Atlantic Provinces

Hello from the Atlantic Provinces.

The weather in Atlantic, Canada has not been great for outdoor winter activities this year. On the east coast of Newfoundland, we have had a consistent mix of snow and blizzards to warm spring-like weather and heavy rains that make quick work of any accumulated snow cover and ice. The ice fishing season opens in February, but with no ice, I may have to take my spincast rod and fish from the shore.

I still have a few tickets left for the ATA’s Gun Club Raffle. Tickets are $20 each or six for $100, and this year’s prize is a Kolar Regal Trap Combo. All proceeds go to support the ATA Gun Club Fund that awards grants to ATA gun clubs through an application process for projects or initiatives that benefit or promote trapshooting at the local level.

The St. John’s R&GC, located near St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, has been successful in receiving four grants and has used the funding to help complete their ambitious multi-year Trap Improvement Project. Since 2019, the club has replaced two concrete traphouses, poured new concrete walkways on all four trapfields, installed new shooter benches and did much needed landscaping work. All work was completed by mid-summer of 2022 in time for the club to host the 2022 Atlantic Provinces ATA Provincial Shoot.

ATA Gun Club Fund applications are available on www.shootata.com. If your club is considering an upgrade project, complete an application and submit it to the ATA office. Winning clubs are announced during the Grand American.

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

Andrea Bassan

ATA Delegate

Delaware

Hopefully spring has sprung in your neck of the woods by now. As I write this in January here in Delaware, it’s 60º, but I’m sure things will get back to their normal frigid temperatures before long.

It’s been awhile since my last writing, so let’s get caught up on current events. Fritz Carlsten, after returning from a long sabbatical from trapshooting, came back to the sport a few years ago and has shot his way to a spot on the open All-American Second Team. Fritz brought back two trophies from the 2022 Grand American, fifth in the Blaser Handicap with 99, and AA runnerup in the Kubota Doubles, again breaking 99. He has also graciously accepted the position as president of the Delaware Trapshooting Association after past president Ed Meeks had to resign because a promotion at work is taking a bite out of his free time. Ed will still be helping out and shooting, just not on the level he has in the past.

Another shooter making his return to trapshooting last year was Michael Fontello. After shooting successfully as a sub- junior and junior, Michael hasn’t shot competitively since 2007. At the 2022 Grand American, he claimed three yardage trophies with scores of 98, 98 and 97 in the Krieghoff, Blaser and Challenger Ammunition handicap events. Michael has also stepped up to the plate and has accepted the position of second vice president with the DTA, volunteering for any committee that could use his help.

I would like to congratulate these two gentlemen on their accomplishments and thank them for their commitment to our organization. Speaking of commitment, there will be at least one opening on our board of directors on meeting night at the state shoot. All interested parties, please attend.

Congratulations to our 2022 State Team: captain Fritz Carlsten, Michael Fontello, John Patchell, Rickey Fortner, Bill Alfree.

Fontello was our high average leader in singles with .9739, and Carlsten was the high average leader on handicap and doubles with .9166 and .9332, respectively.

Again this year we will be holding the Delaware State Shoot in New Jersey at Pine Belt SC on Memorial Day weekend, May 26-29. Information is available in our program online at dtatrap.org.

Hard copies will be available at local area clubs. If you need a copy, e-mail me, and I’ll get one to you. I urge all planning to attend to read the program. There have been some changes in the classification section that you will need to familiarize yourself with.

When the pandemic hit, we made some changes to the target requirements. Now, in many ways, it’s time to get back to normal. Pay close attention to age-based category requirements. Our requirements are minimal and easily attainable, so get out there and shoot, and you’ll be prepared for the competition. All of us at the DTA are looking forward to seeing you all again this year.

Wilmington Trapshooting Association has a full schedule of registered shooting as well as practice and league shooting. Check out their website at wiltrapshoot.org.

If you have any friends who may be interested in shooting, bring them with you the next time you shoot. That’s the way we grow the sport.

As always, I can be reached at [email protected].

Shoot well and shoot often.

John Patchell

ATA Delegate

New Jersey

Well, it is the end of January, and rain has been the main source of precipitation here in New Jersey, instead of that other four-letter word. However, it is still causing clubs to close and not throw targets.

The 2022 New Jersey State Teams have been compiled and double-checked by NJSTA secretary Tony Pietrofitta. As in previous years, I will just be listing the names; their individual averages will be in the 2023 state program.

First team—Scott Kalnas, Justin Malone, Thomas Green Sr., Thomas Clarke, Robert Jarvis. Second team—Richard Batesko, Daniel Biggs, Tony Pietrofitta, Carlos Gomes, David Brown Sr. Ladies’—Caitlyn Barton, Elena Farro. Junior—Zac Cucunato, David Brown Jr., Santo Farro, Sheamus Killeen. Veteran—Robert Battista, John Horgan. Senior veteran—George Wright, Thomas Wolf, Robert Bishop, Jack Godwin, Gil Dinallo.

Again, in 2022, Jack Godwin registered the most targets in New Jersey, totaling 27,350.

Rick Batesko reported that a registered shoot was held at Ground Swipers Jan. 22. The events were named after fellow club shooters who passed during the year. Winners in the Don Ignozza Jr. Singles were Pat Shulack Jr., A; Fred McDonald, B; Douglas McCombie, C; and John Fodor III, D. The Ed DeSilva Handicap was won by John Kaltenbach, Shulack was second and Fred McDonald third. In the John Zlotnik Doubles Michael Chiarella was high in B; Shulack, C; Fred McDonald, D.

Pine Valley has scheduled their Early Bird Shoot March 11-12 at their facility in Pine Hill. Ground Swipers has their Shamrock Shoot scheduled for March 18-19 at their facility on Lacy Road in Forked River.

On a sad note, Steven Siegert of Keansburg passed away Dec. 31, after a lengthy illness; he was 57 years old. Steve was born and raised in Hoboken prior to moving to Keansburg in 1973. He was an auto mechanic in Red Bank. Steve enjoyed hunting and trapshooting. He was a member of the Mallard TC in Monroe Township. Steve joined the ATA in 2016 and quickly moved up to A class in singles and back to 23.5, winning many awards along the way. He registered 12,250 singles and 5,525 handicap targets. He is survived by a brother, four aunts, an uncle and nieces and nephews.

Joe Gero passed away peacefully on Jan, 7; he was 86. Joe was born in Summit and raised in Madison. After high school he in enlisted in the U.S. Army, proudly serving in the 11th Airborne Division. Joe owned his own tile installation business. He enjoyed pistol and shotgun shooting. Joe joined the ATA in 1983; he registered 51,950 singles, 26,200 handicap and 14,700 doubles targets. He is survived by Frances, his wife of 64 years, sons Joseph Jr., wife Nancy, son Patrick, wife Patricia, four brothers, nieces and nephews.

Lucky Nightingale of Maryland passed away Jan. 4. Lucky had a servere stroke seven years ago, which affected his mental capacity. He had been in a nursing home in Virginia prior to his death. Lucky cashiered our state shoots back in the late 1980s and early 1990s at Pine Belt. Lucky had been a Past President of the ATA. During his career he registered 209,350 singles, 186,925 handicap and 121,700 doubles targets.

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

Joe Sissano

ATA Delegate

Ontario

Greetings from Ontario, Canada.

I have received calls from a lot of people—even people from south of our border—looking for sources of ammunition. It is a little comical because most ammunition in North America is manufactured or assembled in the States. We in Canada have limited production from companies, such as Challenger. It is hard to get ammo here in Canada as well. And the cost is significantly higher than pre-pandemic.

Hamilton GC decided not to hold its annual Family Fair shoot in January, opting for a shell shoot shortly before our provincial championships which are scheduled to start July 5. Apparently there is expected to be a quantity of ammunition available where shooters can replenish their inventory. Meanwhile, winter league shooting continues, and many of our active competitive shooters are looking to clay fields in Arizona, Florida and other southerly locations.

Hope to see many of you there.

Paul Shaw

ATA Delegate

Alabama

With the cold temperatures, rain, winds and tornadoes playing havoc in Alabama, trapshooting has been slow going. There are a few clubs which are starting to hold some local shoots. If you can, get out and support them and also get in some practice for yourself.

Read the rulebook . . . it’s your friend!

Joke of the month: If you are Russian when you go in and Finnish when you come out, what are you when you are in the bathroom? European!

Word of the month: Go to the bad: To spoil. “Put that mayonnaise back in the refrigerator, or it’ll go to the bad.”

Please keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers. Without the men and women of our 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 [email protected].

Wayne Sartwell

ATA Delegate

Florida

Hello all from the most Southern, Northern State!

Florida trapshooting is in full swing, and there are just too many shoots for me to post who did what. Please refer to Gun Club Scores in this issue or Shootscoreboard.com.

As a side note, if I had won more in these shoots, I probably would be more inclined to post the scores! Just say’n.

Shout-outs and congratulations—Congratulations to Scott Somero for obtaining more than 20,000 ATA registered targets for the 2022 target year.

ATA News—The Grand American camping grounds are now open for reservations. Reserve yours before they are all gone!

Kolar raffle tickets: Please see me or your gun club representative to purchase your Kolar raffle tickets. Each ticket is $20. Someone is going to win, and it might as well be you (or me)!

Shoot Station app: If you are not using this app yet, you might want to start. It is the official mobile application for the ATA. It has the ability to enter current scores now, so you are always up to date. This app is really handy for when you are trying to determine your last 1,000-target average for classifying. It has the ability to tell you your current average for each discipline, your last 1,000 targets, your last 500 and 400 targets. Makes it easy.

For shooters who constantly decline handicap reductions, did you know you can ask your Delegate to have a Code D added to your file, which freezes reductions for a year.

Lastly I want to give a big thank you to all of the unselfish folks who give their time freely helping and getting things done at our gun clubs. It is incredible the effort that is put out. Those traphouses don’t clean and load themselves. So the next time you visit a gun club, and if your are able (time and health), offer to help or at the very least give them a big heartfelt, “I appreciate what you do.” Newer and younger shooters may be eager to help but maybe don’t know that they would be welcome to help. Show them!

ATA Rule for the Month: Section IV ATA Tournaments

1. Shootoffs
2. Shootoffs shall be considered and interpreted the same as registered events, and all applicable ATA rules shall apply unless mutually agreed upon by all contestants. The management of a tournament may rule that ties shall be carried over to the first (or more if needed) sub-event of the next like event. However, when there are ties in a handicap event and any tying shooter earns yardage and consequently will be shooting farther back in the subsequent handicap event, all tying shooters must agree to the carryover.
3. All ties whenever possible shall be shot off or resolved and in such a manner, as shoot management shall designate. Unless otherwise specified by the management, ties on single target events shall be shot off in 25-target events and doubles in 10-pair events.
4. High all-around championships shootoffs (HAA) shall be shot off 20 singles, 10 handicap, and five pair of doubles. Ties for high-over-all shootoffs (HOA) shall be shot off in such a manner that the shootoff represents as closely as possible the same proportion of singles, handicap and doubles targets as the high-over-all program contains but keeping the shootoff to 50 targets or less. The singles, handicap and doubles portion of the shootoff shall be shot in the order that the events occurred in the program, or as determined by shoot management.
5. When squadding shooters for shootoffs for high-over-all (HOA) and high-all-around (HAA), the shooting order shall be the order in which they shot in the last event involved except where such order would be inadvisable or dangerous because of yardage differences. This order shall remain through each portion of the shootoff.
6. The following method shall be used for rotation of shooters: Starting posts to be used shall be as follows, except where handicap yardage makes it unsafe.

If one shooter—Post 2.

If two shooters—Posts 2 and 4.

If three shooters—Posts 2, 3 and 4.

If four shooters—Posts 2, 3, 4 and 5.

If five shooters—Posts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

If more than five shooters are involved in the tie, they shall be divided as equally as possible into two or more squads as directed by the management. In subsequent shootoffs, the post shall be rotated in a clockwise manner, with the shooter from Post 1 advancing to Post 2 and the shooter from Post 5 rotating to Post 1 or to the post dictated by the number of shooters remaining, but always in clockwise rotation.

6. The practice of banking targets in advance of commencement of a shootoff is not permitted unless all tying shooters are notified and are in unanimous agreement. Exception: banking of targets is permissible for telephonic shoots held in multiple locations.
7. It is recommended that shooters involved in shootoffs be given no more than three five-minute calls to report for a shootoff. First call, second call and final call.

I will try to keep all of you informed and entertained with what’s going on in Florida. I want to especially recognize shooters and clubs.

My e-mail is [email protected].

Mike Reynolds

ATA Delegate

Mississippi

As the season heats up and good shooting weather makes its return, our trapshooting is on the rise. I’m sure we all think of making sure guns and ammo are ready to go, but there is another often overlooked aspect of our sport that also needs to be ready. It’s not just breaking targets, it’s how you do so. Do you know the rules? Have you thought about shooter etiquette? Our trapper friends in Nevada put together some guidance on etiquette that can be found on the home page of the ATA website. It would be good for all of us to check it out—just as a reminder. Then, too, a thorough review of the ATA Rulebook is also in order. For example, the Post 1 shooter (squad leader) has responsibilities specified in the rules that we need to know, regardless of whether we start on Post 1. Do you know the failure to fire rules, the handicap system, reasons for disqualification, shootoff procedures, etc.? It’s all in the rulebook. We all need to remember that how we play the game counts just as much, maybe even more so, than the number of targets we break.

While we are on the subject of rules and etiquette as we gear up for the season, just plain old good sportsmanship comes to mind. Timely shooting when your turn comes and the rhythm of the squad are important. It only takes one slow shooter to disrupt the flow of shooting and the harmony of the shoot. This can result in disqualification of the offending shooter(s) if excessive. Also, we need to make sure that we are at our assigned trap on time and ready to shoot. Making other shooters wait in blazing hot weather is not fun and is inconsiderate of the offending shooter. There are also helpful actions that we can take, such as moving your microphone to the assigned yardage of the oncoming shooter as you leave your post in handicap events. Then there’s one I really like, shake hands with your fellow shooters and tell them that you enjoyed shooting with them when your event ends. Finally, tell your referee that you appreciate their service. After all, it’s a long, hard day for them, and referees are usually hard to get. Just let them know that you appreciate them.

And here’s one for the onlookers. The benches behind the trapline around the gun racks are for the shooters, both those who are shooting and those getting ready to shoot—not for parents and fans of the shooters. There is also the issue of golf carts. Carts have become integral to our sport, even necessary for some of our shooters to get around and to remain active participants. However, golf carts stacked up, sometimes eight or 10 deep behind the referee on a trapfield, is often inconsiderate of other shooters who cannot even see the squad numbers posted on the referee stands. No, I don’t think golf carts should be disallowed, but I do think it would behoove golf cart users to realize that they are privileged to use their carts and would be wise to use them with respect for others.

Okay, I apologize for spending too much verbiage on my soapbox. Let’s move on to news of Mississippi trapshooting. Capitol GC in Jackson is getting set for a two-day Catfish Trapshoot. It’s a 600-target program April 1-2. Don’t be left out and miss an opportunity to experience a good shoot at Capitol before the state shoot, also at Capitol at the end of May. As for the state shoot, Capitol’s trappers are making progress, and the program is fast falling into place. Make sure you have May 25-28 on your calendar. This is your Mississippi State Trapshoot. If you want input, know of vendors, can help in any way, just let us know. Contact Will McCarty or any of our Capitol trappers to give us your support. Then in July, Capitol will host its flagship shoot, the Rebel Trapshoot, July 8-9. It’s another two-day, 600-target program that will help get you ready for the ATA Southern Zone Trapshoot July 21-23.

This year the Southern Zone returns to Mississippi with a site at Coast R&PC in Biloxi on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The trappers on the Gulf Coast are impressive. They offer the best in Southern hospitality, great targets, excellent accommodations and the finest seafood cuisine. If you miss this shoot, you will miss one of the best. Make sure you put it on your calendar.

On a final note, both Capitol and Coast R&P clubs offer monthly shoots throughout the year. Needless to say, there are plenty of trapshooting possibilities in Mississippi.

As always, happy trappin’!

Jerry Tharp

ATA Delegate

South Carolina

Another cold, rainy day on Wednesday, our practice day at the gun club. Yesterday was beautiful, and tomorrow is forecast to be great, figures.

The Big 50 program has been great for Greenville; Mid Carolina beat us by a long way adding the Big 50 to their schedule. It’s much less time consuming and easier on volunteers who run the shoot. Whoever thought up the Big 50 gets a big attaboy or attagirl.

Everyone is busy tying up the needs for our state shoot May 17-21. As usual, with kids still in school, finding trap help is difficult. Teresa has had a good handle on this. Give her an attagirl next time you see her. Once the trap help is secured, everything else seems to fall into place.

All the big shoots in our area are near, so make your plans. Southern Grand is in March, and Georgia is at the end of April. Our shoot is middle of May then North Carolina the first of June. The ATA Southern Zone Shoot has a big change in that the North Carolina homegrounds will not participate this year. The locations will be Florida, Kentucky and Mississippi. That will mean a long drive for a lot of shooters.

See you at the next shoot.

Jim Faber

ATA Delegate

Tennessee

Well, the calendar says it is almost spring. That means it’s time to head south to Florida. The 43rd Southern Grand is March 12-19 at the Silver Dollar in Odessa, FL.

Don’t forget that this shoot starts on Sunday, the 12th and goes through the next Sunday, the 19th. Club rules state that shooting must end by 7:45 p.m. each day, therefore they only throw 200 targets each day.

The following week the club will host the Florida State Shoot March 21-26.

I’m sorry to report the loss of two Tennessee trapshooters.

Levi Matthew Cassidy, 18, began his shooting career in 2018 with his school, the Macon Co. Trap Team. He shot all throughout high school with a smile and words of support for his fellow athletes. He was never able to achieve a 100 straight in a registered shoot, but he got his 100 during practice in preparation for the Grand. He ended his career after the Grand as a AAA junior shooter. Levi’s life was devastatingly cut short after a single car accident on Nov. 11, 2022. The morning of his funeral, family, teammates and friends came together and shot his cap in memory of his amazing life.

John Crosser, 78, of Milan passed away Jan. 13. Active from 1982 to 2019, John registered 330,600 targets. He was inducted into the Tennessee Trapshooting Hall of Fame in 2005. Over the past 40 years I have shot on the squad with him numerous times.

Condolences to both shooters’ families and numerous friends.

Read the rulebook, please.

For more info, visit our website at shootatatn.com. You can reach me at [email protected].

Billy Cook

ATA Southern Zone Vice President

Missouri

Greetings, shooters. I hope all is well, and everyone is thinking about the upcoming shooting season. For those of you who can find reloading components, I hope you have a good start on reloading this year’s ammo. For those of you who don’t reload, I hope you have been able to acquire ammo for this year’s shooting. While the component and ammo supplies have been somewhat better than last year, I still hear shooters commenting on lack of availability and pricing. I wish everyone good luck on acquiring what you need for your shooting season. Unfortunately the price of targets continues to increase, which is driving higher costs for gun clubs around the country. It gets to be a greater challenge every year balancing cost and revenue without driving shooters away from the sport. Please know that difficult decisions are being made by gun clubs raising prices in order to remain solvent.

The MTA board made some changes to the State Teams, which delayed the announcement of the 2023 State Teams. On behalf of the of the MTA BOD, I would like to announce the following shooters who made the teams.

Men’s—Patrick Hopson, .9656; Zachari Nannini, .9621; Curtis Biggerstaff, .9357; Corey Spruill, .9250; David Hull, .9204. Ladies’—Hanna Martin, .9498; Bailey Lueders, .9344; Anna Rawe, .9126; McKenzie Albers, .8970; Millicent Laboube, .8881. Sub-junior—Braden Elbert, .9040; Stephen Loxterman, .9033; Cole Harlan, .8967; Carter Vaughn, .8750; Avery Biggerstaff, .8732. Junior—Andrew Herbig, .9377; Noah Trousdale, .9321; Jordan Ziercher, .9304; Andrew Stone, .9292; Ian Kutilek, .9230. Junior gold—Hunter Spruill, .9651; Ryan Loveless, .9415; Hayden Miller, .9371; Kelan Kinion, .9367; Wyatt Newby, .9361. Sub-vet—David Deitch, .9452; Bobby Chambers, .9326; Marvin Beumer, .9263; David Wommack, .9172; Michael Brown, .9131. Veteran—Steven J Fuller, .9147; David Smith, .9052; Rick Cisiewski, .8725; Lloyd Tucker, .8631; Jack Halfacre, .7500. Senior vet—G. Runyon, .9320; Gary Gooch, .9212; Thomas Fierge, .9039; Tom Rombach, .9027; Troy Ellis, .8792. Congratulations to everyone who made the State Teams!

For many years, MTA inducted only one person into the Hall of Fame at a time. Last year two very deserving shooters were inducted. Again, this year the MTA BOD made the decision to induct two shooters into the MTA Hall of Fame; congratulations to Marvin Beumer and Dale Atkinson.

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

NKJV Proverbs 22:4—By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life.

Shoot often, shoot well and be safe!

Stephen Ricketts

 ATA Delegate

Oklahoma

Big 50s and derbies have been going strong in Oklahoma. Bartlesville has been having a weekly Big 50 on Wednesday nights. An average of 20 shooters show up every week about dark. They have good lights, and everyone seems to enjoy the shooting and fellowship. These shoots always run smoothly, and shooting is completed before 9:00. Shawnee and El Reno shoot a derby on alternating Sundays from December through February. The program consists of 50 targets in all three events (non-registered). Approximately 40 shooters have been attending these shoots. It’s a lot of fun for any shooter who just can’t put their gun away for the winter.

The OTSA held their club shoot Dec. 11. This shoot is an annual event. The program is always 50 singles and 50 handicap targets. HOA for the day is crowned “club champion.” This year 42 shooters gave it their best. Kelly Thacker’s combined score was 97, making him club champion.

Spring trapshooting is just around the corner; soon there will be an ATA trapshoot to attend on any given weekend, and state shoots will be in full swing. Please remember and honor the rule in Section II, C. 2, which in a nutshell states it is the shooter’s responsibility to make sure he/she is classified correctly. Take a look at the program to see what classification level is being used. If you have a 92 average in singles, and they classify you as D class, they’ve made a mistake, and it’s your responsibility to have that corrected. Also honor this “unwritten rule,” if any shooter believes his target or any squad member’s target was a loss, but the scorekeeper didn’t call lost, he/she should stop the shooting and clarify how the target was scored. If no one insists they saw a piece, then the target should be scored lost. I hope everyone has an awesome season, and I look forward to seeing you at the shoots.

Gavin Egner is a new Oklahoma shooter from Collinsville. It looks like he had a good hunt for his first deer season. Here’s his story

My First Deer

It was Dec. 4; I went out Nov. 27, got nothing. Dec. 1, got nothing. December 2, got nothing. Then I went out with my grampa on the last day and got one. So we were watching about five doe, and all we could see were ears and eyes, no shoulder. And then I saw another deer coming, and I shouted quietly, “Grampps, it’s another deer.” “It’s a buck!” My grampa responded, “I don’t see no buck.” I said, “Make a noise,” cocking back the hammer of the gun. He made about three noises until it stopped, and my grampa finally could see it. He made a loud noise. And my grampa said, “Now!” . . . BANG! I shot the buck on the last day at 4:46 p.m. I was so happy, and I was going to find it. It was a six-point! I’m so glad me and my grampa went hunting that day—Gavin Egner.

Jeff Trayer

ATA Delegate

Texas

I know that in the winter there is not as much going on in the shooting sport that we all enjoy. There are still clubs shooting registered targets in Waco, Austin, Corpus Christi, Houston, and I’m sure some I didn’t name. Here in the Panhandle, only Amarillo has monthly shoots scheduled in the winter, and some of those get canceled.

I do have some news to tell you about, thanks to Mike Miller. As I reported before, Sue Hopper registered her 500,000th target—that’s a half million targets. Her friends at Sir Charlie Long’s Metro Gun Club got together and threw a party for Sue. I’m sure everyone had a good time. Congratulations Sue, and thanks Mike for sharing the news with me.

While there is not a lot of shooting activity going on, it would be a great time to do a little rulebook reading. You heard me right; I said a little rulebook reading. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it as many times as Sue Hopper has shot at a registered target (that is a lot, by the way), please read the rulebook. Who knows, it may save you a target someday. If you receive a computer-generated reduction and you do not plan on accepting it, please refuse it online or by calling the ATA office. This will save a lot of confusion and a possible disqualification.

No news is not good news when you are trying to write this article. Thanks, Mike Miller, and shame on the rest of you.

Please remember that I do not do Messenger. That is correct, I do not do Messenger. Just thought you should know.

If you have news, please let Princess or me know, so I can include it in these ramblings. You can call me at 806-679-6889, snail mail to 907 S. Main St., Hereford, TX 79045, or e-mail me at [email protected].

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

Jerry O’Connor

ATA Delegate

Arizona

The future? Boy, are we getting mixed signals. The recent Hall of Fame Shoot at Ben Avery had a 20% increase in shooters over 2022, and that was almost exclusively due to in-state competitors. Tiger tells me that Casa Grande is up, while Doug Sims says they are down at Tucson. So, who knows?

Here is what I do see: the cost of labor keeps climbing due to minimum wage laws, and it is harder and harder to get help. I think everyone knows the reason for that. The cost of ammunition seems to have leveled off, but it is substantially higher than pre-COVID days. Fuel prices are slowly going down but may never return to levels seen a few years back. Go into any pharmacy or supermarket, many of the shelves are bare, and everything is more expensive. In short, people have less disposal income, and trapshooting is not an inexpensive sport. On the other hand, I get the impression that we have more junior shooters than in the past. This is due to people like Greg Spiczka; his Phantom Sure Shots seem to be everywhere. If the weather gods cooperate, attendance at our state shoot at Tucson March 14-19 might be a good indication of things to come.

Smoke and chips—Although the Western Zone will not be until mid-June, and this is being written in January with snow on the ground in Prescott, we are trying to zero in on a location. Kingman is looking promising. There has been a change in officers at the club, and they are determined to bring trapshooting back to the prominence that it once held there. The Mohave SC has good fields, RV parking and the lure of Laughlin nearby. Plus, it is certainly cooler than more southerly locations. Stay tuned.

Speaking to returning to former prominence, Ben Avery is already there, thanks to their staff and the work of the ASTA board and the gang at 2 Lazy 2. They held a well-attended Christmas Shoot Dec. 10-11, and the Ben Avery Mafia was there in force, plus the first wave of snowbirds. The Santa Singles got things off and running, with Jim Sharp and Mark Matthews leading the way. Both came in with 99s. Larry Kennon was one back, followed by George Miller. Next was the Holiday Handicap, and Curtis Bietz was the top Arizona shooter with 94. Jesse Zamora was right on his tail, and Tom Braden was third. Now that Curtis had tasted glory, he did it again, this time in the doubles. His 96 topped the field. Max Peevyhouse was second among our guys.

The Dashing Doubles led off Sunday, and when the gun smoke lifted, Kaitlin Quan was up by two. Matthews was runnerup. Event 5, the Shootin’ Straight Singles, featured five guys and gals from Arizona at the top. Kaitlin, Mark and Max all came in with 99s; Fred Frazier had a 98—just remember a few months ago I said watch Fred, he is on a roll—and Eric Kaiser broke 97. Speaking of Eric, he earned some yardage in the Hittin’ Hard Handicap. His 97 led the field by three. Bob Mlynarz and Vaughn Hollman were next for Arizona.

Our Hall of Fame Classic was held at Ben Avery Jan. 11-15, and a spry, 90-year-old Clyde Thompson was the guest of honor and newest HOF inductee. Among Clyde’s many achievements was developing one of the first computer programs for running large trapshoots. It is still in use today. For many years he ran things in the back office at Tucson, always with a smile on his face. He helped revolutionize the way major shoots are run. I can tell you from personal experience that Clyde was always a pleasure to work with. Thank you, Clyde, and congratulations!

There were 59 entries in the opening singles, with Jim Sharp and Matthews leading the way with perfect 100s. Walter Allen was one back at 99. They were followed by Gerry Williams and Greg Holden, plus super coach Greg Spiczka and up-and-coming junior Alexis Fernan, all had 97. Event 2 was the handicap, and again Arizona led the way. This time it was Jim Kidwell and Allen. You will be hearing Walter’s name more and more, both as a board member from the southern zone, as he has taken Richard Lane’s place, and as a shooter. Jim and Walter had 95s. The doubles finished off Wednesday, and Fernan, Williams and the Pride of Prescott, Joe Henderson, all tied for runnerup. Frazier was one back.

Doubles got things started off on Thursday, and Alexis beat out 36 other shooters with a 95. Williams fell one short, and Mike Petrisko was one behind Gerry. Mike then showed off his singles prowess with the only 100 straight among 61 competitors. Matthews and Sharp followed at 99 and 98, respectively. The handicap rounded out the day, and 27-yard shooter Don Williamson was high gun at 95; then came Frazier, Williams and Randy Wegerski.

In Friday’s Preliminary Singles, Quan and Matthews tied at 99, while one back from the lead was junior Isabella Ricci, (these junior gals are killing us old guys), Larry Kennon and Allen. Then Isabella rubbed it in with a fine 98 in the ’caps. Another junior, Wyatt Pizinger, was next at 96, while Ken Mlyzarz and Vaughn finished with 95s. Finally, in the doubles, a non-junior and definitely not a female came to the rescue. Tim Robb topped all Arizona shooters with 97. Petrisko trailed by one, with Bruce Hobbs, Peevyhouse and Scott Skaggs right behind.

Steve Stella tied for high gun in the Singles Championship with 198. Kyle Dennis, Matthews, Ron Schroer, Robb and Allen were next at 197. In the Doubles Championship, Jimmy Heller’s 97 topped all Arizona competitors, Petrisko was right behind at 96, then came Ricci and Sims.

The 2023 Arizona Hall of Fame handicap winner was Eric Kaiser with 96. Mike Jarvis and Wegerski were next in line. Robb tied for the all-around and won the high-over-all. Ricci and Nathanial Pizinger came in second.

Everyone gave the shoot high marks.

Around the state—The Spring Grand American and Arizona State Shoot will be in the past, and the frenetic days of our high season will be over, but that’s not the end of Arizona trapshooting, much is ahead. Casa Grande has two good size shoots coming up March 22-26 and March 31-April 2; Lake Havasu will have Big 50s on March 25, followed by Big 50s at Tri-State on the 26th, and then again on April 2. Ben Avery then holds a two-day tournament April 15-16. Don’t forget Big 50s every Monday at Casa Grande as well as singles marathons the first Thursday of every month and a doubles marathon on the third Thursday at Rio Salado.

See you on the line.

John Bergman

ATA Delegate

Idaho

Current time of writing (January): Camas Prairie League (CPL) is going hot and strong. The last two weeks, more than 800 shooters participated each weekend. Granted this is between 24 gun clubs in Idaho and Washington. It’s January and wintery cold. Us city folk shooters in the southern half of the state spend a lot of time in the clubhouse. Up north, the hearty shooters (farmers who don’t need to tend their fields right now) are the ones shooting up a storm. Some of the very small clubs are posting 50 to 60 scores a weekend for the CPL, while the biggest clubs in the south are posting less than half that much. I suggest us city folk ought to learn how to wear long underwear.

Current time of reading this (March): The Camas Prairie ATA Handicap Tournament will be either underway or over. We’ll all be talking about how the weather was, how much fun, who were the big winners, etc. This is a shoot everyone in the Western Zone should attend. It’s the first big ATA shoot of the season in this part of the country and is generally larger than our state shoot. Hopefully I’ll have about 900 targets under my belt with warmer weather approaching at the end of the shoot.

Back to the present time of writing. Nothing much is happening except leagues and meat shoots. On a note of recognition, Waylon Klundt is 200 handicap targets away from his 25,000 pin. How do I know this? ATA notifies the Delegates of milestones, fees not paid, yardage reductions, etc. I have his pin and am looking forward to congratulating him. By the time he reads this, he will probably be over the milestone.

On another note of recognition, I want to recognize an Idaho shooter who has been a servant to the shooters for many years. Danny McKenzie has served as Delegate, Alternate Delegate and Central Handicap Committee member for many years. He has now turned the reins and is relaxing from little problems all year long. He hails from northern Idaho, and when you see him, thank him for his many years of service to the sport.

Well, every month I’m comparing rules with ATA and PITA and discussing some of the nuances. So far we’ve talked about target speeds, where to measure from (16-yard line or back of the house), left or right target on doubles, failure to fire etc. etc. In the official letter of agreement between the ATA and PITA, if a shooter is a member of both organizations and has different yardage assignments, the shooter must shoot from the longer yardage. In ATA, any score of 96 will automatically earn a half-yard, provided it does not earn at least that much under the earned yardage table. (ATA rule VI, D., 2.). In PITA, a score of 97 or better earns a minimum of one full yard, regardless of the number of shooters. (Page 29, 2021-2022 PITA rulebook). So if an ATA shooter is shooting in a PITA tournament and shoots a 96 in handicap, nothing happens. However, if the shooter is cross registering their targets, the shooter will gain a half-yard on their ATA card, and their PITA yardage will be unaffected. This could still cause the shooter to advance to the next whole yard if they were at a half-yard increment previously and be required to shoot at their longest yardage. This takes some thinking, which gives me a headache. I think next month I’ll talk about flight angles and more beer drinking discussions.

Leonard Wheking

ATA Delgate

New Zealand

We held the Thames club Christmas shoot on Dec. 3.

This is the club’s opportunity to provide a low-cost tournament for the members with a great range of prizes including hams, half hams, turkeys, chickens, meat packs, cakes, wine, etc.

Entry included lunch and our usual Christmas 150-target singles program shot in three rounds of 50 with a break for lunch after the first 100 as well as entry into our 100 straight jackpots over the first 100. What a fun day of shooting. As a bonus, we got a favorable day of weather with just an occasional light breeze and mostly clear skies. Add that to the great Thames background, and you have the formula to shoot some good scores. We ran three classes: A, B, C.

A big thanks to Wayne for helping to run the office and the regulars who help clean up and pack up the equipment. Glenn Ramsay, Bob James and Stan George volunteered to run the kitchen and provide a great lunch.

Unfortunately, due to a severe weather system with heavy rain and strong winds forecast, we canceled our Independent Transport Parts-sponsored handicap shoot Jan. 7, but it will be rescheduled.

The following weekend, Jan. 14-15 was our 2023 New Zealand Provincial Championships, hosted this year by the Patangata CTC in the Central Hawkes Bay, a little south of the middle of the North Island on the eastern side.

Wow, what a great job the club president, Ross (Roscoe) Williams, and the crew did running the tournament flawlessly. As well as Roscoe, a huge thanks to Shane and Andy who donated their time instead of shooting to do an amazing job running the office. Helen, Jane and Linda ran the kitchen both days, providing a lunch worthy of a really nice country cafe. The tables even had tablecloths. A big thanks to Graham, Chris, Ron, Mike and everyone who helped load traps, referee and score to keep the squads and tournament running in a timely fashion as well as all the other members and helpers who helped make the tournament the success it was.

I think all the participants were impressed with how well the club ran the event.

The club also has provision to park campers and motorhomes, and a number of the competitors enjoyed the opportunity to do so. The club had competitors from as far away as the top of the north island.

Patangata is a two-trap club but punched way above its weight running the provincials. The club has Pat-Traps in both houses, and the boys know how to set an excellent regulation target and pair of doubles. The club has also recently extended their lanes out to 27 yards in preparation for the provincials event.

We were fortunate with the weather, which had been wet but favored us with a couple days of overcast and sunny patches with an occasional light breeze. The targets were flying really well.

Congratulations to everyone involved with the club for an outstanding tournament.

The club started more than 60 years ago when a group of local farmers couldn’t get across the river in flood stage to go to another club, so decided to set up the Patangata club in its current location.

Any visiting ATA shooters would be well advised to check the Patangata shoot schedule and make an effort to attend while in New Zealand; you won’t be disappointed. There’s a variety of accommodations in reasonable proximity to the club as well as a wide range of wineries and points of interest to visit.

See the story in this issue for results and scores.

Paul Basten

ATA Delegate

Utah

We are in the deep freeze of winter here in Utah. Snowstorm after snowstorm. The ski resorts love it, and I hate it, although it is nice to have our reservoirs full in the summertime.

Not a whole lot of shooting going on right now because of the cold. However, when there is shooting this time of year, it resembles the Jerry Lee Lewis song, “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.”

I just returned from attending the SHOT Show (Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade show) in Las Vegas. That event is unbelievable in size. It is sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. The NSSF told us they had approximately 55,000 attendees with 2,000 vendors. If it weren’t for the ATA Executive Director Lynn Gipson and his aides, Liz Lloyd and Samantha Sherrick, to guide me to our next appointment, I would have been lost the entire time.

The very first morning when the doors were opened, I happened to be walking down the hall when a gentleman next to me said, “Hi, Ed.” It was Utah County resident Bart Kirkham. Bart was not only a puller/scorekeeper at the Spanish Fork GC in the mid 1990s, but he and his father Danny were shooters as well. Unfortunately Danny passed away a little over a year ago.

Here is some of my useless trivia. In 1997, when he was about 17 or so, Bart pulled doubles for my squad, which consisted of Jerry Tesch, Charlie Long, Dean Neumann, John Vosnos and myself when we tied the doubles world record of 498×500. Alas, that record has since been broken.

Bart had a couple of years of unbelievable averages in all disciplines. He had an unusual stance that looked awkward and uncomfortable. I remember the late Frank Hoppe and I watching Bart shoot, and Frank said, “He looks to be a great shot, but I think I may give him some pointers on his stance.” I told Frank to go look at the scoreboard. After he saw scores of 100s and 99s in all three disciplines, Frank came back and said ,“Maybe I need to get pointers from him.” Bart is now in a supervisory detective position for the Lehi, UT, police force and has a nice family to occupy his time. It is always great to see old acquaintances again.

I digress. Back to the SHOT Show.

Among the hordes of people, I did manage to run into Mike and Grayson Stuart, Mike and Jenny McGowen, and Karl and Kerri McKnight.

At the Browning display, I visited with Jackie Love. I told Browning’s marketing director, Shaundi Campbell, that Jackie made the Utah State Women’s Team. She said she knew and that Browning was very proud of her. I told her, “As am I.”

I was lucky enough to be invited to a speech by Larry and Brenda Potterfield of Midway USA. The Potterfields are the benefactors of the Midway USA Foundation. The foundation is an endowment program to help youth shooters nationwide with matching grants. This is a great program.

           Ed Wehking

           ATA President