first straight or making AA, AAA and 27-yard line status. If you achieve any of these feats, please let me know. I can’t give you proper props if I don’t know.

Let’s get started. March was a busy month here in Florida. We had the Southern Grand and the Florida State Shoot. Plus, we had three named shoots leading into the Southern Grand. The weather was perfect. The Southern Grand entries were up (2025 attendance was 3,545, and 2026 was 5,438 A total of 591,950 targets were thrown). The single day attendance was up this year. The Florida state attendance was up 25% from last year (2025 was 3,335, and 2026 was 4,155 with 459,050 targets thrown). I’m thinking the state shoot was up because of all the efforts and hoopla put out by the Florida state members and the shoot committee. The preliminary and championship trophies were top notch. ATA raised their trophy budget by 50% over past years, and the FTA supplied some new and unique trophies to boot. Thomas Harrington and his people did an outstanding job managing all of the background activities, with sales of shirts and hats, the new addition of field sponsorships, Scott’s Goofy miss and out, shell raffles, custom shell bag drawing, all that good stuff. Of course, the Silver Dollar made running the shoot look like it was just another day. That’s what experience can do. The folks at the squadding, cashiering windows were as pleasant and johnny-on-the-spot as always. I don’t know how they do it. They show up before 8 a.m., open those blinds promptly at 8 and bam, they are all smiles and, “How can we help you!” One of them must have a bad day sometime, but they never show it.

The next few lines are going to sound like a commercial, and yes, they paid me the big bucks, so by the time you read this, I’ll be retired in the islands somewhere with all of those young girls (legal age) waiting hand and foot on me. If you are an ATA shooter and shoot in Florida (and other places), you need to have the ShootProCloud app on your phone and use it. You can make all of the excuses in the world, but you really need to use the app. If you feel you can’t load it yourself, the folks at the cashiering window will do it for you and will show you how to use it. You can squad, pre-squad, change squads release your position on a squad, pay, see what bank you are shooting on, who is on your squad, what squad your friends are on, see the leaderboard, what your scores are, all while sitting in your favorite chair somewhere. That means you do not have to be at the clubhouse at 8 a.m. standing in line for anything! Yes, you can sleep another hour. Let’s say, for example, you weren’t going to shoot, but now you are thinking about it, just look on the ShootProCloud app, find a squad and position you want and fill it. How easy! So no, there is no excuse; get and load the app.

This year’s shoots were like we were on “The Wide World of Shooting.”

On a sad note, the ATA lost a great asset in Lynn Gipson. He was our Executive Director for more than 14 years. It is going to be hard for the next executive leader to fill his shoes. Thanks, Lynn, for all the unselfish hours. May you have peace.

One more note, Barbara Rocheford has finally retired and moved in with her daughter. We will miss her and Tom at the Dollar. Thanks, Barbara, for all of the years you have put in for the ATA.

Instead of an ATA rule, I thought I would share what happens at the Grand American Delegate meetings. I figured since we were voted in by you (the members) and represent you (the members), you may be curious. All Delegates first and foremost are ATA board members and have the responsibility of protecting the ATA. The duty of the Delegate is to promote the ATA. All other stuff, for the most part, is communication to and from the ATA leaders for what is best for the organization and the sport. Florida is in the Southern Zone, and currently Danny Ryan is our (Southern Zone) leader as Vice President. Each zone has a designated night at the Grand American that they are obligated to referee shootoffs. My night is Friday before championship week. That means I have to be there the week before. A cool deal is even though Delegates are obligated, anyone can sign up to officiate the shootoffs. Wednesday evening of championship week is our Southern Zone meeting. We usually do not know in advance what we are going to cover. The meeting starts around 6:30 p.m., and the first things we have to declare is what dates our state shoot is, and what last year’s attendance was. After that the meeting is pretty much like a normal meeting. (roll call, approving last year’s minutes, etc.) At this time ATA and local state issues are addressed. Some issues are confined to just that state, and others concern all of us. If I have legitimate requests from Florida’s members that I need to address on your behalf, this is when it happens. I’ll bring it up, and we will discuss it. There is a lot of years’ experience at these meetings, so there is usually good council. Not very often do we vote on a state issue, rather they would have the state work it out. All of the other Delegates may have their time on the floor as well. The Southern Zone Vice President, being on the Executive Committee, may have knowledge of upcoming issues that will need to be voted on at the “big” meeting on Wednesday evening. We will discuss how our zone thinks we should vote, but all votes are counted individually. A few other items are brought up then we adjourn. All takes a couple of hours.

Wednesday night is the “big” meeting. This includes the Executive Committee, all of the zone Vice Presidents, all of the Delegates (some Alternates), attorneys, accountants, a clearing house (all financial reports are checked and verified by a third party) and some speakers that may be asked to speak for a particular reason. This meeting starts like any meeting with roll call, approving the minutes, etc., the President’s report and presentation of the finance report. The meeting goes on for about two hours then we take a 15-minute break. We reconvene. This is when proposed bylaws or changes are discussed and voted on. This can drag on forever. After all this, we vote on the new ATA President. The new President has a few things to say, and then we adjourn somewhere around 10 or 11 p.m. Now you know everything!

Mike Reynolds

ATA Delegate

Kentucky

April has been a relatively quiet month for shooting in Kentucky. Several shooters have attended small shoots at local clubs in an effort to get tuned up for the upcoming season, and I look forward to seeing many familiar names atop the leaderboards. I cannot wait to be able to share the many achievements by many Kentucky shooters throughout the next few months.

By the time you read this, the Kentucky State Shoot will only be a few weeks away. I always look forward to the state shoot and getting to see everyone at one of the best gun clubs in the country! As always, check out kytrap.com for any information on the Kentucky State Shoot. Good luck and safe travels in the weeks to come.

Jack Holland

For ATA Southern Zone Vice President Dan Ryan

Mississippi

Hello from Mississippi. Vicksburg was the first place in the U.S. to sell shoes in pairs starting in 1884.

Sadly, as I typed the last sentences of this article, word was received about the passing of Lynn Gipson, Executive Director of the ATA. As a Delegate, I was able to attend, during last year’s Grand American, Lynn’s presentation on the status of the ATA. He impressed me with his knowledge and plans for the future. He will certainly be missed. Below is a memory that came to me as I read the news.

Over the years I had a few opportunities to talk with Lynn Gipson, and one short instance stands out above the others. A couple of years ago, I was refereeing shootoffs at the Grand American during what turned out to be one of the longest and, for sure, the very last shootoff that night. After the final shot and results were completed, the shooters from the event jumped into their ATVs and were gone, the lights were turned off, there was no one to be seen on the line, and I started a long walk down vendors row to my car. As I turned to pass the shootoff building, there was Lynn in a golf cart, watching until the last event ended. At that moment, I was totally impressed that Lynn, probably the busiest person at the Grand, nearing midnight, was there closing out the day, along with the last person off the field. As I passed by Lynn, with a nod of heads, we both wished each other a “good night.” I still remember it vividly.

As you read this, trapshooting in Mississippi is getting deep into prime shooting time. The Mississippi State Shoot is in the record book, and many of our shooters are attending other state shoots in our neighboring states. Of course, we are all looking forward to this year’s Grand American.

In March, Capitol Gun Club started a six-week program called Tuesday Nights Under the Lights, which was well received by its members. The night starts with supper and a little social time, then 50 16-yard targets. Scores are recorded and totaled at the end of the six nights. Lewis class winners will be announced.

Monthly shoots continue to be hosted in Mississippi. Shoots are held in Jackson at Capitol Gun Club on the first Saturday of each month and in Biloxi at Coast Rifle and Pistol on the third Saturday of the month. These have been well attended throughout the year. More trapshooting can be found at Starkville Gun Club and Whitetail Ridge Outdoors in Saltillo. Come shoot with us. We’d love to have you.

Bill Burke

ATA Delegate

South Carolina

Hello from the Palmetto State! I am pleased to bring you the latest updates from our trapshooting community as we celebrate achievements and look ahead to upcoming events.

It is my pleasure to recognize Wayne (Bo) Adair as our 2026 SCTA Hall of Fame inductee. The SCTA Hall of Fame Shoot took place April 11-12 at the Greenville Gun Club. Bo’s journey in trapshooting began in 1965, and he is a proud member of the Spartanburg Gun Club. Over his career, Bo has shot an impressive 103,450 combined targets and earned numerous trophies across all disciplines. To honor his accomplishments, 14 prior Hall of Fame inductees attended the shoot. Congratulations to Bo on this well-deserved recognition.

The South Carolina State Shoot was held at the North Carolina Homegrounds April 29-May 3. Over the course of the five-day event, 1,300 targets were thrown. Watch for complete coverage in Trap & Field.

South Carolina clubs continue to host Big 50s and 300-bird events, and we welcome your participation in these competitions. Thank you for your ongoing support of our sport and community.

Hope to see you shooting soon.

Teresa Knight

ATA Delegate

Tennessee

What’s happening, trapshooters?

We are getting deeper into the tournament season, and it seems like there is somewhere to shoot almost every weekend. The Southeast is hopping, and if you can’t find an event to go to, you’re not looking very hard. Here’s a report of a couple of shoots so far.

Hog Heaven Gun Club in White Pine, TN, had their annual Spring Shoot April 16-19. Here are a few of the Tennessee champions and category winners: Thursday singles, Cade Harvey, champion, 99; Tim Fields, sub-vet, 97; Mike Burnette, vet, 98; Maynard Brooks, senior vet, 97; Tanner Burks, sub-junior, 94. Thursday handicap: Henry Thompson, senior vet, 91; Burks, sub-junior, 92. Thursday doubles: Steve Conley, sub-vet, 95; Burks, sub-junior, 95. Friday doubles: Burks, sub-junior, 96; Dalton Vanatter, junior, 93; Friday singles: Harvey, champion, 100; Troy See, sub-vet, 97; Burnette, vet, 98; Jack Brickey, sub-junior, 96; Seth Wolfe, junior, 98. Friday handicap: Steve Smoot, senior vet, 93; Harvey, junior, 95; Burks, sub-junior, 95. Championship singles: Harvey, champion, 198; Sidney Ann West, ladies’, 190; Shannon Holkins, sub-vet, 194; Burnette, vet, 194; Burks, sub-junior, 194. Championship doubles: Alexa Tonetti, ladies’, 86; Lee Perry, sub-vet ,92; Burnette, vet, 96; Burkes, sub-junior, 96; Harvey, junior, 94. Championship handicap: Conley, sub-vet, 88; Burkes, sub-junior, 93.

Congratulations to all those who were able to take home a trophy. I hope I didn’t leave anyone out. That is some mighty fine shooting!

We also had more than a few folks from Tennessee bring back some hardware from the Georgia State Shoot (April 23-26). Here is a list of those top dogs. Event 1 preliminary singles: Gentry Ballinger, junior, 100. Event 3 preliminary doubles: Clint Parson, junior, 98. Event 5 class doubles: Parson, junior, 95; Robert Martin junior gold, 87. Event 6 John Hiter Handicap: Matt Smelser, 24-25, 94; Gary Ballinger junior, 95; Martin, junior gold, 89. Event 7 class singles: Ballinger, junior, 99; Martin, junior gold, 94. Event 8 Singles Championship: Ballinger, junior, 199; Martin, junior gold, 191; Mikayla Dickson, Lady I, 196. Event 9 Doubles Championship: Parson, junior, 98; Martin, junior gold, 84. Event 10 Handicap Championship: Martin, junior gold, 94.

Wow! That’s a lot of trophies coming back to the great state of Tennessee. Congratulations to the winners.

Speaking of winners, we have a young man in the state of Tennessee that has been recognized for his trapshooting abilities by his local mayor! On April 20, our own Cade Harvey was presented with a Proclamation of Honor by the Sevier County mayor. Cade has garnered a bunch of accolades in his short trapshooting career, and this proclamation was presented to him to point out his accomplishments on the trapfield, as well as in life. Cade has captured many AIM titles and has his share of Tennessee trophies. However, perhaps his greatest trapshooting feat to date was at the 2025 Tennessee State Shoot, where he walked away with the Singles Championship title against some pretty stiff competition. Cade shot 200 to secure the singles title, and if I am not mistaken, became the youngest shooter ever to win the Singles Championship event. Let’s all congratulate Cade on a job well done!

Well, that’s about it for this go-around. Get out there and break some clays. Thank you for all that you do for the great sport of trapshooting. Keep on carrying the torch! Hope to see you at a shoot this year. Remember, the rulebook is your friend; please read it.

Mark Cantrell

ATA Delegate

Colorado

A group of eight ATA members from the United States (six of the eight were from Colorado) made the trip to the 2026 World Down the Line Championship in Christchurch, New Zealand. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with incredible hospitality and support.

A special thank you goes to Canterbury Clay Target Club and the Auckland Metropolitan Clay Target Club for all their help throughout the trip. Their generosity, organization and warm welcome made the experience truly memorable. The clubs, their members and everyone involved went above and beyond to make us feel at home and put on an incredible event.

For those unfamiliar with the format, DTL (Down The Line) is a point-shoot clay target discipline that is similar to ATA except for scoring. Scoring is based on both first-barrel and second-barrel hits; a hit with the first barrel results in three points, a hit with the second results in two points, and a miss is zero. So, a round of 25 targets is scored out of 75.

Of course, one of the biggest moments of the trip was celebrating Dan Power’s World Championship title. Dan is also an ATA member from Australia. What an incredible accomplishment and a well-deserved honor. We also want to congratulate Mike Herman on earning veteran second place.

The shooting portion of our New Zealand trip combined world-class competition, unforgettable scenery and exceptional camaraderie. It was an experience our group will be talking about for years to come. The non-shooting portion of our trip was equally incredible. The food, the weather, the outdoors and so much more make New Zealand a must-see country!

Nikki Herman

           ATA Delegate

Louisiana

Toby Bancroft Memorial Gun Club held its regularly scheduled April shoot on the 11th, with 32 shooters showing up to polish their skills in anticipation of the state shoot. Chuck Traylor took top singles honors with 99, followed by Jim Jenkins with 97 and Cole Maestrini and Caleb Coody, each with 96. Chase Moore shot his first 25 straight in the singles event. Maestrini led the field with an 89 in ’caps and got himself a half-yard punch. Jenkins and Sanders were close behind with 88s. Sanders led the way in doubles followed by Coody with 88.

The next big shoot for Louisiana shooters is the Arkansas State Shoot being held at the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation Shooting Sports Complex in Jacksonville, just north of Little Rock. Their shoot begins June 24, and they’ll have room for you if you wish to join. We Louisiana shooters always enjoy their shoots.

Check out our website, www.latrap.org. There’s information on registered shoots of interest to our shooters, the scores and winners of our Louisiana shoots and information on all the gun clubs in our state that host registered shoots.

Jim Jenkins

ATA Delegate

Missouri

Salutations from the Show Me (one) State. To say that this month has been hectic would be an understatement. In early April, ATA Executive Director Lynn Gipson, my business partner and close friend, entered the hospital to find out he had cancer that hit hard and fast. As usual, we spoke nearly every day until just a few days before he passed on April 18. Needless to say, Lynn left a large void at the ATA and Gipson-Ricketts. Lynn was the example of hard work and dedication to the sport that we all love on the management side, and he could shoot pretty well too. Going back to the glory days at KCTA, Lynn took the club to the pinnacle, managing some of the best shoots in the Midwest at our Memorial Day and Labor Day shoots bringing shooters from many surrounding states. Lynn was also an MTA director/secretary and for a couple of years before he took the position at the ATA was Delegate for Missouri. I am truly blessed to have worked around and with some of the most knowledgeable folks in the sport like Lynn, who took the time to pass on his knowledge of gun club/business management skills. There are no words to express how much Lynn will be missed. Lynn, may you rest in peace in the presence of the Lord.

During April 17-19 the Spring Multi-State Challenge was held at six locations in Tennessee, Illinois, Missouri, Texas and California. This shoot can now say that it spans coast to coast. While there are conflicts in the spring, there will be conflicts for some in the fall. As of now there are plans to have a Challenge shoot this fall; more information is to come. This shoot saw a variation in weather conditions to be expected over this large of an area. Bryan Weeks from the Livermore-Pleasanton club in California took the title in the Singles Championship. Congratulations, Bryan! In the Doubles Championship, shooting at Brittany Shooting Park in Illinois, Colton Schutte topped all clubs to claim the trophy. Congratulations, Colton! Claiming the Handicap Championship trophy from Livermore-Pleasanton was Gary Bonetti. Congratulations to Gary! Of the six participating clubs, there was a total of 948 entries in the championship events, making this a solid Competition Factor of 4. I would like to thank the sponsors for their support as well as those who worked hard to put this shoot together and make it happen.

On to the Missouri State Shoot along with the other shoots in the state. It seems, at least to me, that free time is more limited now than ever. I will admit that I have trouble making time to get out on weekends to shoot as much as I used to. That being said, please support your local gun clubs as often as you are able. If anyone has anything they would like to have reported or has any concerns, please contact me at srickett@sbcglobal.net or 816-863-9003. NKJV Philippians 2:3—Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. For let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Shoot often, shoot well and be safe!

Stephen Ricketts

ATA Southwestern Zone Vice President

New Mexico

March of 2026 was a memorable time for many American shooters as we traveled to New Zealand to compete in the New Zealand Championship and Down the Line Championship shooting events. The journey began with anticipation and excitement as participants prepared for the rigorous competitions ahead. Upon arrival, the warm hospitality of the New Zealand shooting community set the tone for an unforgettable experience. The events showcased not only remarkable talent but also fostered camaraderie among shooters from around the world.

Down the Line (DTL) clay target shooting is a popular discipline in the sport of trapshooting. In this event, shooters stand in a line behind a trap house, which launches clay targets away from them at varying angles. Each shooter takes turns firing at targets, aiming to break as many as possible with their allotted shots. The scoring system in DTL awards three points for breaking a target with the first shot, and two points if the target is broken with the second shot. If the target is missed with both shots, no points are awarded. The spirit of sportsmanship prevailed in the competition, with every shooter striving to perform at their best.

Camaraderie was evident on and off the range, as competitors supported one another and shared both the challenges and triumphs of the event. The picturesque landscapes of New Zealand provided a stunning backdrop to the action, further enhancing the overall atmosphere and making the experience even more memorable for participants and spectators alike. From the beautiful terrain to the carefully prepared shooting grounds, the setting complemented the high level of competition and underscored the significance of the championship on an international stage.

Congratulations to Dan Power for winning the World Championship in a shootoff. As a multiple-time Grand American attendee, it was great to support him at this event. Past ATA President Mike Herman also secured veteran second place. Beyond the scores and standings, the event served as a celebration of the global shooting community, bringing together athletes from diverse backgrounds with a shared passion for the sport. The exchange of techniques, stories and traditions highlighted the international nature of the championship and reinforced the strong bonds formed through friendly competition. For many, the experience extended well beyond the firing line, creating lasting memories and strengthening relationships that will carry forward future events. As the championship ended, it was clear that the combination of exceptional talent, true sportsmanship and an unforgettable setting made this competition one that will be remembered for years to come.

Special thanks to everyone at the Canterbury Clay Target Club in Christchurch, New Zealand, that helped us navigate firearms licensing and registration for the shoot.

Samantha Rainsdon

ATA Delegate

Texas

Howdy from Texas!

It has been a sad couple of months for the ATA. We lost our Executive Director Lynn Gipson in April. Lynn did so much for our sport, and he will be greatly missed. He dedicated so much time and effort to trapshooting. Again, he will be greatly missed.

Amarillo will be hosting the Zone 1 shoot June 19-21 at the Amarillo Gun Club. Amarillo always throws good targets, and this will be the last zone shoot and the last opportunity to meet the State Team requirements. I am looking forward to seeing everyone there.

It has been awhile since I have posted anything concerning the rules. Now that shooting is in full swing, things are starting to happen. Recently, there was an issue with a shooter declaring a special category, but due to an error, the special category was not entered into the system. The shooter was able to provide a receipt where the correct special category was assigned. It is always the responsibility of the shooter to verify at classification that everything is correct.

“SECTION II INFORMATION FOR SHOOTERS, C. RULES OF CONDUCT OF AN ATA SHOOTER: Each member will be furnished with a copy of these Official Trapshooting Rules, and it is assumed that the member will read and understand each rule. Members are strongly encouraged to know these Rules and abide by them for their own benefit and for the benefit of other shooters. 2. It is the responsibility of all shooters to see that they are handicapped and classified properly in accordance with these Rules and/or the official program. Any errors made by the classification committee and/or the shooter must be corrected before shooting or the shooter may be subject to disqualification and may be subject to further disciplinary action.”

I guess that’s it for now. If you have anything you’d like included in a future article, please email me the details, and I’ll do my best to feature it in the next update. Be sure to visit the TTA website (shoottta.org) for additional news and a list of upcoming events across Texas.

As always, I encourage everyone to volunteer at your local club and support our youth shooters. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me or any of the current TTA officers—we’re always happy to help!

Again, thanks for your support, and I will see you at the next one!

Billy Hopson

ATA Delegate

Arizona

Happy springtime in Arizona!

The month of April is historically a slow month in the trapshooting world, but there are a few items of note to mention.

First of all, target attainment. The following shooters have reached or are about to reach milestones of note. Starting with Lloyd Koty: Mr. Koty of Tucson has reached the 25,000 target attainment in handicap. Secondly, Jim Dremler of Tonto Basin is coming up on his 25,000th handicap target. Lastly, Mr. Mark Harp of Mohave is closing in on his 25,000th handicap target. Congratulations to all.

Next up, the ASTA board finalized the shoot schedule for the 2027 target year. One change of note is that the Arizona Hall of Fame Shoot will be moved back to Jan. 13-17 in 2027 and will be held at the Ben Avery Clay Target Center.

Pleasant Valley Trap Club is still in limbo as for throwing targets, but we’ll keep you all updated as to any change in this. We look forward to shooting some targets in the High Country of Arizona during the summer months.

Lastly, a reminder for the ATA Western Zone Shoot. The Western Zone Shoot will be held July 16-19 at the Northern Arizona Shooting Range in Flagstaff. The format has changed from three days and 700 targets to four days and 1,000 targets. In addition, the Zero Dollar Entry for the HOA Lewis has been increased to $10,000 and is being calculated over all 1,000 targets. We look forward to seeing you all out at one of the clubs for this upcoming shoot. There will be a warm-up shoot held July 11-12 in order to make sure everything is working well to ensure a great Western Zone Shoot at this venue. For those who use SOS Clays, pre-squadding opened April 30 for this shoot.

That’s about it for now. Enjoy the great spring weather before the heat kicks in and get out and shoot some targets!

Don Williamson

ATA Delegate

Idaho

It seems like every month there’s some sad news about the passing of one of our shooters. This time it’s Lynn Gipson. Lynn was the ATA Executive Director for more than 14 years. Lynn was always responsive to any questions I had. A lot of our communication was through email, but he always responded in less than one day. In an organization as large as the ATA, I’d say that was very commendable. In the meantime, the Executive Committee is working as a team to keep the machine running well.

Idaho is now in the thick of trapshooting. Orofino had the first shoot in early March then it really got going with the Camas Prairie Handicap tournament. Since then, Cottonwood and Coeur d’ Alene have followed suit. Now everyone was geared up for the Idaho State Shoot. It was held at the Boise Gun Club May 22-25. One of the highlights at this year’s state shoot was when Grant Williams was inducted into the Idaho Trapshooting Hall of Fame. Congratulations, Grant! He was led by his father Darin Williams, making them the first father-son inductees in Idaho. Pretty cool.

As it is, the weather in Idaho has been great, and a lot of targets are flying. Many Idaho shooters have been traveling out of state to Florida and Arizona and already banking a lot of targets. Currently we have five shooters who are closely approaching or already hit some target milestones. Kyle Perry of Bellevue, Amy Hollifield of Pocatello, and Marc Banner of Horseshoe Bend are at or near the 25,000 mark in handicap. Waylon Klundt and Kent Graham are up against 25,000 doubles targets.

That’s it for now. Good luck this summer.

Leonard Wehking

ATA Delegate

Montana

Several leagues are winding down across Montana as everyone is preparing for registered ATA tournaments. Through scattered snow and rain showers, the Flathead Valley Clay Target Club successfully wrapped up their 50th winter league season. A finely tuned handicap system set the stage. There were 25 teams that battled in final-night shootoffs to lock in first through third place across all divisions. Due to the high demand in the early 2000s, the league once hosted nearly 100 teams. In more recent years, participation has been capped at 80 six-man teams to ensure a manageable pace, allowing shooting to conclude before 10 p.m. during the twice-weekly schedule over the 14-week season. During the season, more than 336,000 targets were thrown. The team event has grown into what is believed to be the nation’s largest winter league of its kind. Individual buckles are awarded to each member of the top three teams in all eight divisions. Additional honors include top new shooter, high lady and high-over-all, bringing the total number of buckles to 147.

Several competitors continued their momentum into the new season by taking part in the annual Montana State Team singles ATA competition hosted by the Logan Trap Club in mid-April. I’m looking forward to sharing full highlights in the next edition.

The Silver Shoot ATA in Kalispell provided the perfect stage for junior shooter Ryan Fleming to earn his way to the back fence, followed by the traditional celebratory hat shoot.

The Memorial ATA Shoot in Billings took place recently, while the annual Ron Hoppie Memorial ATA Shoot was held over Mother’s Day weekend. Best of luck to all competitors in upcoming tournaments; shoot well and stay on target!

Andrew Kelly

ATA Delegate

Nevada

At the end of February, many Nevada shooters were hammering targets at Tucson Trap and Skeet Club in Tucson, AZ. They were there to participate in the 50th Anniversary of the Spring Grand American. The Spring Grand ran this year Feb. 23-March 1.

Nevada shooters represented the Silver State very well. In Event 1, the Flagstaff 100 Singles, Jasmine Hicks broke 96 and 23 in shootoff to win B class. Also in Event 1, Don Houston broke 95 and secured the D class trophy. Don continued his winning ways in Event 11, claiming the Doubles Class Championship D class trophy with 90. Our up-and-coming junior shooter, Cole Rosario, earned yet another punch for his 96 and won the junior trophy in Event 14, the prelim handicap. Next, the Event 19 Singles Class Championship saw Evan Martin breaking all 100 targets.

Rounding out the winning trophies, in the important Handicap Championship, outstanding shooter Jasmine Hicks won the Lady I trophy outright with a stellar 97. Several other good Nevada shooters were in attendance at the Spring Grand and shot excellent scores. These Nevada shooters included Jeff George, Jon Slinker, Leticia Slinker, Orion Cooper, Gary Rusch, Gina Martin, Harry Terzian, Bill Daniels, Joe Hanley, Juan Rodriguez and Carlos Rodriguez. Congratulations to all the Nevada shooters who shot at the Spring Grand.

Meanwhile, back in Vegas, the popular First Sunday Social shoot was held March 1 at the Clark County Shooting Complex. A total of 38 shooters enjoyed the mild spring weather while competing in three 50-target events. In Event 1, Cole Rosario and Howard Hughes both broke 48 handicap targets. In the doubles, there were four tied at first place when the event ended. Joe Atkin, Juan Rodriguez, Cole Rosario and Jeff White all had 44s. One week later on March 7, 33 shooters competed in the NSTA Race for the Buckle shoot. Ken James won the singles event with 48. Joe Atkin and David Johnson both had 46 to win the handicap. Don Mayhall carded a 48 in the doubles to claim first place in the Big 50.

Later in the month, several Nevada shooters were in attendance for the Arizona State Shoot, held March 10-15 at Ben Avery Clay Target Center in Phoenix, AZ. Shooters from Nevada won an impressive number of open and out-of-state trophies at Ben Avery during the Arizona State Shoot. Ken James won Class A with 99 in Event 1 singles. Hicks won Lady I with an 85 in Event 2 handicap. During Event 3 doubles, James was back in the winner’s circle to take Class B with 95. In that same event, Houston won Class D with 85. In Event 4 singles, Don again prevailed in Class D with another 85. Angel Diaz won first place in the junior category with 99 in Event 4 singles. Oscar Diaz won the 19-21-yard first place trophy in Event 5 handicap.

In the Event 6 doubles, Houston added to his trophy trove, winning the senior vet category with 94. Hicks was back in the winner’s circle for Event 6, capturing the first-place Lady I trophy with a score of 90. Gary Rusch won Event 7 doubles Class C first place with 93. Longtime top Nevada shooter Joe Hanley claimed the first-place sub-veteran award in the Event 9 handicap. Joe came back even stronger in Event 15, the Handicap Championship. There he won out-of-state top honors with a very impressive 98. Congratulations to all the Nevada shooters who shot in the Arizona State Shoot.

Lastly, this month we round out our look at the Nevada State Trapshooting Association (NSTA) Wednesday Night League, where many shooters register ATA singles targets. The Wednesday Night League, held at CCSC, is a very popular venue for new and experienced shooters alike in southern Nevada. There are four individual leagues, which coincide with the seasons. Every spring, summer, fall and winter, a league commences and lasts 10 to 12 weeks. A cumulative team score determines winners. Although you do not need to be an ATA member to participate in the leagues, for those who are ATA shooters, it is a great venue in which you can hone your ATA target skills and register some ATA targets. For example, the winning Fall and Winter League team, Phillipp’s, was composed of five frequent ATA shooters.

Moreover, the leagues have long been a place for new shooters to get a great introduction to the game of trapshooting, later transitioning to ATA competitions.

Many ATA shooters, myself included, began competition shooting in leagues, then moved to registering ATA targets in addition to league activities. Currently, the spring league is ready to commence. Approximately 200 shooters typically participate. The NSTA league gives registered shooters a head start on target requirements for the Nevada state tournament, minimum target totals required for the Nevada State Trapshooting Team, and in building their averages.

You can join the league either as a five-person team, or teams are often looking for an individual shooter to round out their squad. Please see nvtrap.com for complete contact information and details for shoots and the league.

Finally, let’s remember that it’s a game. Have fun out there!

Danny Talbot

ATA Delegate

Washington

Hello once again from the Evergreen State and the WSTA. By the time you read this, shoots at the Coulee City and Marlin clubs will be in the books, a two-day offering will be underway at the Colton Gun Club as well as shoots at Bremerton and the Old Skagit clubs, and we will be gearing up for the state shoot at Walla Walla in June. Time flies when you are having fun.

We have a good lineup of sponsorships for the state shoot. There are also some great raffle items up for grabs. Kalispel Case Line has been very generous again this year with another donation of one of their nearly indestructible gun cases. Also, don’t forget to purchase a raffle ticket from our Delegate, Bob McLendon, for a new shotgun, which will be drawn at the Grand American later this summer. Proceeds from this raffle go into the Gun Club Fund to help deserving clubs with improvements to their equipment and grounds.

I had a short chat with WSTA Hall of Famer, past president and longtime director Larry Bunch today. Larry said his certificate for reaching the 50,000 doubles attainment mark had just arrived in the mail. Congratulations, Larry, as you strive toward the 75,000 and 100,000 goals. If a shooter reaches a milestone such as this, or a first 100, 200 straight, etc., at your club, please let us know. I would love to highlight their achievements in a monthly letter here in T&F. As the summer progresses, Colton will be a host site for the ATA Western Zone once again. Then, we hope to see you back at Colton and Spangle for ATA registered shoots in September.

We, as well as the whole trapshooting community, were saddened to hear of the untimely passing of Lynn Gipson. Lynn was a stalwart supporter of our sport in many capacities and will be greatly missed.

In my next installment, I know I will have some news from recent shoots. Some more firsts and milestones will be reached, and it will be a privilege to highlight those shooters here. Until then, shoot straight and keep your powder dry.

Sean Lewis

WSTA Director

Wyoming

Hi, everyone. It’s June, and the weather has finally warmed up. So it’s time to shoot. All clubs are throwing targets this month, and the state shoot will be the end of the month, July 1-5. Looking forward to seeing everyone in Laramie. Dave and his crew are working hard to be ready and to make this shoot one to remember. Remember to hit up one of the WSTA directors for some raffle tickets; we have a special Banks Edition Knife as the grand prize. If you see Dana Ideen, please congratulate him on reaching 50,000 singles targets. Also I would like to mention that Tanie Heitz has found her groove again. Congratulations to both of you! That’s all for now.

Ron Miller

ATA Delegate