ClayShootingUSA JulAug2022

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS:

BRUCE BUCK

PAUL COOK BILL ELLIOTT MARK FITZPATRICK CYLE FOLEY MATTHEW GAY JIM KRALIK DEREK MOORE

HARVEY SCHWARTZ

LOUISE TERRY SPENCER TOMB MIMI WILFONG

COPYRIGHT

CONTENTS

FROM THE EDITOR

It’s

been quite a journey delving into this world of writing, considering a few years back my written words were limited to the highly technical pieces, associated with my career of the last 28 years, and some lengthy Facebook posts. A friend suggested that I had a knack for writing in the literary sense and should consider pitching some articles to ClayShootingUSA, and so the genesis began. With some good mentors and support from the excellent staff at ClayShootingUSA, I was able to harness this gift and assemble some material that is relevant to our readers.

TrapShootingUSA and

LadyShooter Lifestyles offered me the opportunity to submit pieces that were subsequently published, and I have enjoyed every minute of contributing to all the titles within this publisher’s portfolio. As was stated last month in the Publisher’s Notes, ClayShootingUSA is committed to maintaining the highest quality of content in the industry. You will see some expansion in our subject matter in an effort to cover the many great clubs, facilities and events that currently are not associated with registered targets. We will also be delving into other wingshooting pursuits with the knowledge that this subject is of great interest for many of our subscribers. These

additions to the scope of the material covered are not necessarily “changes” per se, they are simply a desire to encompass all aspects of this lifestyle for which we are so passionate. You will begin to see reviews on field guns, gear, ammunition as well as game bird profiles, and one of my favorite subjects, gundogs.

The objective is to give you the reader, additional information and entertainment that is pertinent and enjoyable to read, while maintaining the highest level of shoot coverage that you have come to expect from us. We want to make certain that the topics you want to hear about are covered thoroughly and consistently. We always appreciate the critiques

and suggestions from our readers so don’t be bashful with story suggestions or ideas for content.

I want to thank the publishers for giving me this opportunity to be your editor, but most of all I want to thank YOU the subscriber for making this all possible. I look forward to sharing stories and ideas with you on the course, in the field and on the pages of ClayShootingUSA. n

Matthew Gay Editor editor@clayshootingusa.com

SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL at providence hill

“THE POWER OF PROVIDENCE”

BY MARK FITZPATRICK

As you drive the roads criss-crossing Mississippi you begin to understand the variety of topography which is the collage of Mississippi. From the coastline to the Red Hills, to the Delta Flatlands this complex and contemplative state has shaped some of the most creative minds in the world.

Mississippi is both a time capsule of American history and an experiment in modern America. As the home of music, literature, law, and sports, it’s easy to see men of Mississippi have occupied seats on the Supreme Court, wrote and performed iconic blues, authored Nobel Prize-winning prose, and led football teams to the promised land.

As I log many days and many miles in Mississippi, I warm to its idiosyncrasy. The state has rich patina from decades of struggle and celebration. Mississippi is a survivor and a thriver. Case in point, Ulysses S. Grant crushed Mississippi’s mission to break

away from America and continue its reliance on the very profitable practice of slavery and cotton production.

In response, Mississippi offers to host the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library on the campus of Mississippi State University.

Grant (who was born in Ohio, lived in Galena, Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri; served as President in Washington DC, and died in New York) has his Presidential Museum just south of West Point, Mississippi on the campus of Mississippi State University. You can’t make that up.

One needs to look no further

than the 2022 South Central Regional hosted at Providence Hill to understand the beauty of Mississippi’s rolling meadows, big timber and lakes brought together in harmony on the 1,200 acres known as Providence Hill Farm Sporting Club. I traveled over 24,000 miles and visited the moststoried sporting clay venues in America, and I can tell you, Providence Hill is a very unique and special place which stands out in my mind. Seldom have I shot targets over a crystal blue lake, let alone multiple blue lakes during a tournament. Brown ponds, yes— but five blue lakes with seawalls, only at Providence Hill.

“To understand the world, you must first understand a place like Mississippi.” --William Faulkner, Mississippi Native, Nobel Prize winner and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner

Rising nearly 30 feet, two sets of large artistically significant iron gates spanning 40 feet and anchored by majestic stone walls welcome shooters to Providence Hill, with grand style befitting a 5-Star resort. Massive and stunning gilded age horse stables built from the finest stone to 3-story heights anchor one of the many rolling hills and pose a stunning backdrop when viewed from throughout the estate.

Equestrian fencing lines the property like pearls on a debutant’s neck. Bright green meadows graze the finest pampered horses. The 1,200-acre estate is manicured within an inch of its life. If there is a more stunning slice of heaven hosting a Regional Championship, it must still be in my future. Admittedly, this is my first Regional, but Providence Hill set a high bar for future championships.

The finest buffet lunches featuring carving stations and served in silver chafing dishes, emphasized multiple entrees and sides to maximize the shooter’s choice. Tournament dinners featuring full-size roast pigs and multiple grazing stations for proteins, starches, and sweets indulged attendees. I will take a

“grazing” dinner party over a sitdown dinner party anytime, especially at a mingling event designed to promote shooter fellowship like a regional championship. Napoleon taught the world, “an army marches on its stomach,” and we know the food at Providence Hill was exceptional by tournament standards.

In my estimation, it was brilliant. Thanks to Providence Hill in-house chefs, High Cotton, catering, and tournament organizers, including Julia Gillman at HOA Sports Management for seeing this Regional Championship tournament through a fresh lens.Two Regional Championships and a National Championship are still in my 2022 future so I will reserve final judgement until we complete the 2022 circuit.

We have also described Providence Hill as a wonderous natural setting to host a Regional Championship, enhanced by man’s particular gift for adding modern creature comforts and artistic architectural flair. Shooter logistics were exceptional. Plenty of spacious dust-free parking was available with numerous shuttles constantly moving shooters to

SHOOTREPORT

their next destination.

In a time when some tournaments have limited or no ammo for shooters, Providence Hill had plenty of available ammo without the buying restrictions many tournaments have imposed. A fully stocked pro shop is also unusual during these times of postCOVID material shortages, but somehow Providence Hill managed to stock theirs with desired wares.

Providence Hill thoughtfully used a large portion of their 1,200acres to establish shooting venues in stunning landscapes with ample green-space between shooting stations. Gracious tree-lined asphalt roadways and brilliant treelined, gently rolling green meadows provided “dust-free” travel corridors for shooters. The shooting station layout and course design was less like the traditional shoulder-to-shoulder condo development layout of many gun clubs, and more like luxury multiacre estates for sporting clays. The shooting experience was noticeably spacious and designed

to align the shooter in harmony with the estate’s natural gifts of water, timber and rolling meadow.

As a shooter who walks every sporting clay course, I am uniquely connected to the land, the topography and subtlety of all environments I travel. Such is the benefit of an observational walk which connects one to nature and its potential gifts. I can say with great confidence, my walks at Providence Hill exceeded all other walks in both beauty, distance, and topography.

Officially titled the 2022 South Central Regional/FITASC Grand Slam/Providence Cup, 552 Shooters graced the sacred clay grounds known as Providence Hill Sporting Club. The 200-target main event, held on the ever-present Arabian and Mustang courses, produced a photo finish horse race between Joe Fanizzi and David Radulovich, both posting 196s and resulting in a shoot-off. The result was Joe Fanizzi as HOA and David Radulovich as runner up. Congrats to both Joe and David for a battle royal well fought.

In pursuit of HOA, the elusive 100-straight was accomplished by Joe Fanizzi. Seldom achieved, but often threatened, the 100-straight in sporting clay competition is a unicorn. At the Georgia State Championship, by all standards, a mini-regional, Brandon Powell and Gebben Miles tied with a 100-straight on the Perazzi High Tech course. The elusive 100-straight is a testament to sound technical shooting but equally important, mental toughness and supreme concentration as the shooter counts down to the final bird.

Target setters have learned how to beat the best shooters without introducing full spring on football field dimensions. A fastball, followed by an off-speed pitch, followed by a slider, a sinker, and a curve are the models also incorporated into the new world of sporting clays. New innovative traps allow for unbridled creativity from today’s best target setters. Throw in a steady diet of variable targets such as rabbues, battues, midis and 70s, and today’s best

shooters must fine tune an everexpanding library of technical Information as they stand in the station and develop their plan. Ever contemplated how vast a professional shooter’s library of technical shooting components must be to shoot 100-straight in this new and ever-more difficult world of increased target variables and flight path subtleties?

The main event, FITASC and 5-Stand are now competing with new games such as American Field Sporting (AFS), AFS Turbo and sew-style FITASC. Innovative game designers are also re-thinking Make-A-Break and other shoot-off methodologies. A new shoot-off game called “The Matrix” was introduced recently by Tim Miles. They are exciting and disruptive times in the world of sporting clays as shooting grounds all over America work tirelessly to make the games more interesting and addictive.

Ever wonder if AFS will replace International FITASC and become America’s FITASC? The 2022 Providence Hill regional hosted 104 AFS competitors while the 2022 Northbrook regional hosted 239 AFS Turbo competitors. U.S. Open Champ, and Georgia State Champ Brandon Powell won both AFS Providence Hill and AFS Turbo Northbrook. I spoke to a lot of shooters who really enjoyed the inaugural AFS Turbo competition at Northbrook’s regional. I shot it and found it an innovative treat in the sporting clay arsenal. I hope we see more inspiring games in the future of sporting clays.

Speaking of FITASC, Zachary Kienbaum was HOA at Providence Hill in the Beretta FITASC Grand Slam with a 189, followed by Joe Fanizzi, one bird behind. Thanks to Joe Cantey for setting an appropriate FITASC test for this regional, as the best-of-the-best left

11 birds on the table. Bill McGuire, who I shot with at the Texas State Championship, has been performing well throughout 2022, and led the pro-punch category with 20 Punches from Providence Hill followed by 19 Punches for Zach Kienbaum at Providence. Congrats to Bill and Zach for some very fine shooting.

Let’s pause a moment to consider the name Providence Hill. Is there a message here about this special place. Providence means “The protective care of god or of nature as a spiritual power.” That pretty much sums up my sense of Providence Hill in a nutshell. However, there is another definition of Providence which speaks directly to our next thought. Providence is “timely preparation for future eventualities.”

During the regional championship, in the furthest corner of the Providence Estate, I met a man shooting the tournament accompanied by his eight-year-old son, Iuri. We shared

a thoughtful period, uninterrupted by the game. I learned he is from Brazil and very recently became a sporting clay enthusiast. His enthusiasm for his newly adopted sport is inspiring. Recently a resident of south Florida, he sold his previous home and moved to the St. Augustine area to be closer to his sporting clays coach and mentor, John Wooley, and Dale Bouchillon, with the goal of becoming a world champion.

As the conversation continues, I can’t help but think this is the mystery man who has just

purchased Providence Hill. Not many knew it was on the market as it was a quiet, extensive duediligence transaction, devoid of fanfare and largely absent of public knowledge. The regional at Providence was June 13-19, 2022, and the deal closed on Friday, July 29th, 2022. My new friend’s first visit to Providence Hill was four months earlier in April. John Wooley and Jimmy Grant knew my friend had a vision to build his own sporting clay club, so they facilitated the introductions to Providence Hill as the means to

fulfill his vision. Providence Hill will bring together his love of sporting clays, his desire to become a World Champion, and his passion for real estate development as he endeavors to build the ultimate sportsman’s destination resort featuring worldclass sporting clay games and hunting. Contemplate a purposebuilt sporting resort imagined by the most creative minds dedicated to the sportsman’s lifestyle. The possibilities blow my mind.

Representing a shared effort of friendships, this collaboration will

be further enhanced by top hotel operators and restauranteurs, architects, course designers, pro shooters, and industry vendors. Envision luxury lodging, fine cuisine, and a buffet of target presentations carefully and thoughtfully married to the Providence canvass of “wow”.

This new proprietor is Wiverson Trecenti, married to the beautiful love of his life, Clarissa and enjoying three incredible children: Isadora 11, Iuri 8, and Isabel 3 months. Providence is an apt term as Wiverson, Clarissa and their children are devout Catholics who believe salvation is founded in the incredible history of the saints, prayer, and the holy rosary as daily devotional. Formerly of Brazil, Wiverson and his family have been in Florida since December 2016. Wiverson has built his career in real estate development during these past 11 years, so re-imagining Providence Hill as a sporting clay resort and hunting ground is well within his wheelhouse.

The improvements are already in process as both the Arabian and Mustang sporting clay courses

now enjoy twice as many traps as before. With 26 stations, shooters can now enjoy A, B, C, and D clay presentations, totaling 104 unique target presentations. This, by all measures, is the embodiment of a proper shooters buffet.

The master plan includes approximately 40 rooms in a new hunting lodge with complete in-house food service, restaurant, and function space. Additionally, a new luxury resort hotel and restaurant, new cottages, a permanent FITASC layout near the pro shop, a new 5-Stand and Helice stadium are to be built with expanded dust-free asphalt surfaces throughout the estate. Finally, a new permanent third sporting clay course throwing procaliber targets, to compliment the Arabian and the Mustang Courses, will provide further versatility to the grounds.

Providence Hill is no stranger to big tournaments as they have hosted three state championships, three Regional Championships and a World FITASC. Stay tuned for upcoming competitions and fun events as Providence Hill continues to set goals and new

standards in the sporting world. A US Open, World English, World Helice and new mega-blast tournaments designed specifically to spotlight Providence Hill’s many strengths are all possibilities. Many of the improvements are slated to be completed by fall 2023. Expect the new luxury resort hotel, new cottages, permanent FITASC layout and third sporting course by 2024.

This is true Mississippi wonderment.

Of course, in the meantime, Providence Hill continues its existing traditions with corporate meetings, quail, pheasant and deer hunting, sporting clays, 5-Stand, skeet, trap and Helice.

I see Wiverson Trecenti as the man with a Providence plan for, “timely preparation for future eventualities,” in our ever evolving, expanding, and improving world of sporting clays.

Let’s conclude where we began, “To Understand the World, you must first understand a place like Mississippi.” -- William Faulkner, Mississippi Native, Nobel Prize Winner and two-time Pulitzer Prize Winner. n

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FACILITIES AND DRILLS TWO COACH’S

BILL ELLIOTT TALKS TO WILL FENNELL AND GEBBEN MILES

In this journey we will look at the training facilities and coaching drills of two clay target champions — Will Fennell and Gebben Miles. Both professional shooters not only continue to grow their own game and coach but have private facilities where they coach on a regular basis. While continuing to coach on the road, Gebben shares details of the growth at his home training facility, River Bush Farms. Will also continues coaching on the road and shares with us the exciting growth of his own venture, Fennell Shooting School in Sharon, South Carolina. Will and his wife, NSCA Level III instructor Elizabeth Lanier, continue to devote themselves to excellence at Fennell Shooting School.

Will Fennell

n Tell us about your shooting complex and what shooters should expect when they arrive at Fennell Shooting School?

This is a private shooting facility, therefore that is why the address is not actually on the site. When shooters set up a lesson, an automated Google maps response, along with a questionnaire, is provided. Prior to any new

coaching session, we will reach out to the client and inquire about their needs, such as rental guns, ammo, etcetera. We have two primary shooting areas onsite. A classroom for whiteboard work when needed and another building for gun work. We also have a large pattern plate for testing chokes, barrel regulation, point of impact and pattern efficiency. Our twenty-fourfoot tower, on top of a nice hill, allows for excellent target presentations. We have pretty

much every specialty target you could desire, and all this is provided by our partners MEC and Long Range Systems. It is the perfect environment for grinding out specific targets and doing drill work. Shooters should know they are training where many members of Team USA train, Fennell Shooting School. Basically, there is 360 degrees of shooting terrain. Our newest addition on the property is a fourteenfoot platform over a ravine that gives us the ability to shoot twenty-five feet below our feet.

TOWER AT FENNELL SHOOTING SCHOOL

DESIGNED TO COMPETE K-80 SPORTING

COACHINGDRILLS

n Along with this facility, where else do you typically coach on a regular basis if someone is looking to link up with you but cannot make it to South Carolina?

Currently my wife and I are coaching at Kiawah Island, therefore we are in Charleston, South Carolina quite a bit and at Rocky Creek from time to time — especially when we are doing a lesson on a course with a client on how to play/manage the game. I also coach in the Atlanta metropolitan area. I have been going there since the early 2000s. Recently I have decided to get back on the road coaching a bit. I currently coach in Katy, Texas at Westside Sporting Grounds four times a year. I would like to mention I do try to partner with subject matter experts. Jim Greenwood, Henry Hopking, Dr. Colo and Dan Carlisle are just a few I have partnered with as of late. I try to think of our school here in South Carolina as a trusted partnership with others that can add benefit to our students. I got the impetus to do this after visiting Roundwood Shooting School in England.

n What has been your biggest learning moment in clay target coaching?

The realization that I had enough experience after being coached and shooting as much as I had that I could now tell what someone was doing wrong in his or her mechanics and technique. In addition, I started to understand what a student was thinking when he or she did something wrong. The impact this had on me was huge. When you tap that shooter on the shoulder and say, “you measured didn’t you?”, and the

look in the students’ eyes knowing you are right, after once or twice you now have the student’s attention. I would also say working with Dr. Colo and understanding what is actually going on with eye dominance and why, has also been monumental.

n You are sending a student home from a lesson. He or she is a registered shooter really trying to close the gap on missed opportunities resulting in lower scores. Give us one specific shooting drill you will assign to this individual for homework.

To start off there are different drills for missed opportunities. One of the things I emphasize over and over again, is when you break down scores 75-80% of most courses are under 30 yards. I like to assign this locally at Rocky Creek. I like shooters to go shoot me a 95 on the easy course before I hear more about what they want to work on next. Just like in golf they worry about the drive but can’t putt worth a dang.

We have a drill for the following: the second shot of a true pair that has a fast crosser you have to shoot first, and a second target that is an off-speed floater. We are trying to teach control here. So often a shooter will just rip through this second target, and never sync with the target. To address this, we will have a student mount on a clay target machine where a target is crossing or even deep quartering. They then call for the target, rather than race through the target and pull the trigger, they will race to the front edge of the target and learn to control their movement from the front side, hanging on to the target. This teaches a shooter not to panic fire.

Gebben Miles

n Tell us about your shooting complex and what should shooters expect when they arrive at River Bush Farms?

Sure, our facility is by appointment only. We have 30 clay target machines provided by Laporte. We can offer any target presentation a shooter could want. In fact, we have two towers on site, one sixty and one eighty feet tall. Both have two machines, each with robot remote capability to change whenever needed. Our grounds are extremely versatile. We have a shooting environment with 360 degrees of capability. Mobile shade cover is available for when temps get inhospitable. Finally, we have a classroom area on site when needed. We conduct both clinics and one-on-one sessions.

n Along with this facility where else do you typically coach on a regular basis if someone is looking to link up with you but cannot make it to Arizona?

I coach at other clubs in Arizona such as Tucson Trap and Skeet, along with the clubs in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area. However, I do not have a specific rotation. Some clubs I coach at regularly are Northbrook Sports Club in Illinois and many of the clubs in Florida. Typically, after any major event I attend, I try to stay and coach at a facility or a club in that area. I will also book coaching engagements and travel to accommodate those bookings.

n What has been your biggest learning moment in clay target coaching?

I would say that the biggest “Aha” of understanding came when I realized high level performance is just a high-level application of the basics. That there really is not a secret, per se, for shooters at the top. It is just truly high-level application of fundamentals and principals. Every shooter just understands this at a different depth. Shooters are typically looking for that piece of

information. That magic answer to break through. Breaking through comes from hard work and perfecting the fundamentals through training and competing.

n You are sending a student home from a lesson. He or she is a registered shooter really trying to close the gap on missed opportunities resulting in lower scores. Give us one specific shooting drill you will assign to this individual for homework.

If someone is typically in this scenario, they are dropping one or two at a station. Maybe the last pair on a station often in tournaments. I would have that type of shooter work on what I call consistency practice. Work on running stations but give goals to do this proficiently and

often. So here how it goes. Go to your course, shoot that first station until you run it. Next add a station and run it. If you don’t, you have to go all the way back to the beginning. Then, if you run it add a station. For example, accomplished shooter Trevor Jensen and I would do this in FITASC and work on running pegs. I would say “Hey, let’s run two pegs in a row, then three, then so on and so forth.” It helped him get comfortable with running 25 straight. Being comfortable executing under pressure will ultimately help in tournament performance. n

RIVER BUSH FARMS HAS TWO TOWERS

100 YEARS OF FEDERAL AMMUNITION

BY CURT HALBAKKEN

Growing up in Minnesota, my first memory of Federal Shotshells was some 50 years back, when duck and Ruffed grouse hunting became my initial shotgun passion. The local sporting goods store sold Federal Hi-Power for ducks, and game loads for grouse. As a 16-yearold in the early 70s, I selected the newly introduced Federal “Champion II” load offering as my trap tournament ammunition. I recall shooting twice-weekly practice, with reloads sourced from my spent tournament hulls. Back then, the price for a box of 25 Federal Champion IIs was $3.35 (yes, I miss those days too).

From pheasant hunting in the 80s, discovering sporting clays in the 90s, then transitioning to FITASC and Sporting clays competition in the 2000s, Federal Ammunition has been there with reliable shotshell offerings. As a young man I was always impressed with the support Federal gave the USA Shooting Teams. Today, they continue that support and have expanded it to Collegiate and High School Teams, in an effort to foster shooter development. This support helps to build the next generation of shooters.

A Century of Quality and Innovation

Federal has truly been, and continues to be, a major part of American clay target shooting. 2022 marks Federal’s 100-year anniversary in business, making high quality ammunition for sport shooters and hunters. The 2021 introduction of the new HOA line of shotshells couldn’t speak louder to Federal’s long commitment to the clay target sports.

Federal Ammunition,

headquartered in Anoka, Minnesota, is a brand of the outdoor sports and recreation holdings company, Vista Outdoors Incorporated. From humble beginnings nestled among the lakes and woods of Minnesota, Federal Ammunition has evolved into one of the world's largest producers of sporting ammunition. Beginning in 1922, founding president, Charles L. Horn, paved the way for their success. Today, Federal carries on Horn’s vision for quality products and service with the next generation of outdoorsmen and women. Federal maintains their position as experts in the science of ammunition production. Every day they manufacture products to enhance

the customer’s shooting experience, while partnering with the conservation organizations that protect and support our outdoor heritage. Federal offers thousands of options in their Federal Premium and Federal® lines. This versatility in product options positions them as the most complete ammunition company in the business.

Federal has grown to the largest ammunition producer in the world. This legacy is one that has evolved with the needs of shooters. Federal has frequently pioneered new levels of Shotshell performance to meet the specific demands of some of the world’s best shooters.

Historical Milestones of Federal Ammunition

1922 - Federal Ammunition is founded by Charles Horn. Federal Paper hulls were first used.

1933 - First skeet loads introduced.

1940 - Federal introduces the eight-point folded crimp.

1970 - Federal shells win more major Grand American Trap

and National Skeet trophies than any other brand.

1972 - Federal becomes one of the nation’s largest ammunition manufacturers.

1973 - Champion ll plastic target shells are introduced. First steel shotshells introduced.

1978 - Premium Shotshell and Centerfire shells are introduced.

1980 - Introduction of the Gold Medal shotshell line.

1990 - Gold Medal Ultramatch .22 rimfire ammo is introduced.

1992 - USA Shooting team member Launi Meili wins first

Gold Medal at Olympics.

2003 - Famed exhibition shooter Tom Knapp signed on with Federal Premium Ammunition.

2005 - Federal Premium expanded its well-known Gold Medal Target line to include new Sporting Clays loads.

2011 - Federal introduced new pink hull Top Gun Target loads in support of fighting breast cancer.

2019 - Federal once again supported the U.S. Shooting Team for the 2020 Olympics.

2020 - Derrick Mein wins 2020

National Sporting Clays Championship with Gold Medal Paper.

2021 - Amber English and Vincent Hancock both won gold medals at the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo shooting Federal Gold Medal shotshells.

2021 - The Federal High Over All competition load is introduced.

AMBER ENGLISH (L), VINCENT HANCOCK (R)

“I choose Federal ammunition because of their long history of reliability, and their ongoing commitment to producing a premium product. Nobody can beat their consistency or performance on the shooting range or in the field.”

Derrick Mein

n Current USA Shooting Team Member and Olympian

n 2016 World FITASC Champion

n 2017 and 2020 National Sporting Clays Champion

n 2018 US FITASC Grand Prix Champion

n 2018 World All-Around Champion

n 2019 ICTSF World English Sporting

n 2022 World Champion International Trap

The Iconic Federal “Papers”

Federal is one of the last makers of paper shotshells in the world and the only American producer of paper hulls. Plastic shells have every possible advantage when it comes to ease and speed of production, but there’s just something about paper shells that shotgunners, particularly competition shooters, still love. They’re made almost exactly as they were in 1922, and on some of

the same machines. It all starts with paper strips being fed through winders that make them into base wads. The hulls themselves are wound into tubes about six inches long that are cured to remove humidity, then impregnated with wax in a large, hot kettle. They are next visually inspected and cut to proper length for shell production. This is an arduous process, but the shooter who insists on Gold Medal Grand paper shells when shootoffs get intense, appreciates the legendary results.

Whether it is the unmistakable performance or the unforgettable smell, the iconic Federal Papers stood the test of time. Since the 1920’s introduction, winning performance has been synonymous with this load offering. The line-up was expanded in 2021 to include the ever popular 1oz 1290 FPS loads. Since introduction, this 1oz recipe has been capturing the attention of shooters looking for the ballistic combination of additional velocity in a paper hull.

The New HOA Line-up

Thanks to Federal’s long commitment to clay target shooters, we can now get the latest design in shotshell performance with the new HOA lineup. Whether you are a 11⁄8 oz fan or prefer a 1oz payload, the HOA lineup has what shooters are looking for. In testing and shooting several of these loads, I found the 11⁄8 oz 1200 FPS to be smooth and pleasant. The 1oz 1250 FPS shells are incredibly smooth and produce excellent performance with less recoil. The 1oz 1290 FPS cartridge is simply the new standard in 1oz performance that has checked all the boxes. This will be a top seller and frankly my personal favorite.

Combined with a newly designed Federal hull, the new “podium” wad produces a recipe

that represents an excellent coupling of design and performance. There have been discussions, tests, and even goodhearted debates on what makes a shell produce smooth felt recoil. The new HOA meets both standards while simultaneously crushing targets. Heavy felt recoil is not necessary to produce a quality hit on a target.

We shooters are passionate about clay target shooting. Whether it is a weekend of shooting with family and friends on the back forty, or shooting for Gold at the Olympics, Federal is there for all American shooters and hunters.

Find your favorite Federal Ammunition at federalpremium.com n

DERRICK MEIN

BY MATTHEW GAY

EAGLE’S NEST 150 FITASC&SPORTING CHAMPIONSHIP

Shooters

from across the country are familiar with Dan Bailey and Christina Loudenslager, and the excellent targets they throw at the Eagle’s Nest Sporting Grounds. With their beautifully groomed picturesque grounds, great staff and welcoming atmosphere, the Eagle’s Nest is a shooter’s playground nestled about thirty minutes north of Columbus, Ohio. This annual championship features a 200-target sporting main, 50 target sub gauge sporting, 50 target super sporting, sub gauge FITASC and a preliminary, but the primary reason many enter this event is the 150 target FITASC main event.

Mother Nature Cannot Stop the Eagle

Just prior to the kickoff of this year’s Eagles Nest Championship, an EF-1 tornado touched down and directly hit Dan Bailey’s meticulously groomed facility. The prospect of being ready to hold the event initially seemed bleak. Fortunately, for those that know Dan and Christina, 100-plus mile per hour winds were not going to be enough to stop this event from happening. The Eagle’s Nest is fortunate to have some very engaged and highly skilled club members who are willing to help their club out in a pinch. From trucks with grapplehooks to manual labor and clean up duties, some members stepped in to lend a hand.

Storms are a major hazard sporting clubs face regularly, but most shooters don’t think about this until one impacts their club. As most remember, hurricane Ida devastated the Covey Rise Gun Club in Husser, Louisiana in early September 2021. This forced a

rescheduling and relocating of the South Central Regional to Houston. The damage at Covey Rise was debilitating for the club but fortunately they rebounded, re-built and were able to host the 2022 Louisiana State Sporting Clays Championship. Although the damage at Covey Rise was greater than the EF-1 tornado’s hit in Ohio, the Eagles Nest faced similar challenges in making the grounds safe for shooters and presentable

in the eyes of management.

Amazingly, the new shooting stands just recently installed, the lodge and accessory buildings sustained little to no damage, and they lost only one trap machine. It was certainly incredible to see the results of how “many hands make lighter work”, with the only evidence of the storm being a few scattered downed trees in the woods and one trap machine that is completely beyond repair. This is no reflection on the machine manufacturer as no thrower in existence would fare any better after being on the receiving end of a three-foot-diameter tree. All in all, the dedicated team did a great job making sure this event met the same high standards as the past championships at the Eagle’s Nest.

Side Events

Fifty targets were on the program for all gauges and ran on the short course to the west of the clubhouse. The presentations for each gauge were appropriately set and made for a fun addition to the other events offered this weekend. Travis Mcleod led the way with the 12-gauge dropping only one target to take top honors. John Hutchinson took the 20-gauge event with his 47x50 to outpace his closest competitor by two “X’s”. Bryan Wright and Jon Schantz tied things up with a pair of 45s, Wright ultimately claimed the HOA award. Curtis Dunbar ran away with it on the little gun course, besting his competition by six targets.

The super sporting event was

EAGLES NEST SIDE EVENTS

PRELIMINARY SPORTING

CH DYLAN THOMPSON

RU

CH SHAWN

MICHAEL

CH MARK

MARTIN/

RICHARD MCCREADY

SPORTING

CH STEVE SANFORD

RU (TIE)

12 GAUGE

MCLEOD

COCKRELL

CH TRAVIS MCLEOD

RU LOGAN

GAUGE

FARNSWORTH

JOHN HUTCHINSON

GRAIG

CH BRYAN

SCHANTZ

CH CHRIS DUNBAR

RU (TIE)

SCHANTZ

BRUMBACH

held on the same course at the sub gauge and offered a fun opportunity for shooters to try some sporty shots in the woods. Three shooters posted perfect 50s on this layout: Steve Sanford, Travis Mcleod and Chad Cockrell. After a tie breaker, Sanford walked away with the HOA designation. Congrats to all three shooters for an excellent performance.

Fifty FITASC targets were offered for 20 and 28 gauges on the south side of the grounds. As usual, Bailey’s targets looked to be straight-forward but if a shooter wasn’t paying attention, they were easy to miss. Shawn Moore led the way with the 20-gauge putting up s 46x50 on the two parcours. Mark Litz dropped only one target on each layout to win the 28-gauge event by a single target.

The Preliminary

The staff at the Eagle’s Nest set some serious targets to kick off this championship weekend on a prelim course that wound through the woods. Dylan Thompson dominated the competition posting a 95x100 to earn the top spot, four targets ahead of Brandon Martin and Joseph Olin, who tied for the runner-up position. Michigan’s Amber Brown led the ladies by fourteen targets to earn the L1 position and start off what would be an excellent weekend outing for her.

Sporting Main

Two days of Bailey’s targets would test the best of shooters in the varying terrain and mixed backgrounds of the Eagle’s Nest courses. Whether it be trampolines, towers, traps on scissor lifts or strobing light in the backdrop, the targets always require due respect. A lapse in concentration or misread makes it easy to get beat by the target. Scott Stoffl and Brandon Martin tied things up with a pair of 182s to set up a shoot-off. Stoffl’s performance won him the championship with Martin in the runner-up position. Amber Brown’s consistent shooting won her top ladies honors

EAGLES NEST SPORTING CHAMPIONSHIP MAIN

CH SCOTT STOFFL 182

RU BRANDON MARTIN 182

M1 MARK HALL 181

AA1 ANDREW SMITH 160

A1 DAVE SHANABARGER 175

B1 PHILLIP JONES 173

C1 JOSHUA KING 147

D1 ERIC BEVINGTON 148

E1 GAVIN SPAULDING 166

LADY CH AMBER BROWN 165

SJR CH GRIFFIN HOWE 177

JR CH BRANDON MARTIN 182

VT CH SCOTT STOFFL 182

SVT CH MARK HALL 181

SSVT CH JOHN GARRISON

with a 165x200, five targets ahead of runner-up Ashley Butcher.

FITASC Main

Six parcours of phenomenal FITASC targets were set to test the skill of shooters from across the country. The location of the layouts at the Eagle’s Nest makes for nearly unlimited presentations, which Dan uses to maximum effect. The dual traps on a big tower were intimidating to some but were great targets that forced the shooter to push a little past their comfort zone in order to be successful. Parcour one had a true pair, set in a fashion that can make one’s eyes cross, which required precise focus and deliberate moves in order to break.

When all the barrels cooled off, Mark Hall put up a magnificent score of 134/150 to take HOA honors. A junior shooter who learned his craft at the Eagle’s Nest as a sub-junior, now a member of the University of Alabama team, Sam LeCras and Andrew Wysocky tied things up with a pair of 130s. A shoot-off over the large pond commenced and LeCras prevailed to earn the runner-up trophy. Once again, Amber Brown led the lady’s contingent with a 125x150 for L1, seven targets ahead of runner-up Ashley Butcher.

Another Successful Championship

Despite all the challenges faced, and normal complications involved with putting on a major shoot, the staff at the Eagle’s Nest persisted and triumphed over the near disaster. I am certain the folks involved were completely exhausted at the completion of this

event, considering the hours spent preparing and dealing with storm damage. Shooters have come to expect a quality experience from events at the Eagle’s Nest and despite the tornadic hiccup, Bailey and his staff delivered.

For more information on the Eagle’s Nest Sporting Grounds find them at: eaglesnestsportinggrounds.com n

complete score results visit scorechaser:

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ALABAMA

ORVIS – Pursell Farms Sylacauga, AL 35151 855-799-2826 Orvis.com/PursellFarms

ALASKA

Precision Arms Anchorage, AK 99508 907-279-5755 PrecisionArmsAK.com

COLORADO

Xcel Shooting Sports, LLC Loveland, CO - by appt. 406-209-8922 xcelshooting.com

FLORIDA

Cole Fine Guns Naples, FL 34109 239-352-0345 ColeGun.com

Woolley Shooting Clinics St. Augustine, FL 32095 904-556-9286 WoolleyShooting.com

GEORGIA

Old Hudson Plantation Sparta, GA 31087 706-467-9345 OldHudsonPlantation.com

INDIANA

Indiana Gun Club Fortville, IN 46040 317-485-6540 IndianaGunClub.com

MAINE

Cole Fine Guns Harpswell, ME 04079 207-833-5027

ColeGun.com

MARYLAND

Barts Sports World 410-507-5184 OnlineBarts.com

Schraders Outdoors Henderson, MD 21640 410-758-1824

SchradersOutdoors.com

MICHIGAN

Michigan Shooting Centers Lake Orion, MI 48360 248-693-0567 MIShoot.com

Pacific Sporting Arms (East) Walled Lake, MI 48390 248-960-7262

PacificSportingArmsEast.com

MONTANA

Xcel Shooting Sports, LLC Kalispell, MT 59901 Helena, MT - by appt. Missoula, MT - by appt. 406-209-8922 XcelShooting.com

NORTH CAROLINA

Bob Schultz Target Shotguns @ Cleghorn Gun Club Rutherfordton, NC 28139 800-684-6329

TargetShotguns.com

Hyatt Farms Sporting Clays Polkton, NC 28135 704-826-6014 NCSportingClays.com

NEW YORK

ORVIS – Sandanona Millbrook, NY 12545 845-677-9701 Orvis.com/Sandanona

NEW JERSEY

Griffin & Howe Andover, NJ 07821 973-398-2670 GriffinHowe.com

OHIO

Country Attic Treasures South Lebanon, OH 45065 513-494-2075 CountryAtticTreasures.com

Dawson Enterprises Demo Center @ Hill N Dale Club Medina, OH 44256 330-723-5105 HillndaleClub.com

OREGON

Mid Valley Clays Gervais, OR 97026 503-792-3431 MidValleyClays.com

PENNSYLVANIA

Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays Coplay, PA 18037 610-261-9616 LVSclays.com

ORVIS – Hill Country Fairfield, PA 17320 717-253-9665

TEXAS

Cole Fine Guns San Antonio, TX 78253 ColeGun.com

Defender Outdoors Clay Ranch Fort Worth, TX 76126 817-935-8378 DefenderOutdoors.com

Joshua Creek Ranch Boerne, TX 78006 830-537-5090 JoshuaCreek.com

Woolley Shooting Clinics San Antonio, TX 78253 210-559-1320 WolleyShooting.com

WISCONSIN

Flight & Field Trevor, WI 53179 262-869-0001 FlightandField.com

OF

HOW YOU THINK AFFECTS WHAT YOU THINK

BY: JOHN D. SHIMA SAN ANTONIO, TX | PHOTOS BY: MATTHEW GAY

When accomplished clay target shooters are feeling the stress of competition, I believe their ability to concentrate and focus ultimately determines the outcome of their performance. Therefore, I proposed, “What you think affects the way you shoot”, as the subtitle to my second book, A Method for the Magic. A shooter's mastery of concentration determines how his or her eyes will focus on each target, which directly impacts the outcome of each shot.

Cognition

Cognition is a term that refers to the mental processes involved in gaining knowledge and comprehending the meaning of that knowledge. Cognitive processes include thinking, knowing, remembering, judging, and problem-solving. Cognitive skills include attention, memory, reasoning, and processing accurate information transmitted from the senses. Obviously, clay target shooting requires various cognitive skills.

Cognitive distortions are habitual ways of thinking that are often inaccurate and negatively biased. A common cognitive distortion is emotionalization. This distortion occurs when a person attaches a negative emotion to a random thought. For example, even though a person's spouse has demonstrated only devotion, negative emotional reasoning might lead an insecure spouse to conclude, “I know my spouse is being unfaithful because I feel jealous”. Sadly, emotional reasoning usually trumps rational thinking.

I briefly touched on the topic of thinking in a previous Clay Shooting USA article, Be Wary of What You Think. In this regard researchers concluded that great athletes differ from good athletes in two ways.

“Great” athletes are better than “good” athletes because they relentlessly practice, to enhance their skills, and have learned to think differently.

In 1597, when Sir

Francis Bacon wrote, “Knowledge itself is power”, commoners were generally illiterate and seriously lacking in knowledge beyond their immediate circumstances. Today,

everyone has access to scientific knowledge, so it is the proper application of appropriate knowledge that determines greatness.

All clay target shooters have the capacity to store knowledge somewhere in their brain. A shooter's ability to properly access, select, and apply his or her accumulated knowledge during competition, is what determines the shooter's level of performance. The key word is “properly”.

Some experts suggest that cognitive distortions are part of an evolutionary survival mechanism that enables humans to cope with stressful situations. Magnification of a potential threat immediately triggers the primitive “fight-orflight” response, which is essential to survival.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a widely recognized form of talk therapy in which people learn to identify, disrupt, and change the unhealthy thinking patterns created by cognitive distortions. Since, how you think affects what you think, shooters who struggle with choking during competition must understand how they think so they can rationally manage what

MANAGING STRESS DURING A SHOOT-OFF IS VITAL FOR SUCCESS

INTIMIDATING TARGET PRESENTATIONS

DERAIL A SHOOTER’S SUCCESS

MENTALGAME

they think during moments of emotional distress.

How You Think

Memory refers to the processes within the brain that are used to acquire, store, retain, and eventually retrieve knowledge. Since most people do not possess a “photographic” memory there is potential for everyone to misunderstand, misinterpret, misremember or simply forget things, which corrupts the knowledge retrieval process.

Athletes who understand how their brain stores, retrieves, and applies their shooting knowledge have a distinct advantage during competition. An exceptional shooter's ability to avoid “choking” during critical moments in competition is undoubtedly the advantage that makes him or her great.

In her recent book Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To, research psychologist Sian Beilock revealed why some people perform better under stress while others perform poorly. Beilock discovered that people

who choke under pressure store, retrieve and apply their knowledge differently than people who seem to seem to thrive under pressure. In fact, she even demonstrated with functional MRI images that different parts of the brain are used to store knowledge so it can be efficiently retrieved and applied for specific tasks. Beilock explained that knowledge is stored as implicit, explicit or working memory.

n Implicit Memory - The knowledge in implicit memory supports the adaptive unconscious, which controls habitual responses to a cue or stimulus. Sport psychologists call this procedural memory because it links complex visio-motor movements together to accomplish a specific task. I like to think of this as the center of muscle memory because it stores the pre-planned moves that a shooter programs through training and practice.

n Explicit Memory - The information in explicit memory is necessary to support conscious thinking. Some experts refer to this as conscious memory. New

information is stored in the explicit memory bank along with all preexisting knowledge to help shooters analyze circumstances and improve their shooting technique. Highly repetitive processes, like pre-planned moves, are transferred from explicit memory to the implicit memory bank when they are ready to occur automatically.

n Working Memory - The information in working memory is only held for a short period of time. Whereas explicit memory is similar to a computer hard drive, working memory is like random access memory (RAM). It holds information for the purpose of multi-tasking, which means to accomplish two or more independent tasks at relatively the same time. Working memory is one the major building blocks of a person's IQ and plays an important role in all conscious activities. Beilock described working memory as cognitive horsepower.

Beilock's research on choking revealed how pressure induced performance hiccups depend on what skill we are attempting, and

the type of memory that is driving how we execute that particular skill.“ Beilock emphasized that different skills rely on different types of memory. Hence, the manner in which a shooter relies on his or her three types of memory during daily living tends to correlate directly with their tendency to choke under the stress of shooting in competition.

Working memory plays a dominant role in everything people do in their daily lives. Successful people tend to rely heavily on their cognitive horsepower. Coincidently, this reliance on working memory is the primary reason many successful people who become clay target shooters seem to choke under self-imposed pressure to perform.

Beilock's research demonstrated that students with higher cognitive horsepower performed better during low-stress situations because they had adequate time to consciously use their working memory. However, when these same students were forced to perform under highstress situation a majority of the students with higher cognitive horsepower (higher IQ) choked while the lower-powered students who relied on their procedural memory performed the tasks without choking.

How you think relates to which type of memory you access to accomplish specific tasks. Deliberately managing visual perception to correctly transition from expanded soft focus to hard focus uses working memory. Therefore, watching a moving clay target while responding automatically with an appropriate pre-planned move also requires the use of procedural memory. Shooters who are confident in their cognitive horsepower (working memory) find it difficult to trust

MENTALGAME

What You Think

When the task at hand relies on procedural (unconscious habits) memory, all attempts to use working (conscious) memory to accomplish the task takes too much time. In other words, working memory interferes with efficient eye-hand coordination, so the clay targets appear to be smaller and seem to move faster.

The results of Beilock's research suggests that shooters who exhibit a strong desire to break targets activate their working memory to analyze and execute every shot at a clay target, which makes them more susceptible to choking under pressure. Conversely, shooters who trust their procedural memory to make the appropriate preplanned moves while they just

focus correctly on the target tend to perform more consistently under pressure.

Many of my mature clients are professionals or businesspeople who have used their higher cognitive horsepower to achieve success in life. They become frustrated when their powerful working memory doesn't serve them well when they try to break clay targets. They are perplexed by the fact that they perform very well under high-stress situations in their profession or business, yet seem to perform poorly when the pressure to perform increases on the shooting range.

Although these clients hear me say, “The desire to break the target must be replaced by an intention to watch the target break,” they really don't comprehend what I'm telling them. This aphorism means that the desire to break the target activates working memory and the intention to watch the target break

allows procedural memory to enter the game.

I've written extensively about the watching reflex and the shooting reflex. The watching reflex is managed by conscious behavior and utilizes working memory. The shooting reflex is dependent upon the shooter's adaptive unconscious, which relies on procedural memory to automatically execute consistent pre-planned moves to the targets. Working memory is not designed to manage automatic behaviors.

Beilock's research supports the basis for the Shima Shooting Method sm , which emphasizes the importance of proper concentration (thinking) and optimal focus (watching) during each shot. Shooters must become very aware of how much they are thinking, and what they are thinking about during each shot, so they can achieve consistent performances. What you think involves the

correct application of working and procedural memory. Memory is task specific. The shooter's powerful working memory must be devoted exclusively to managing their watching reflex so their amazing procedural memory can be allowed to automatically manage the shooting reflex. n

John Shima is a former five-time World Skeet Champion and was high average in 12 gauge for two years. John is the leading authority on detection of visual deceptions and prescribing appropriate visual training to unleash the power of reality for clay target shooters. For more information about the Shima Shooting MethodSM, the Clinic Schedule, his new Shima Shooting ExperienceSM, or to arrange a Private Consultation, contact John via email at john@johnshima.com

To order his books or view previous articles go to johnshima.com/publications

TRUST IN THE PROCESS IS KEY TO SUCCESS

procedural memory during the stress of competition.

OFTEN IN ERROR, NEVER IN DOUBT BY BRUCE BUCK

SPORTING GUN CONFIGURATIONS

Youcan shoot sporting clays with any shotgun that goes “bang” twice, be it a SxS, O/U, pump or auto. Does the barrel configuration really matter? Let’s see.

Winchester Model 21 has the heft and balance people seek. Connecticut Shotgun also offers a clay target specific SxS called the Superbird, designed from the ground up as a purpose-built clays gun. This clays SxS even has a vent rib, like some of the Model 21 target guns.

The Side by Side

You never see side by side shotguns used in sporting clays matches, right? Nope. Wrong. There are a number of good-sized matches devoted exclusively to the SxS. The Vintage Gunners Cup, sponsored by The Double Gun Society, comes to mind as do the Fall and Spring Southern Side-byside championships. These are major shoots which are always well attended. Several other SxS shoots occur every year with great success because many people own SxSs for hunting and welcome the chance to mix with other SxS shooters in competition.

The SxS shotgun really shines when hunting relatively close birds in heavy cover. The broad barrel plane stands out nicely against trees so that, even though you are focused on your fleeing grouse, quail or woodcock, the wide barrels remain in the peripheral vision. In sporting clays, those occasional forty-five-yard crossers present a challenge for SxS shooters because the visual double

barrel plane is less precise than the single barrel plane of the O/U, pump or auto. Of course, when everyone is using a SxS at a shoot, the playing field is level.

Many of us are hunters and prefer the SxS for certain birds. Sporting clays is a great venue to practice for hunting with your field gun. The game of skeet started as hunting practice, and the early sporting clays targets were exclusively set to imitate the flight of gamebirds. Some of the sporting clays presentations in today’s game are at such distances that one would never attempt while hunting, but the saner shots are still great practice for the field.

The SxS has the same advantage as the O/U in that it has two barrels and thus two different chokes. This can come in handy when the presentation contains a near and far target. Modern SxS shotguns typically come with screw-in chokes, giving some shooters ample opportunity to fiddle around as opposed to watching the targets.

If you do want to shoot high volume clays with a SxS, the

The SxS shotgun is the classic configuration adored by many. Sporting clays is a fun game and shooting with a SxS just makes it more so.

with an O/U or auto. But, shooting a pump gun is like riding a bicycle; once you learn, you don’t forget. One can easily pump a gun just as fast as many automatics can cycle. After a while, you just don’t think about it and operating the action becomes second nature.

The pump is a very popular hunting gun, particularly for waterfowl where its third shot and functioning capability (even while water-soaked) make it ideal. That being the case, as with the SxS,

The Pump Gun

Here’s another gun that you don’t see too often in sporting clays matches, even though most people have one or two of them in the closet. After all, the Remington 870 pump is the largest selling shotgun of any type in the world with something like 11 million in circulation currently.

The perceived problem with shooting a pump at serious tournaments is that the shooter will handicap themselves by adding the complication of operating the pump-action prior to engaging the second bird of a true pair. That’s a risk you don’t take

sporting clays is a great practice before the hunting season, especially when participating in a three-bird sporting event.

Other advantages to the pump are that it is generally inexpensive, and it comes in nearly any configuration you can think of. Extra barrels are moderately priced, and the pump is famously indestructible. The stock is easily adjusted for proper fit, either with shim sets or by simply having a local gunsmith re-cut the head of the stock to suit the desired fit. I’ve owned several pump guns over the years and have never, ever had one break. I wish I could say the same about my autos and O/Us.

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A downside of the pump, other than the obvious manual labor involved, is that they kick just as much as an O/U of the same weight. One barrel means one choke, Consequently, the shooter must select the appropriate choke for the longest bird of the pair.

Semi-Autos

If I had to guess, I’d speculate that about 25% of the better sporting clays shooters use autos of some kind. In the shooting sports, the most popular auto seems to be one of the Beretta gas guns. Autos are either inertia or gas operated.

additional maintenance to ensure reliability. To be clear, the inertia guns don’t have gas swooshing through the action, so they tend to stay quite clean. Gas guns on the other hand get dirty and require more frequent cleaning to operate consistently. My Remington 1100s have typically received a thorough inside and out cleaning every time

I shoot them. The new Beretta gas autos seem to be more forgiving to the less studious owner. But be warned, sooner or later, simply squirting in more oil will cease to remedy slow operation and you will have to complete a full stem to stern cleaning.

ski mountain in Vermont. The auto broke when I was at the station at the very top of the mountain. I had to take two chair lift rides to get down, hike to my car, fix the gun and get back up to the top. This event taught me to carry plenty of parts in my range bag.

Over/Under Shotguns

The O/U shotgun is the most prolific configuration of sporting gun found on the courses and parcours of today. These shotguns offer a single sighting plane, dual

While O/Us can go a long time between repairs and regular factory maintenance, when the time comes it usually must go off to a proper gunsmith with all that entails. Shipping, parts cost and labor tends to cost more.

So, there you have it, all the gun configurations. It’s so much fun to think that the type of gun you shoot is important, but the truth is, it’s the shooter, not the gun that really counts. But you knew that.

Inertia guns like the Benelli cycle very quickly and reliably, but they do have more felt recoil than the autos which bleed gas out of the barrel to work the mechanism. Waterfowlers love the Benelli model because it is an inertia driven auto, boasting three shots and seemingly unaffected by the inevitable water encountered when hunting ducks and geese.

Gas operated semi-autos kick just the same as every other gun of the same weight, using the same shell because the calculation of recoil doesn’t care about the action, just the weight, shotshell ejecta and speed. But, gas autos obviously feel like less recoil. That perception is because the recoil is delivered over a longer period of time while the action cycles, feeling more like a push than a poke. Most current autos come with shim adjustable stocks making gun fit a breeze.

Semi-autos have inherent disadvantages, one choke and

Every now and then Semiautos will malfunction, after all it is a mechanical piece of equipment with several moving parts. If the gun is clean and properly lubed, malfunctions should be minimal. My old Beretta 303 produces about 3 malfunctions per 1,000 rounds, a statistic I can abide.

The aforementioned “several moving parts” carry with them a higher likelihood of failure (parts breaking) than pumps or O/Us. My heavily used Remington 1100s eat parts the way I eat peanuts. The Berettas and Benellis, not so much.

As a consolation, unlike O/Us and SxSs, replacement parts are usually readily available and easier to install. That’s just as well as in sporting clays, when something breaks you are likely to be a good distance from the car where your parts and tool kit are. I once had an auto break a connecting link during the 1992 World FITASC Championship held on the Okemo

choke availability, good reliability, and many purpose-built sporting models to choose from. Some of the newer ones also come with adjustable combs to assure perfect eye alignment. This adjustable feature is critical, considering shims cannot be used to adjust the stock on an O/U.

Although a phenomenal target breaking tool, O/Us do have their drawbacks. You will notice that right away when you sign the check to pay for it. Entry-level Browning and Beretta models aren’t too terribly expensive and some of the Turkish guns are, not only very reasonably priced, but also of good quality. Other manufacturers produce extremely high-quality target crushing instruments but can come with significant price tags.

It’s Time To Say Goodbye

All things must come to an end and, after 18 years, so it is with this Technoid column. I have very much enjoyed writing the articles and hearing back from you readers. Thank you so much for the attention you have given my Technoid drivel and thanks to ClayShooting USA for putting up with me for so long.

Boots off. Beer open. n

Bruce Buck

The Technoid

TheTechnoid@gmail.com

BY MAGGIE KELCH

SCTP NATIONALS

Withteam names like Claybusters, Young Guns, Hoosier Daddys and Fudd Dusters, more than 1,500 youth shooters from 37 states competed on two challenging sporting clays courses at the Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio. The 2022 Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) National Championships were held July 5th through the 16th, where shooters from the fifth grade through college participated in a number of shotgun sports including sporting clays, trap and skeet; as well as International Skeet and Bunker Trap. Shooters also enjoyed a number of side events including Make-ABreak and 5-Stand.

The event attracted thousands of youth shooters, family members and spectators. It really is a sight to see. Like other youth sports, the team members wear custom made shirts (and shooting vests) with their names imprinted or embroidered on them along with their team’s name or logo, and the

names/logos of their sponsors. Some of the colorful team shirts rival those worn by NASCAR drivers or Bassmaster anglers. Many of the teams fly their logos on custom flags from their ATVs or golf carts, along with state and American flags.

History, Goals and Numbers

The SCTP was developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) in conjunction with the firearms industry and shotgun shooting governing bodies. It is now governed by the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) to provide team participation to youth in the shotgun shooting sports.

Tom Davis, SSSF Communications Manager, explained how registration for the SCTP National Championships broke records this year. “Last year we set the record for the largest clay target shoot in Cardinal Center history. Even though we saw higher gas prices and higher prices for other things that could affect participation, we are up compared to last year”.

Not only can these kids shoot, but they also really know how to have fun. They are serious and focused when they are on the

course, but you can tell that they enjoy the competition and camaraderie of the sport. When they are not competing, they can be found shooting a fun competition like flurry, trying out a new shotgun on the demo field or shopping on vendor row.

The vendor buildings at the Cardinal Center were open throughout the event as many manufacturers see this as an opportunity to support the youth shooters and to promote their products to thousands of potential customers. Several of the shotgun manufacturers even bring their gunsmiths to the event so that they can service competitor’s guns for them.

SCTP shooters are classified in

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several age divisions: Rookie (5th grade and under); Intermediate/ Entry Level (grades six to eight in their first year); Intermediate/ Advanced (grades seven and eight); Junior Varsity (grades nine to 12 in their first year); Varsity (grades 10 to 12); and Collegiate. Both individual and team awards are presented to the youth shooters in each Division.

Side Events

Many of the youth shooters who compete in the SCTP National Championships participate in all the offered disciplines. Both 5-Stand and Make-A-Break are available as side events.

For this year’s National Championships, the Cardinal Center team set up a new 5-Stand

field near the Sporting Clays lodge. Two, fifty-target 5-Stand layouts offered a variety of presentations for shooters to attempt in pursuit of gold. Awards were presented to winning squads in two divisions: Intermediate (including both the Entry Level and Advanced Intermediate shooters) and Senior (including the JV, Varsity and Collegiate shooters). Competitive squads consist of five shooters, in the same age classification, from the same team.

The Pella Christian Eagles, from Iowa, were Champions in the Intermediate Division putting up a final score of 391. Runner-up in the Intermediate Division was the Henry County No Fly Zone squad, from Tennessee, with a 329. Third Place was awarded to the squad from Hoosier Daddys (clearly from

Indiana) who finished the event with a 299.

The “Young Guns” were hot in the Senior Division, where two squads with the name of “Young Guns” took top honors. The squad from the Mid Carolina Young Guns, out of South Carolina, took the Championship trophy home after posting a 434. Runner-up in the squad competition, and only four targets behind them with a 430, was the squad from the Manchester Young Guns of Michigan. Rounding out the top three and in third place was the squad of Texans from the Allen Eagles Competitive Shooting Team with a 426.

The individual Champion in the 5-Stand competition was Turner Parcell. Parcell, who shoots for the Mid Carolina Young Guns, broke a

97x100. Just two targets behind him and claiming runner-up honors was Preston Lanehart from the Manchester Young Guns. Third place in the 5-Stand competition with a 94x100 was North Carolina’s Thomas Rose of the Rose Hill Top Shots.

Make-A-Break

The Make-A-Break competition at the SCTP National Championships is one of the most popular events of the week and was offered at two locations. Shooters competed for a number of prizes that were donated by sponsors. Competitors, coaches and family members watched the standings throughout the week to see who would come out on top in this fun and spirited competition. At the end of the

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to support USA Shooting

week, Kiersten Sales, of the Young Guns of Quail Creek, Florida was Ladies Champion and took home a belt buckle and case of Federal ammunition. In second place was Ashley Sellers, of the William Blount Shooting Team in Tennessee who won a Shamrock Leather Shooting Bag. Third place in Ladies competition was Taylor

three rounds, the Tennessee Warriors advanced to the final round. The team from Michigan’s Manchester Young Guns squared off with the Forest City Gun Club squad in their semi-final match. After three rounds each, Manchester was set to vie for the title against the Tennessee Warriors. The lads from

of crops and buildings in the distance as the background. The Blue course is in the field and is flat terrain marked by rows of crops and blue skies. While the Sporting Clays Championship is an NSCA registered event, class awards (Master, AA, A, etc.) are not presented at this event. Awards are presented to squads and

claimed the champion spot in the Intermediate/Entry Division with a combined score of 444x600, just a few targets ahead of the squad from the Fudd Dusters Shotgun Sports Team of Michigan.

The Intermediate/Advanced squad competition Champions were from the Hunting Hills Hawkeyes hailing from

Hilliard of McKenzie Shooting Sports in Tennessee. Hilliard won a Shamrock Shell Box Holder and case of Federal ammunition.

Men’s Champion in the MakeA-Break was Wyatt Freels of the Warriors in Tennessee who also won a belt buckle and case of Federal ammunition. Second place was his teammate John Campbell, who took home a Shamrock Leather Shooting Bag. Third place was claimed by Doug Williams, with the Forest City Juniors from Georgia. Williams’ performance earned him a Shamrock Shell Box Holder and case of Federal ammunition.

This year’s event had a “Top Gun Team SCTP Shoot-Out” which featured the top four team squads in the Make-A-Break event. The Tennessee Warriors faced off against the Hunting Hills Hawkeyes in the semi-finals. After

Manchester did just that. After dropping the first match to Tennessee 42 to 33, the Young Guns rallied to take the last two matches 44-33 and 41-24. Congratulations to the Manchester Young Guns squad of Trent Line, Parker Lanehart, Preston Lanehart and Nathan Meyer.

Main Event

The SCTP National Sporting Clays championship was held from July 9 through 14. It was a 200-bird event held on two courses at the Cardinal Center. Each course has its own personality and the staff at Cardinal Center took full advantage of those differences to set two equally challenging courses.

The Red course features both a woodlot and a farm field with rows

individuals in each of the SCTP Divisions.

The sporting clay shooters from the Forest City Juniors team, based in Georgia, were either Champions or Runners-up in five of the six Divisions. In the Rookie Division, the young shooters from the Forest City Juniors broke a 440x600 to win rookie gold. Runnerup was a squad from McKenzie Shooting Sports in Tennessee with a 407x600.

A squad from the Forest Lake Oconee Shooting Team, based in Georgia,

2022 SCTP NATIONALS SPORTING CLAYS

ROOKIE SQUAD CH FOREST CITY JUNIORS 440

ROOKIE SQUAD RU MCKENZIE SHOOTING SPORTS 407

I/E SQUAD CH LAKE OCONEE ST 444

I/E SQUAD RU FUDD DUSTERS SST 437

I/A SQUAD CH HUNTING HILLS HAWKEYES 521

I/A SQUAD RU FOREST CITY JUNIORS 511

JUNIOR VARSITY SQUAD CH MANCHESTER YOUNG GUNS 537

JUNIOR VARSITY SQUAD RU FOREST CITY JUNIORS 527

VARSITY SQUAD CH FOREST CITY JUNIORS 569

VARSITY SQUAD RU YOUNG GUNS QUAIL CREEK

COLLEGIATE SQUAD CH FOREST CITY JUNIORS

COLLEGIATE SQUAD RU JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY

ROOKIE IND. MEN CH CHARLES LAPP III

I/E IND. MEN CH CARSON LINGLE

I/A IND. MEN CH BRENDAN RIGGINS

JV IND. MEN CH MALIC MAGNUSSON

VARSITY IND. MEN CH RICH PAZDERSKI

COLLEGIATE IND. MEN CH THOMAS ROSE

ROOKIE IND. LADY CH TAYLOR HILLIARD

I/E IND. LADY CH MAGGIE BOHNE

I/A IND. LADY CH MORGAN HILLIARD

JV IND. LADY CH CLARE FRANCES CHEEK

VARSITY IND. LADY CH KIERSTEN SALES

COLLEGIATE IND. LADY CH EMILY PURVIS

Pennsylvania with a 521x600. The Intermediate/Advanced squad from the Forest City Juniors took the runner-up spot with a 511x600. A Junior Varsity squad, representing the Manchester Young Guns of Michigan, ended their outing as Champions in their Division with a 537x600. The Forest City Juniors JV crew walked away with the runner-up trophy by breaking 527x600 targets.

In the Varsity Division, the Forest City Juniors again stood atop the podium to earn Champion honors with a phenomenal score of 569x600. Just six targets behind and taking the runner-up post was the squad from the Young Guns of Quail Creek, Florida. The Forest City Juniors kept rolling in the Collegiate division earing the number one spot by posting a 567x600. Forest City Juniors outpaced the runner-up Jacksonville University, Florida squad by 20 targets.

Awards were also presented to individual shooters in the Sporting Clays Championship. Taking top honors for men were: Rookie Charles Lapp III from Georgia

(160); Intermediate/E Carson Lingle of Georgia (180); Intermediate/A Brendan Riggins from Georgia (189);JV Malic Magnusson from Michigan (189); Varsity Rich Pazderski from Georgia (197); and Collegiate Thomas Rose from North Carolina (197).

Leading the ladies in the competition were: Rookie Taylor

Hilliard from Tennessee (167); Intermediate/Entry Maggie Bohne from Florida (162); Intermediate/Advanced Morgan Hilliard from Tennessee (166); Junior Varsity Clare Frances Cheek from Georgia (174); Varsity Kiersten Sales from Florida (192); and Collegiate Emily Purvis from Georgia (179).

Looking Forward to Next Year

The SCTP National Championships continue to grow each year and plans are already underway for the 2023 event, which will again be held at the Cardinal Shooting Center in July. n

REMINGTON GUN CLUB

BY: JOHN CAFFEY

Overthe last couple of years, the shotgun sports have had their share of changes and challenges. There have been mandatory closures, tightness with target supply and less availability of shells, and reloading components. One thing clay shooters didn’t see much of, was the opening of new clubs. Just when we thought all hope was lost, Remington Ammunition steps up and has decided to do just that. Big Green has not only reopened their trap and skeet club, but they have also expanded to include two exceptional sporting clays courses.

The Club

The original Remington Gun Club was opened in 1978 in the shadows of Remington’s ammunition manufacturing plant in Lonoke, Arkansas. At that time the club offered both trap and skeet, and was already well known in the MidWest for their registered shoots and other events. As Remington began to experience financial problems, the decision was made, by the previous corporate management, to close the club in 2016. The machines were sold, and the club employees were reassigned within the plant.

Fast forward to 2020. Remington was sold to Vista Outdoors and the new Remington Ammunition President, Jason Vanderbrink, saw the potential in reopening the club. Being an avid outdoorsman and skilled shooter

himself, Jason was very interested in pursuing this rebirth. Remington Ammunition was able to partner with the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation and Midway USA Foundation for a range development grant. Not only would this partnership revitalize the old

trap and skeet fields, but also expand the disciplines offered by building a new sporting clays course. According to Joel Hodgdon, Remington ‘s Director of Marketing, “This is a remarkable facility. We have a ton of exciting events and tournaments planned

Remington fans and pros to get out there and break some clays”.

The Remington Club’s Amenities

There are currently seven nicely manicured trap fields, three of which are skeet and trap combination fields, which are perfect for registered events. All fields have been outfitted with PatTrap equipment and designed for high volume shooting. These fields have been maintained and upgraded to offer the original American disciplines to shooters on the historic Remington shooting grounds.

Since the inaugural opening of the first sporting clays course a second course has been completed. The first course sports thirteen stations and offers varying degrees of difficulty. The intent is to appeal to every level of shooter,

from the beginner to the moderately advanced shooter, who may wish to come out and spend the day making empty hulls. The second course, which has recently been commissioned, offers twelve stations. Course two is up and running, offering more advanced levels of targets than course one. With the advent of two functional sporting courses on site, management plans to host major shoots in the future.

Youth shooting is a major priority to Big Green. The Club is currently hosting a Sporting Clays League for younger shooters. This league has divisions for ages 17 and younger, as well as for ages 18 and older. This six-week 300 target league boasts both weekly ammunition winners, as well as additional cash prizes for the participants.

Both courses are open for golf carts and ATV’s. Currently, the

club provides Rugged Gear buggies for shooters who would like to make their day shooting even more relaxing. It is important to note that the course is not difficult to walk, with a total roundtrip distance of approximately a half mile. Shooting at the Remington Gun Club is quite affordable, with a round of trap or skeet costing $6 and sporting clays priced at $20 for a round of fifty and $35 for a round of one-hundred targets. If that’s not incentive enough, Remington has sweetened the deal. There is no membership required to shoot at the club. In fact, the Remington Gun Club is the only public sporting clays course in the entire state of Arkansas. The stated goal at Remington is to make shooting as affordable as it can, so as many people as possible will have the opportunity to participate.

The Club House

The enthusiasm associated with the Remington Gun Club reopening will likely bring an expansion of the current club house to accommodate the increase in shooting traffic. Since the club is owned and operated by Remington, you won’t need to worry about shells. There are an abundance of Gun Club, Premier STS and Premier Nitro 27 Shells available in the Pro Shop. The Range Manager, Justin Hefner, is always available and willing to help with private events, fundraisers, or corporate retreats.

The range is currently open Wednesday and Thursday, 11am to 5pm and Saturday, 11am to 5pm, and Sunday, 12pm to 5pm.

For more information on the Remington Gun Club, visit their website at remington.com or call 501-676-7961. n

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TRIBUTE

EDWIN "SPIKE" WAHLEN

In Memoriam of Spike Wahlen

THADDIUS BEDFORD

As I sit at my home here in northern Michigan surrounded by trees and fading sunlight, listening to crows call overhead, I can’t help but reflect on the moments in my life when someone truly impactful took genuine interest in my thoughts and ideas. I first met Spike Wahlen at a USA Sporting Clays Team event where he was helping Judy Morris raise funds essential for team travel to the World FITASC and World English. I didn’t realize then the impact Spike would have on my life.

Over the past 12 years, I have seen Spike and his “Fowl Weather Friends” at countless events and enjoyed many evenings in their company. Over that time, I got to know Spike and quite frequently reached out to him for advice. Just over a year ago was one of those occasions. I called to ask if he’d be willing to sit down and hear me out on an idea I had for a publication, to which he agreed. My partner Stacey and I took this opportunity to share the details of this new publication, and to my surprise Spike loved it. His enthusiasm about the project was so great that by the end of that week, he agreed to be on our board of advisers. Spike invited us to attend the Atlanta Charity Clays event where he introduced us to potential advertisers and like-minded individuals. Throughout the course of this event, I witnessed just how generous Spike was. I had

previously seen this generosity in action and knew he had founded the ACC, but I was speechless observing that evening’s ACC dinner and charity auction. The money that Spike, and several of his friends, personally donated to the cause was astounding. Spike had nothing to gain by giving me, or anyone else for that matter, his time and wisdom. He willingly gave of himself because he truly loved the sport and wanted to see it grow.

Spike, wherever you are out there, know that I am thankful for the lessons and the time you always made for me and my crazy Ideas. I can’t put into words how sorely you will be missed by myself, and everyone that was ever

fortunate enough to have made your acquaintance, or benefit from your generosity. You will forever be on the TSL team, and your example and life will serve as a guide for our stories and direction.

Wingman

LARRY FARROW

If you have attended some of the regional shoots around the country or World FITASC events overseas, there’s a possibility you’ve met Spike Wahlen. Spike and us shooting buddies of his, labeled as “Spike’s Posse” by Will Fennell, were constant companions on and off the shooting field, and the best of friends for more than 25 years.

A few weeks ago, as we prepared to leave for the World FITASC Championship in Italy, Spike unexpectedly passed away after a brief illness. We were all dumbstruck and still can’t believe it. Only days before, Spike and I went to see the Tom Cruise fighter-pilot movie “Maverick”. Out of habit, I’ve even picked up the phone a couple of times to call him about something before remembering that he’s gone. Spike’s accomplishments were many and he played an important

role in many organizations, especially veteran support groups, but we will always remember Spike best as a good friend.

He was friendly, hospitable, and truly liked people. Spike enjoyed meeting new people, striking up a conversation with strangers, learning about them and made it a point to remember their names. He loved a crowd.

One of us may have made plans with him to go to a movie, or to dinner and he would show up with two or three others he’d invited to come along on the spur of the moment. When meeting him for lunch, it was essential to get a big table for those last-minute invitees. He treated everyone the same, no matter their status. Whether someone owned a bank or mowed yards for a living, he made everyone feel as if they were his best friend.

Spike was quite persuasive— you couldn’t simply decline when he wanted you to do something with him. He might call and say, “want to meet me out at Burge to shoot in the morning?”. Upon arrival it was not surprising to find six other folks there. When he started a conversation by saying, “You ought to...”, you knew he was going to get you to join an

organization, buy the latest shooting gear, go on a trip, or donate to the Special Ops guys.

As much as he liked people, he may have loved his dogs even more. Spike was very fond of English Labs, and at shoots he only stayed in dog-friendly hotels (which meant that we all stayed in dog-friendly hotels). Between events at the Nationals, you may have seen him throwing a dummy for Molly, who always sat in the seat next to him on his plane or in his golf cart. We called his plane “Spike-Air”. Spike was generous by inviting his friends to fly with him to shoots. Perhaps one reason may have been that many years before, his wife said, “Spike, if you try to make people pay to fly with you, you’ll be flying by yourself”.

We all get attached to our shotguns and Spike was no exception. For years he shot this pair of English shotguns that were forever breaking, which I delighted in kidding him about. So, a couple of years ago when both his guns were down and parts were hard to come by, we went down to Cole Gunsmithing in Florida where Spike got fitted with a pair of Berettas. This departure from the English guns bore fruit as his scores improved immediately.

For the record, the English shotguns still aren’t fixed.

Spike was looking forward to the Nationals in San Antonio this year as a SSV USA Team FITASC member, after winning the SSV FITASC event there last year. We all will miss him.

Spike, put in a good word for me. I’ll be your wingman anytime.

Remembering My Friend Spike SCOTT DICKINSON

I learned to shoot at Camp Geronimo outside of Payson, Arizona when I was about 10 years old. But I learned to shoot about 25 years later when I started shooting with Spike on a regular basis. Although I didn’t recognize it at the time, I was simply the next in a long line of shooters of whom Spike took an interest. Spike was constantly honing his craft as a shooter, taking lessons, practicing, and traveling to “big boy” tournaments around the country, and across the pond. As much time as he spent on his own shooting, he always seemed to have more available to promote the sport and encourage others to participate.

Spike was always excited to introduce new people to shooting, give them pointers on the fundamentals, and point them in the right direction for the best places to find professional instruction, plenty of targets and, of course, shotguns and accessories.

Spike co-founded the Atlanta Charity Clays tournament 31 years ago, at a time when few thought about using sporting clays as a means to raise money for charity. ACC went on to become the template for countless similar tournaments throughout the South and around the country. It would be impossible to count the dollars raised or the new shooters brought into the sport because of his enthusiastic and relentless promotion of sporting clays.

Tournaments were always the visible part, but Spike was hard at work behind the scenes, doing things little and large. He was always willing to lend a few words of advice (or a shotgun) to a novice shooter, connect the dots between shooters in different cities, and to share his vast business experience with others building businesses around the sport.

What I remember most about Spike are the quiet things like sending Spike-Air to Ft. Bragg or Virginia Beach to pick up a widow and Gold Star Kids so they could attend the annual SOC-F Sporting Clays Tournament in person. They may never be shooters, but they will always remember the airplane ride, the chance to hear from the men who served with “Daddy”

and, of course, all the Oreos and M&M’s they could eat. All made possible by a generous man named Spike Wahlen.

Remembering Spike Wahlen

HARVEY SCHWARTZ - GSCA PRESIDENT

Having been involved in Sporting Clays in the state of Georgia since 2005, I have encountered numerous shooters throughout the state and country who made significant impacts on the sport.

One of those was Spike. I first met Spike at one of the Atlanta Charity Clays events roughly 15 years ago.

The most significant thing I recall is that he always had a smile on his face. He was very kind and made me feel as if I had known him for years.

As time passed and I became President of the Georgia Sporting Clays Association, fostering more interaction with Spike. I remember spending time with him, one on one, as I wrote an article about Atlanta Charity Clays’ 25th anniversary for ClayShootingUSA magazine. For those who don’t know about ACC, it is probably in the top two or three sporting clay charity events across the country, having one of the longest tenures and largest contribution to charity.

On the course, Spike was a competitor. He recently competed in the World English Sporting Clays tournament in San Antonio, Texas, where he won first place in his concurrent in the FITASC event. More recently at the Georgia Sporting Clays Association championship, he finished third in his concurrent in FITASC as well.

Spike’s legacy will live on in the contribution he made to the charities he supported. The sporting clays world has lost a great champion of the sport, and he will be greatly missed. n

A special thank you to Larry Farrow for sharing his photos.

MY WORLD FITASC Adventure

BY HAYLYN HANKS

Have

you ever wondered what it would be like to shoot the World FITASC? Follow me as I tell you about my travel experiences in the town of Orvieto while representing NSCA Team USA at the 2022 World FITASC Championships.

Antiquity and Jet Lag

The ancient Roman town of Orvieto is nestled into the mountains in the region of Umbria, Italy. A full view of the mountain valley below reveals multiple vineyards, endless farmland with tractors bailing hay, and small villages scattered about. When driving from the airport in Rome, you never would have guessed this little gem of a town existed.

Disembarking our overnight flight from Charlotte to Rome, my family and I arrived Monday morning and then drove from

Rome to Orvieto. Jet lag certainly set in while searching for our hotel, as we drove up the winding narrow roads in a steady climb into the Orvieto city limits. We rented a Renault SUV which barely squeezed between the buildings as the navigation system blared out directions. When all frustration and tiredness began to take over the entirety of the car, the roads opened to the front steps of one of the most beautiful churches that I have ever seen. The Duomo is one of the most intriguing staples of

this little town and is known by the locals as the Golden Lily of cathedrals, having taken three centuries to complete.

Of course, we could not stay long because we were in search of our hotel, which ended up being down the slopes of the mountain road. The weariness induced by the trip relieved us of any reservations about the appearance of our temporary home as we checked in and immediately sought sleep. After a desperately needed five-hour nap, we found ourselves hungry. Venturing into the lower town to search for a place to eat around five o’clock, we discovered that the restaurants in this region open from noon to three and from six to ten. Since the familiar drive thru restaurants were nowhere to be seen and the

regular restaurants did not open for two more hours, we decided to return to the hotel in search of dining recommendations.

From the time my sister found out that she has Celiac disease, our family has adopted a gluten free lifestyle which significantly limited dining options in Italy. The man at the front desk offered to call his friend who owned one of the restaurants in town to see if gluten free options were available. Thankfully, the restauranteur agreed to help, preparing us gluten free pasta and pork. Pork was very popular in this region, being incorporated in various styles with most meals. We ordered a meat and cheese plate that happened to be served with bread. After discussion with friends and family that have travelled to Italy before,

the verdict was that the wheat products in Italy are much easier digested than the preservativepacked dishes in the United States.

The next morning my family and I planned to take the bullet train into Rome for the day, but we decided to stay back and utilize that day as rest for my sister and practice for myself. When practice opened, shooting commenced in the bottom of the quarry and wound completely around into the mountain. The volume of people shooting that morning slowed down the practice process tremendously. More than twenty people waited urgently to step into the cage and take shots at targets lining the walls of the rock quarry we were in. The range looked as if it was out of a movie. The inner quarry looked like a giant bowl with machines situated one hundred yards away from the top of a cliff, or from the bottom of the quarry. The versatility of this practice range was impressive.

After a good three-hour practice, we returned to the hotel to enjoy the team dinner and solidify the plan was for the week. Each team member had entirely different ideas on how they were going to spend the next day before opening ceremonies. Some were off to see the city of Orvieto, others planned to hit the practice range for a chance to shoot. For me, after

the chaos of practice that day, I knew that Wednesday would be my day to run tasks and work to get my mind off the week before me.

Wednesday morning was a busy one from the start. My dad and I took my mom and sister back to the airport to return to the US. Driving into Rome was beautiful, but the winding roads seemed endless. The road was steadily meandering until we ended up back at the range. After interviews with sponsors and meeting the European counterparts of the companies in the US, it was time to make preparations for the opening ceremonies.

Opening ceremonies unfolded on the front steps of the Duomo. We walked half a mile away to begin the parade route with the rest of the countries in attendance. The locals peered down from their apartments above the stores and boutiques to the people in matching suits and flags from different countries, puzzled at the sight. To my surprise, many tourists from the US came and asked questions about what exactly we were doing. After explaining to them that we were competing as the United States team for the 2022 World FITASC Championships, a sense of national pride came over them. The whole of the team stood proud at the foot

of the Duomo as we waited to retrieve our packets which contained squadding and shoot times.

I began the first day of competition on the Perazzi and Fiocchi/B&P courses. These two parcours were nestled on the edge of the cliffs and overlooking the trees and valley below. There is no feeling quite like putting your toes over the edge of a one hundred yard drop off and feeling your heart race. We may have

encountered these target trajectories at some point in the US before, but the views are unmatched. The tension was high among the competitors on the peg and those waiting for the chance for glory.

After finishing that day of competition feeling confident in my shooting, we went back to the hotel. I learned very quickly that the air conditioning in Italy is almost nonexistent. We bought an oscillating tower fan to try and give

our hotel room some airflow, but the temperature inside the room was no less than eighty degrees Fahrenheit. We asked the hotel staff if they somehow could lower the temperature or bring up another fan. They lowered the temperature to around seventythree degrees and brought another tower oscillating fan which cooled the room down tremendously. Just as we had achieved a more temperate room and were ready to get some rest, music started

blaring loudly outside the hotel. Unbeknownst to us, a Rock and Beer Festival commenced right across the street and continued until one o’clock in the morning. The members at the team hotel all spoke of the concert the next morning at breakfast, as we laughed at the ironic timing of our stay.

The next two days of competition were very hit or miss for me. I shot the Beretta and Benelli parcours the second day, and the Zoli and Browning the third. Beretta and Benelli both were shot on the practice course, located at the bottom of the rock quarry and over the edge of cliff. I felt the nerves come on that day more than ever. On Benelli, I felt as if the gun and I were not one, but I was able to control those nerves and finish strong on Beretta. The Zoli and Browning parcours were in the open, on top of the quarry. No respite was available from the blazing heat on any part of those parcours. With limited shade and lack of water, dehydration could set in quickly. We bought an umbrella for shade, but the sun was persistent. Like the day before, my first par was not in sync, but I was able to pull through on the second.

We ate dinner that night at La

Buca Di Bacco inside the city of Orvieto. We had a meat and cheese board with different staple pieces from around the Umbria Region. The pasta was full of savory flavor that had the entire dinner table silent for the first time that night. We finished off the night at the Blue Bar. This little gem hosted our group with drinks and entertainment by the bartender who played the guitar. We watched locals scramble by, trying to get home before midnight. People in Latin American dancewear were running across the cobblestone streets in hopes of getting to a Salsa Festival happening outside the Duomo where I once stood in my Team USA formal wear. After some relaxing conversation, we called it a night due to my upcoming early morning rotation.

On the final day of the World FITASC, I shot the Kreighoff and Rizzini parcours. These two were mostly set in the woods but had a few pegs with open fields. I believe since my head got in the way the during the previous two days, the feeling of letting go and relishing in the fact that I was fortunate to be in Italy, was beneficial to my performance. The absence of

pressure allowed me to finish strong on the last day with scores that made my confidence grow. The final shot was a sense of satisfaction and relief that only few could have felt. The sense of pride and hard work finally paid off.

Once we said goodbye to teammates and others, it was off to Rome. Looking out the car window and seeing the Italian countryside pass by was a moment I will always cherish. The trip I had was a very interesting addition to the story of my shooting career. The people, the food, the scenery, the culture, the competition, and the targets were amazing. For those in search of adventure on their shooting path, my suggestion is “just take the trip”. The adventure will find you. n

DAN CALLAHAN’S 6 TIPS TO GET YOU ONTO THE PODIUM

BY MICHAEL G. SABBETH

shooting at Kiowa Creek early this April at an Easter Fun Shoot. One station, shot off a pickup truck bed, presented a fast left to right arcing target that looped back, right to left. The second target was a mirror image of that target, a right to left arcing target looping back to the right. The two targets crossed about thirty yards out. Evaluating the comparative lines of the targets, Dan chose to shoot the left to right target first, spot shooting it within a second of the target’s release. Dan’s stunning quickness with the first target allowed him to hit the second target while its line was relatively straight. Failure to

instantly spot shoot the first target would have resulted in a difficult second target fifty yards out with a trajectory of compound curves.

Dan

Callahan and I were shooting at Kiowa Creek Sporting Clays Club, an hour’s drive from downtown Denver. One station offered a true pair presentation: target A went straight away from the cage, rising and then arcing to the left; target B was a left to right high incoming crosser that began to dive about thirty yards out.

Tip I: Follow the Line of the Target

I shot first. I broke the first pair, then missed the second target on two successive pairs. Dan muttered dispassionately, “More tournaments are lost on that type of target than on all others”. I was perplexed, but I listened. A mountain of a man whose physical stature approaches George Digweedesqe, Dan possesses an enviable array of national and regional titles, as listed below. When Dan talks, I listen. Dan’s comment became the inspiration for this article.

Before dropping, the B target hung in the air like a flare, as if teasing me to take an undisciplined shot. The seduction was that this target was easy. I spot shot it as if I were shooting a rifle. Of course,

my gun stopped. I could not determine if I shot under or over it.

A reasonably skilled shooter could spot shoot and hit the target consistently. But the shooter can also miss because of deficient gun handling, creating another ‘0’ to undermine the path to the winner’s podium.

The proper method to shoot target B is shown in graphic one.

The shooter should follow the line of the target, go through the target, keep the gun moving and allow his or her short-term memory to instruct the brain when to pull the trigger. The lesson, of course, is applicable on many target presentations: follow the line of the target to keep the gun moving.

Dan acknowledges no rule is unassailable and exceptions are justified. For example, we were

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Tip II:Visualize, Memorize & Adjust

Clay target shooting, as in any sport, is a game of adjustments. A tennis player adjusts their grip on the racket; the baseball batter adjusts their grip on the bat; the pitcher adjusts their grip on the ball. An infinite number of examples will occur to the reader. Dan’s tip requires the shooter to create a baseline from which the adjustments are made, which requires focus and memory. You may know instinctively or perhaps your squad mates will tell you, correctly or incorrectly, where you erred in your move to the target.

The information may be accurate but possessing accurate information does not guarantee success. The shooter consciously knows the shot must change because the eyes and the brain did not coordinate successfully. However, to facilitate a change leading to a successful outcome, you must know what you are changing from. Only with a data point in your mind’s eye can you make an adjustment by judging what you are changing to.

The most challenging targets for Dan are the long high incomers that sits high in the sky at about forty yards out. He sometimes loses confidence regarding where to break them. He recollects the visual images of the sight picture and ultimately identifies the obstacle, then works through it. When preparing for a tournament, if a target “befuddles” Dan, he will shoot at that station until he masters it.

The consistently excellent shooter has the humility to understand the application of causality: hitting a target or missing a target happens for a reason. Visualizing and

memorizing the errant shot are foundational for learning what was deficient about that initial attempt to break the target. Only then can the adjustment lead to a successful shot. Several adjustments may be required until proper gun speed, lead, hold point, foot placement and any of the other numerous variables required for a successful shot are achieved. Few shooters conscientiously implement this tedious mental process. However, few shooters get to stand on the winner’s podium.

Tip III: Work Hard

When describing success, many competitors and writers use the phrase “hard work”, but rarely define the practical implementation of the phrase. Hard work for Dan encompasses employing a consistent pre-shot routine such as foot placement, giving himself a brief pep talk, committing to an established break point, and not giving up after an unsuccessful shot. Dan implements the “OODA loop”, a four-step approach—observe, orient, decide and act— developed by U.S. fighter pilots to make decisions under extreme pressure with clarity and decisiveness. When practice or training shooting, Dan tries to fabricate pressure as if he were in a championship tournament.

“I love preparation”, Dan told me. He prepares methodically and meticulously. On his phone, Dan writes notes about handling specific shots. When he’s struggling, he looks at his phone and reviews how specific targets should be addressed. Examples: incomers—don’t ride them. Fast rabbits—don’t lift my head and start the swing below the line. Long crossers—get my body

leaning forward more. The notes have been collected over years and are continuously updated. On the course, competition or not, Dan works on his focus by constantly visualizing targets.

“You have two minutes to shoot at a station”, Dan said. “I cannot let anything cross my mind; work, debts, repairing my truck’s transmission etcetera”. Shooting at the highest level is not a consequence of happy accidents but rather is born from a tireless work ethic. Dan views his shots as his experiments; his process more encompassing than noting why he hit or missed a target. Dan’s continuous refinement is clinical and surgical. He is always learning, perfecting, and improving. Dan applies science to shooting but knows that high-level competitive shooting is beyond science and physical training. It’s attitude, movement, and rhythm. “It’s an art form”, Dan says.

Dan studies the nuances and intricacies that combine for a symphony of movement, where every detail matters. “Every message I give myself is intended to ward off complacency and achieve my goal. I hate excuses. Every thought and movement are goal oriented”. All mental energy is directed to focus and execution. “It’s tough to stay focused for 10-15 stations. If you want to win, you must work hard. When I finish a round, I am absolutely, mentally, exhausted”.

Tip IV: Focus Harder on the “Gimme” Stations

Dan says he works harder on the “easy pair” stations. “I review the basics. I make sure my feet are positioned so I can coil back

toward the trap, unwind and swing through the target without dropping my shoulder”. To maintain focus on a report pair, Dan may move one foot after the first shot. At the Easter Shoot at Kiowa Creek, Dan shot a 99/100. His only miss was a right to left rabbit under moderate speed. Dan could hit it a hundred times in a row, yet he missed. Likely rooted in a failure to implement Tip 1, he lost focus.

Dan emphasized that he must make a conscious effort to refuse to hurry when shooters are lined up behind him. “It’s my time in the cage, so I take my time”. If he becomes distracted, Dan opens his gun, steps back from the cage, takes a breath, regains focus, and returns to the cage. “If you’re going to care about your score, you have to take you time in the cage and make sure you are prepared to execute”. Paradoxically, the process is more daunting on the easier targets. As a rule, and in an effort to maintain focus, Dan does not talk much around the shooting cage.

Dan shoots very quickly, which often offers him a straighter trajectory and more break point options. But, with easy targets especially, very quick shooting can be detrimental.

SHOOTSTRATEGY

Tip V: Shoot Your Game and Don’t Give Up!

Don’t give up! Dan described this tip as “his biggest thing”, a Churchillian “never surrender.” Dan is in a tournament, several stations remain, and he misses a bird or two. A shooter’s tendency is to count the remaining targets and make a calculation about one’s projected performance. Dan asserts these tendencies undermine focus. “Block these thoughts and work through what you are doing” he exclaims. “Don’t give up!”

Dan described the time he shot the 2020 Colorado State Championship. The incoming targets on a station early in the round on the second day were relatively easy, and he began second guessing himself. He missed two targets. His concern about losing the tournament weighed him down like an anchor. During the drive to the next station, Erin, Dan’s exquisite daughter (a superb shooter in her own right and the creator of the transcendent Merry Miracles Shooting Fundraiser) said to him, “Don’t give up, Dad!”. He heeded this advice and buckled down for all the remaining targets, which were more difficult. Dan said to me as only a proud dad can, “Erin won the tournament for me!”

Part of not giving up is continuing your commitment to shooting your own game: pick-up point, kill point, gun movement style. Every shooter is different. Some are faster; some are slower. Some are smooth; some move awkwardly. Watching what others do may be worse than unhelpful; it may be detrimental.

Review the list of processes. Reestablish your pre-shot routine. Continue doing any idiosyncratic gestures you may do. For a reason unknown to me, Dan cracks his knuckles and talks to himself. He studies the target with greater intensity. “I stare a hole through the target”, he told me, “Only I understand what that means”.

Tip VI: Create a Positive Mental Attitude

“You build your score, one target at a time”, Dan emphasizes. Building a score is not top down; it’s bottom up and can only be done with a positive attitude. Without question, Dan takes care of himself during a competition. He is fastidious about hydration and nutrition, and careful when handling his shotgun.

“I always thank the puller and the scorer when I leave a station,” Dan mentioned, adding: “I want to show respect for the folks who help the sport, and I feel better. It’s a sign of respect, and I find that comforting”.

“The people in the shotgun sports are among the most collegial and gracious in any sport”, Dan said. “When one of us is struggling, we can turn around and ask a competitor, ‘What am I doing wrong?’ and your competitor will help you”. Dan admires the people who compete in the clay target sports. “This is a testament to their character”. The environment nurtures a positive mental attitude.

Dan is unswervingly dedicated to the incremental pursuit of excellence. Every target offers an opportunity to advance toward his goals. Dan enters as many

competitions as time, family obligations and resources permit. He views every target as building a crescendo to a successful engagement at the national championships. As an instructor at Kiowa Creek Sporting Club, by teaching others, Dan has enlarged the scope of his opportunities to practice and improve. The statements I have captured from Dan illuminate his passion for clay target shooting and his commitment to the integrity of the sport. Coincidentally, Dan has helped me become a better clay target shooter. n

Dan Callahan Sporting Clays Championships

2021 Nationals: M-3 main event

SxS Champion

5 time Colorado State Champion

HOA state’s Kansas, Missouri, Montana and New Mexico State Championships

2 time National Pump Champion

2 time National SxS Champion

For More Information:

Dan Callahan:

Call or text @ 303-854-4385

Email: clayhater@comcast.net

Kiowa Creek Sporting Club kiowacreek.com

Michael Sabbeth is the author of a new book, The Honorable Hunter: How To Honorably & Persuasively Defend & Promote Hunting. Sape

“Don’t take the target for granted”, Dan admonished.

PAVE THE WAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

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NEW YORK STATE 2022 SPORTING CLAYS CHAMPIONSHIP

BY LOUISE TERRY

The New York State Sporting Clays Championship was held this year July 21-24 at a new venue, Vernon National Shooting Preserve. In fact, this was the first large, registered sporting clays event this venue has ever hosted. The management at Vernon “wisely” brought in Ben Wise to be their tournament director. Working together with Ron Acee’s local team and the PROMATIC crew, they collectively did an excellent job hosting this event. By setting up extended planning sessions early on, plus two on-site clinics in June to train trappers and workers, Ben led the team to a very successful weekend of great targets and a smooth-running tournament.

PRELIMINARY

CH JOSEPH CAREY 94

RU JOHN FRITZ 93

3RD DANIEL WARNER 93

M1 RODGER BECKER 93

AA1 GRANT GLOSSNER 85

A1 JOHN KEARNEY 86

B1 TANNER DAGER 92

C1 BENJAMIN SCHMIDT 85

D1 NICHOLAS SMITH 82

E1 RUSSELL PALMER 70

LADY CH DONNA DUCCI 82

SUB JR CH EOIN BATES 87

JR CH TANNER DAGER 92

VET CH JOSEPH CAREY 94

SUP VET CH RODGER BECKER 93

SUPER SPORT

SIDE EVENTS

CH (4-WAY TIE) CHARLES CONGER 44 BLAIZE WHITEHEAD 44 RODGER BECKER 44 GORDON BROOKS 44

5-STAND

CH RODGER BECKER 48

RU SHAWN KEMETER 47

50 BIRD FITASC

CH ANGELO TOTO 47

RU JOSEPH CAREY 47 12 GA 50 BIRD

CH SHAWN KEMETER 49

RU RODGER BECKER 48 20 GA 50 BIRD

CH ANGELO TOTO 47

RU STEVE SMITH 45

28 GA 50 BIRD

CH RODGER BECKER 50

RU ANGELO TOTO 49 .410 BORE 50 BIRD

CH RODGER BECKER 44

RU DAVID DE FERNELMONT 43 PUMP GUN

CH RODGER BECKER 48

RU ADAM CAMPBELL 47 SIDE BY SIDE

Wise’s Canvas

Ben took full advantage of the terrain which includes rolling hills presenting amazing hilltop vistas overlooking the Mohawk River Valley, deep ravines, and open fields in a wide range of variations. He set 850 targets for a program which included a sporting Prelim, 5-Stand 50, small gauge 50s, super sport 50, side x side and pump gun 50s, FITASC, plus an early 50-bird FITASC, and the 200-bird Championship Main Event. 233 shooters participated in the Main event with 165 of them contending for the in-state New York State titles and bragging rights.

SR SUP VET CH GEORGE FEDEROFF 88

LEGACY CH NORMAN SMITH 81

FITASC

CH RODGER BECKER 96

RU JOSEPH CAREY 94

M1 STEVE SMITH 91

AA1 THOMAS CATALFANO 90

A1 DARREN HOLUPKO 91

B1 TOM MILLHAM 81

C1 ROBERT KANEDA 80

D1 PERRY RAGUSA 64

E1 AMANDA ROSENSTEIN

LADY CH ASHLEY BUTCHER

JR CH CHRISTIAN JACKOWSKI

VET CH JOSEPH CAREY

SUP VET CH RODGER BECKER

SRSUP VET CH ROBERT KANEDA

LEGACY CH NORMAN SMITH

CH RODGER BECKER 47

RU WILLIAM BROWN 44

The Empire State Championship

The New York State and Open High Overall Champion was Angelo Toto posting an outstanding 193 x 200. On Saturday, Angelo tied out-of-stater Rodger Becker from PA with 95s on an arguably easier course, but then poured it on Sunday to add 98 to his total on a tougher and more technical course. There was no wiggle room to get this overall win with Pennsylvania’s Shawn

Kemeter coming back from his 93 on Saturday with a red hot 99 on Sunday. Even with Kemeter’s dominant performance, he ended his outing one bird shy of the title. Rodger Becker took M1 overall with a 190x200. The Ladies Overall Champion was Pennsylvania’s Katelyn Henry whose strong pair of 90s took the top spot in her Class and both the Ladies and Junior titles with her 180 x 200 on these two courses.

The in-state champions were Angelo Toto 193 (High overall Champion), Charles Conger (Runner-Up) seven targets back, and Charles Schneible in third with 184x200. The New York State Ladies winners were Kristin Canale with a 187, Jackie Scarsella posting a 165 and Susan Meyen one back from Scarsella.

The weekend included breakfast sandwiches and coffee served every morning and an impressive cocktail hour Saturday

BEN WISE, TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR AND TARGET SETTER

ANGELO TOTO 2022 NEW YORK STATE SPORTING CLAYS CHAMPION

SHOOTREPORT

MAIN EVENT

CH ANGELO TOTO 193

RU SHAWN KEMETER 192

M1 RODGER BECKER 190

AA1 MASON MENTZER 183

A1 KATELYN HENRY 180

B1 TANNER DAGER 173

C1 BENJAMIN SCHMIDT 170

D1 PAUL BONACQUISTI 158

E1 RUSSELL PALMER 138

LADY CH KATELYN HENRY 180

SUB JR CH GRANT GLOSSNER 162

JR CH BLAIZE WHITEHEAD 188

VET CH CHARLES SCHNEIBLE 184

SUP VET CH RODGER BECKER 190

SR SUB VET CH DOMINIC ULIANO

LEGACY CH NORMAN SMITH 158

evening during an exciting MakeA-Break shoot-off, followed by a full Prime Rib dinner. With Kendra Bitner from Minnesota smoothly handling Registration and with full cooperation from the weatherman for a bluebird weekend, the Vernon club hosted a very successful tournament. Special thanks to their sponsors: PROMATIC, RC Ammo, Caesar Guerini and Turning Stone Resort & Casino.

Next Year’s New York State Returns to Vernon

In case you missed this one, Vernon National was awarded the NY State Shoot again in 2023 and Ben Wise will be back as the target setter and tournament director. Be sure to put this on your calendar if you will be in the upstate New York area the weekend of July 20-23, 2023. You won’t be disappointed. n

Full shoot results are available at scorechaser.com

TONY RIVERA

BY RUDY BAZAAN

IfI had to use one word to describe Tony Rivera it would be “heart”. Heart can mean a lot of different things, to a lot of different people. It can mean friendship, love, passion, determination, or many other things based on one’s perspective. Tony embodied all those things. I first meet Tony in 2007, one year after he won his National title. Being from the Rio Grande Valley, I knew Steve Shultz, aka “Grande”, with Targetline. Being a newbie to the game of sporting clays I wanted to get a lesson, so I talked to Steve and received the referral to Tony. I showed up as instructed for the scheduled lesson with Tony to find that he was not there. As it sometimes goes with those who run general contracting businesses, like Tony did, his day got busy. Tony felt so bad about not being able to make it, he offered to reschedule the lesson for free. He didn’t know me but was determined to make it right. We had our lesson, found out we lived ten minutes from each other and had had similar interests, and our friendship was off and running. He invited me to shoot with him the next weekend, which led us to become squad mates, almost exclusively for the next ten years. He welcomed me to his squad, not as a student, but as friends. I was

amazed that a National Champ would shoot and travel with a newbie.

Friendship Shooting and traveling with Tony was an experience like none I’ve ever had. Having a solid group of friends from back home that were all crazy and fun, Tony fit right in and in some cases took it to a new level. On the road we talked about everything under the sun, politics, movies, hunting, fishing, growing up, nothing was off limits, but the one thing we did the most was laugh. The jokes and stupid sayings were countless. Once we got to the shoot, it took an hour just to get to registration due to all the people he would stop, and he was stopped by, to talk to. The same applied when trying to get to our first station. I would request that we leave on time to get there, but we always rolled up at the last minute because he made it a point to, a least try and talk to everyone he knew like a true friend would.

Love

One thing I quickly observed and learned from my time with Tony was that when his wife Debbie

called, we would pause our shenanigans so he could talk to her. It could be early morning or three o’clock in the afternoon, and he always answered the phone the same way with a loud and cheerful “Good Morning!” This was just what he did with her, it was special, perfect, and full of love. During my time with Tony, I got to know his family, primarily Debbie and his brother Art. He loved them deeply and would do anything for them.

Determination

Once the competition started it was “game on”. Tony would do everything he could think of, to hit every single target out there. His style of shooting was unique, with a gun slinger vibe, he was fast and fearless, making him a tough act to

follow working my way up through the classes. His desire to do his best was so great that he would change guns in the middle of a shoot if he felt like it would right the ship. Sure, changing shells or guns in the middle of shoot could be superstition or mental, but anyone who says they don’t have emotions about not shooting well is either lying, or not competing seriously. One thing he always said is, “anyone who is not upset about losing, will never win”.

Passion

The Sporting Clays community is like none in any other sport. In what other sport can you end up squadded with a National Champion or All-American? In my experience, 95% of the people at a

competition will help you out if you ask, in some cases they try help even when you don’t ask. The point is, it’s a great group of folks. Tony spoke of this often to me. He told me of his shoot-offs back in the day with legends like Andy Duffy, Scott Robertson, and Bobby Fowler, and remembering when young guns like Corey Cruse and Anthony Matarese could barely carry their autos to shoot, and his joy seeing them be successful. He loved the shooting community and wanted to see the sport grow, helping so many shooters of all classes with positive words in an effort to help others get something positive from the sport. He wanted everyone to realize the benefits of the sport that had given him so much. This was his passion.

A month before he passed, Tony was asked to write an article for ClayShooting USA Magazine, to talk about his handicap sporting clays game he called Matchplay. I have yet to read what he wrote, but we talked about it often, analyzing it ad infinitum. I’m sure his article will be instructive and well thought out. I want people to know that his idea for this game comes from his heart, his personality, his passion to compete against the best, his friendship and desire to include everyone, and his determination to help the sport grow.

It truly was my honor to be asked to write memoriam of my friend Tony who was like a second father to me. I know there are lots of folks out there who knew and cared for him just as much as I did. The words “he will be missed” feels like such an understatement. For me, and so many others, going to tournaments without him will be so strange. I am thankful for the time that I got to spend with Tony and would do it all over again. Till I see you again… “U got dat shot!” n

2022 NORTH CENTRAL REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

BY MATTHEW GAY WITH COVERAGE OF THE MAIN AND FITASC BY CYLE FOLEY

Northbrook Sports Club is well known for hosting major tournaments and was the setting for this year’s North Central Regional. 1200 targets were available during this six-day marathon of shooting. All the side events layouts, eight FITASC parcours, and a phenomenal pair of main event courses were meticulously crafted by Brett Seibert and his staff test the best of the best.

The Venue and Amenities

Northbrook sets a high bar in terms of facilities, food, and available vendors during a major shoot. This year’s regional was no different. A plethora of vendors were set up on the drive adjacent to the clubhouse, selling their wares with a vast selection of fine shotguns on display. Plentiful ammunition was available at the shell house ensuring shooters had plenty to participate. Multiple food vendors were on site offering

everything from burgers to woodfired pizza.

Northbrook’s location opens the door to local cuisine and attractions that is arguably unmatched throughout the country. Whether one enjoys the Navy Pier or sits down at one of the many generations old Greek restaurants in the area, there is a lot to see just a short drive from these beautiful shooting grounds. One of the personal favorites for locals and visitors alike is Portillo’s. Founded in Villa Park, Illinois in 1963 by Robert J.

Portillo, this chain of restaurants offers Chicago food staples such as the big Italian beef sandwich, Chicago style hotdogs and my wife’s personal favorite the chocolate cake shake. On your next trip to Northbrook, if you haven’t already, do yourself a favor and check this place out.

Northbrook’s shooting grounds are vast and offer a wide variety of backdrops and terrain. Ponds and lowlands accentuate the FITASC layouts and abut the recently acquired portion of the grounds which are dotted with old growth hardwoods. The main event courses offer plenty of space by which a target setter can create unlimited presentations.

Preliminary and Side Events

The west side of the grounds was the location for two separate

courses with target combinations and trajectories set specific for each gauge and gun type. The wooded south course was set for the 28 gauge, .410 bore and sideby-side events, offering fun presentations for the little guns and the aficionados with horizontal barrels. The north course, with its open field background, gave the 12-gauge true pair, 20 gauge and pump gun shooters an opportunity to attempt targets with a little more elbow room.

Blaize Whitehead stood alone at the top of the podium after posting a 48x50 in the 12-gauge true pair event, one target ahead of a five-way tie with 47s for the runner-up through M3 positions. In the pump-gun event William Yacktman dropped only one target for the champion slot, two targets ahead of runner-up Jason Cranmer. A three-way tie with 47s for HOA in the 20-gauge event had

JULIA GILMAN

to be settled by a tiebreaker. After the dust settled, Alexandra Wampler earned the champion spot ahead of Dalton Kirchhoefer and Dean Blanchard.

Meanwhile on the south course John Brinckerhoff was busy putting together a perfect round to take the HOA spot in the 28 gauge with a 50x50. The .410 bore event saw another tie on 46 with Barry Laduke, Devin Anderson, and William Yacktman. Laduke prevailed in the tiebreaker to earn the HOA position. The event for the classic side by sides was dominated by Jon Porter who put up an excellent score of 48x50, one target ahead of a pair of shooters named William: McTurnan and Yacktman.

The preliminary sporting event hosted 428 shooters in the tournament warm-up. Dropping only two targets Brandon Powell earned the HOA trophy, one target ahead of Eric Harvey and three targets ahead of third place and Sub Junior champion Griffin Howe. Karen Shedd took ladies champion honors, one target ahead of runner-up Diane Sorantino and two ahead of Kayla Wilgus.

A three-way tie with 97x100 for the top spot in the super sporting event developed between Brian

Demott, Bert Stelly and Tyler Duncan. The tie breaker settled the stand-off leaving Demott with the HOA placement and Stelly as the runner-up. Not to be outdone in the drama realm, Diane Sorantino and Alexandra Wampler tied up at 95x100 to set up another tie breaker. Sorantino prevailed to take the Ladies first spot leaving Wampler in the runner-up post, one target ahead of Karen Shedd.

Subgauge FITASC

Four parcours were set in the center of the shooting grounds and sported fun targets with a couple challenging combinations. Utilizing a cattail slough, the target setter threw a couple of hot presentations that required correct hold point in order to stay in front of the bird. Adding in the complication of the mount, required work on the shooter’s part to earn a couple of these pairs.

Jon Porter and Mike Vande Noord tied things up with 49s on the 20-gauge layouts. After the tie breaker, Porter took the HOA spot over Vande Noord and one target ahead of Ohio’s Christina Loudenslager. The 28-gauge parcours offered straight forward targets that only required respect. Eight shooters posted 49s on these

two layouts, but one shooter navigated both parcours without a flinch. William Walton posted a perfect 50x50 to earn HOA honors. Well done sir.

Browning 5-Stand

The team at Northbrook set four excellent tournament 5-Stand fields to test the target reading and shot sequence planning ability of the competitors at the North Central Regional. This event was very competitive with some excellent scores and performances. This year’s champion nearly straightened all four fields. Karen Shedd demonstrated that her target reading, and planning skills were superior to all other competitors this weekend. Her 99x100 earned her the champion trophy one target ahead of Braxton Oliver and two ahead of Jacob Cameron. Shedd also took the lady's number one position, three targets ahead of ClayShooting USA’s own team member, Haylyn Hanks.

AFS Turbo

The AFS Turbo is a new species of American Field Sporting, like super sporting and with the intent to allow shooters to move through

more efficiently. This course was set on this writer’s favorite part of the shooting grounds at Northbrook. The northernmost portion of the club has a setting of mature hardwoods and surrounded on two sides by marsh and a pond. This area allows a target setter to unleash their imagination and set phenomenal targets, and that is exactly what the Northbrook staff did.

Brandon Powell set the bar exceptionally high with his score of 104 (remember the “X” birds are worth two points). This score earned Powell the top spot by putting eight targets between him and the closest competitors. Heath Garrett and Wendell Cherry tied things up with a pair of 96s. A tiebreaker ensued after which

HAYLYN HANKS

AFS TURBO SHOOTING

Garrett earned the runner-up trophy.

FITASC

This year’s North Central featured the Krieghoff FITASC Grand Slam. Eight challenging parcours were set from flat land to cattail reeds. This writer had a blast shooting each presentation and anxiously anticipated the next parcour like a kid on Christmas morning. I may be showing my age here but, I was waiting for a

Labrador Retriever to jump in the cattails and flush up a duck just like the old Nintendo game. Northbrook managed the flow of the course wonderfully with clear direction and signage, keeping shooters on schedule and on task.

Todd Hitch took HOA and J1 titles, showing us all how to do it with a high score of 193 out of 200, one target ahead of Kevin DeMichiel. Karen Shedd took the ladies title with an impressive 186 out of 200 finishing eight targets ahead of the closest competitors.

Winchester Ladies Cup

Winchester’s wildly successful head-first dive into support for the ladies in our sport continued at the North Central Regional. Karen Shedd dropped only 34 total targets across the Main, FITASC and 5-Stand events to post a total score of 466x500 to earn the Ladies Cup and a check for $2500. Haylyn Hanks put up a 448x500 to take the second-place position, seven targets ahead of Madison Sharpe. Winchester’s dedication to the sport by conceiving, sponsoring and funding this essential recognition of the great lady shooters we share the courses and parcours with, has been a

welcome addition to the championship tour. Many thanks to Winchester for their continued support.

Main Event

How many times have you walked off a main event course at Northbrook thinking, “that was really fun”, irrespective of your score? The main at the North Central Regional embodied that kind of experience. 539 intrepid shooters took on the red and green courses over two days chasing greatness. The green course featured a slow and close rabbit, set by Gary Fitzjarrell, that befuddled many of shooters, some of which were alluding to the

GRACE CALLAHAN HIGH FIVES BILL MCGUIRE

TODD HITCH (R) AND DAD, SCOTT (L)

L-R, MADISON SHARPE, KAREN SHEDD AND HAYLYN HANKS

MATT GAY THINKING "THAT WAS REALLY FUN"

why

use

target’s pedigree. Shooting from the berms, lent itself to quite colorful iterations and joyful exuberance as the participants solved the puzzles presented to them. All in all, Brett Siebert and team set two great courses that were not only challenging but, entertaining.

Some people are masters at solving target puzzles and one of the best, Anthony Matarese posted a monster score of 195x200 targets attempted, to become the North Central Regional Champion. Runner-up Todd Hitch nearly straightened the green course posting a 99 to end his outing with

a 193x200 and also earn the junior title. Karen Shedd and Diane Sorantino tied for the ladies HOA with 181 each. Karen wound up with the top spot after a tense shoot off, two targets ahead of third-place lady Madison Sharpe.

To see the complete event scoring results please visit scorechaser.com or scan the QR code below. n

WILL FENNELL AND CURT HALBAKKEN SPOT THE PHOTOGRAPHER

ANTHONY I. MATARESE JR. WITH HIS THREE GIRLS

SCENIC NORTHBROOK

ANTHONY I. MATARESE JR.

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GUNS UNLIMITED INC.

BY PAUL COOK

In 1971 a savvy young man by the name of Tom Nichols, after already having developed a level of mastery in the sport of skeet shooting few achieve, set his mind about mastering the outfitting of sport shooters. Not exclusive to clays shooting, Guns Unlimited’s current 20,000 square foot store has supplies for all shooting disciplines. You’ll find what you need there, in fact Tom says, “People will travel [far] to see a lot of inventory”. Consequently, Tom kept his business under one very large roof in belief of that principle.

advancements in shooting and his retail business have done nothing but pick up speed from there, including induction into the Nebraska Skeet Shooting Hall of Fame in 1998. Tom sold guns initially through a wholesaler and by the time he was twenty he’d developed a substantial clientele. He had his current, although not his first, retail store built to purpose in the mid 1980’s. At that time the building included an indoor pistol range that Tom described as, “a little ahead of its time”. As business grew, and

Immersed In The Industry

Tom interestingly ran the Robert’s Dairy Gun Club, located on the Robert’s dairy farm, early on where trap and skeet shooting was available. He operated a retail store on site, keeping the various necessities to outfit the clay shooters such as, “vests, gloves, shot, powder and wads and shells”, but not firearms. The more he travelled to attend and keep Guns Unlimited present at events like the Grand American and the

completely exiting the industry. He still works hard to be present at National Events commenting that this will be his 49th year at the Grand American. Beyond that, he’s also quite committed to supporting the rising interest of youth in the shooting sports, making certain Guns Unlimited has a presence throughout the mid-West at youth events. Tom described the youth market as the “hottest market” and expressed the pleasure of seeing a parent or grandparent arrive back at the store, after purchasing a trap gun for their youth shooter, to

Built From The Ground Up

Tom knows the clay shooting sports like few ever do. Beginning his own shooting career at just eight years of age, he was offering lessons at thirteen when he won his first Men’s Nebraska State Skeet Championship in 1960. His

starving for space, he initially reduced the size of the pistol range by half, then ultimately eliminated it to make way for additional retail floor space. The objective was to accommodate the largest possible inventory. This evolution set in motion a process that resulted in the facility as it appears today.

Golden West Grand, the less available he was to operate the small gun club. As time passed Tom decided to drop it completely, choosing instead to focus on more centralized retail sales. Initially capitalizing on opportunities to purchase in bulk from industry providers, he grew his business at times when others were failing or

purchase one for themselves. He said “It’s like the lightbulb went on. This is something we can do together and have fun with. Then, when we sit down at the dinner table, we have something good to talk about”.

Exclusively Guns Unlimited

Tom’s hard work to get great deals for shooters and help develop the youth side of the shooting sports has led to a nice option you’ll only find at Guns Unlimited Inc. in Omaha. Tom has worked with Browning to develop a group of firearms to meet the specific needs of the sport shooters it serves. Tom’s philosophy, “you always have to be very, very competitive”, initially was manifested in those aforementioned bulk purchases that helped provide “great values to the customers”. However, circumstances don’t always avail themselves in timely nor predictable ways, so Tom sought ways to provide exclusive opportunities for his customers regularly and predictably. This led to Guns Unlimited’s unique relationship with Browning. Fielding “a half-dozen or so” Guns Unlimited exclusive sporting arms like the Browning Trap Combo or the High-Rib Single Barrel allows Guns Unlimited to put unique opportunities in sporting firearm choices, into the hands of the shooter, while maintaining the

“great values” ideal that Tom strives to always have available at Guns Unlimited.

Inside Guns Unlimited

Where others might have let their guard down after achieving Tom’s level of success, he repeatedly reminded me of his intention to remain “very competitive”, stating that the customer should expect to find knowledgeable staff inside.

“We don’t really set out to hire a salesman. We hire someone who understands and uses the products, we then try to blend them into [sales]”. He doesn’t want people to have “remorse” over a purchase because they felt a “push” to purchase a product.

While you won’t find on-site gunsmithing assistance, Tom says that Guns Unlimited will “help when we can”. They’ll assist with warranty returns to manufacturers that they stock and when possible, link the customer to a service provider. While Tom noted that access to inventory is less consistent than in the past, Guns Unlimited has been holding their own for the most part.

It’s A Good Sport

Tom says, “When a customer walks through the door and throws their hands in the air basically saying, ‘Help, I want to have a good time.’ if we mess it up, it’s our fault”. He went on saying that he’s “met so many good people around the country that enjoy the sport, it’s a good sport … it’s been my life”. Knowing the proprietor of Guns Unlimited defines his own life and interconnection with sport shooting so closely, you can expect to find things well planned for you, as a sport shooting enthusiast and potential customer. From the location where you park to the tidiness of the building at Guns Unlimited,

rest assured, Tom Nichols has put a good deal of thought and energy behind his inventory, presentation, and customer experience. Your best bet is to stop in and see what Guns Unlimited has to offer firsthand, but you can always peruse their inventory and offerings at gunsunlimitedomaha.com n

2022 OHIO STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

BY MAGGIE KELCH

The 2022 Ohio State Sporting Clays Championship

new records when it returned for the 11th time to the scenic and historic 400-acre facility of Hill ‘n Dale Club in rural Medina County. More than 500 shooters from 23 states and five countries gathered to compete from August 4th through the 7th, in what has come to be regarded as one of the finest state shoots in the nation.

The Venue

The Field Course, designated “Red” for the State Championship, winds its way through farm fields and upland game habitat featuring some challenging wooded stations. The “Green” course, also known as Woods, sports stations in a mature woodlot presenting targets over lakes and into ravines. This year, legendary shooter and target setter Jon Kruger utilized expanded portions of the red

course to create a truly scenic course. The green course wound its way back through a wooded area that is dotted with several ponds. This offered shooters an opportunity to see a beautiful natural setting while they faced challenging, technical targets that tested their abilities. Third on the docket was the blue course, or “South” as the regulars call it, and is the newest layout on site offering wooded background and excellent terrain.

Manager Shawn Spindel and his team used seldom seen areas of the picturesque facility to lay out a full shoot program for the weekend. Kruger travelled from Colorado to set the targets for the Main Event, Prelim and FITASC. Ed Prechal of Top Gun set and managed the Make-A-Break and 5-Stand events. The Hill ‘n Dale staff set the targets for the Side Events including the Sub-Gauge, Pump, Side X Side and Super Sporting events, which were all held on the South (Blue) course. The registration team was led by Lois Neely with assistance from Hill ‘n Dale staff and members.

Despite the high humidity and occasional rain, everything ran like clockwork.

Preliminary

There were 330 shooters competing on Kruger’s technical 100-target preliminary on Thursday and Friday, situated on the red course. The top shooters in the Prelim event were from all over the country. Elias Tollefson, a Junior shooter from Ohio was the Master Class Champion with a 99. Just one target behind him, with a 98, was Bill McGuire who had travelled from Tennessee. High Lady in the Prelim was Amber Brown of Michigan, just one target ahead of Paula Caletri.

Side Events

Side events held at the Ohio State

included 5-Stand, Super Sporting, Pump Gun, Side X Side and three sub-gauge

for 20-gauge, 28-gauge and .410

bore. The 5-Stand was held on one of the Skeet Fields, close to the Lodge where registration was located, and shooters gathered to compare notes and enjoy food and vendors. The remainder of the side events were all held on South Course. The Sub-Gauge competitions were completed on Saturday afternoon, while Super Sporting and 5-Stand wrapped up on Sunday. The awards for the side events were handled differently this year. No High Overall Champions were determined in the individual events. Instead, honors were presented to the top shooters in each class and in the concurrent categories for each of the side events.

Kiddie Cup

Each year, the OSCA Board awards the Kiddie Cup to the Ohio resident with the highest overall sub-gauge score at the Ohio State Sporting Clays Championship. The award is named for Mark Kiddie, an OSCA board member who was a perennial favorite for the small gauge events. The Kiddie Cup was first presented in 2009, just a few months after Kiddie’s death. It is a travelling trophy fashioned from an award that had been in Kiddie’s

personal collection. This year, the Kiddie Cup was awarded to Scott Stoffl who broke a 50 in 20-gauge, a 48 in 28-gauge and a 46 in the .410 bore to finish his outing with the highest overall average in the sub-gauges.

S. BROWNING, W. BROWNING, M. PREXTA, (L TO R)

20G / 28G Sporting

There were three perfect scores of 50x50 shot in the 20-gauge event, which had 171 participants. The three shooters were in different classes, so they each were honored as class champions. Erich Rauh (M1) from Maryland, Ohio’s own Scott Stoffl (AA1) and Rick Gunderson (A1) hailing from Illinois all mastered the 20-gauge course. Mary Krentz of Michigan took the Ladies crown.

.410 Bore Sporting

There were 89 shooters braving the course with the .410 bore this year. Three shooters walked off the course with scores of 47x50 to claim their class championships. They were David De Fernelmont (M1) of Pennsylvania, Kevin Sheen (AA1) and Eric Bevington (E1). Paula Caletri once again claimed Ladies honors with the little gun.

Pump Gun

5-Stand

5-Stand event was set and managed expertly again this year by Ed Prechal, of Top Gun, and enticed 162 shooters to participate. At the end of the weekend, Master class champion was John Fritz who won the tie breaker with Bill McGuire to take the top spot. Ohio shooter Christina Loudenslager earned the Ladies Champion title with a 46x50.

Of the 159 competitors in the 28-gauge competition, three posted excellent scores of 49. Again, they were in different classes so were each honored as class champions. Larry Welti (AA1), Dennis Wagner (A1) and Paula Caletri (C1) and (L1), rounded out that list. One of the most notable shoot-offs of the weekend took place on Saturday evening when junior shooter William Browning had to shoot against his father, Steven Browning, and Mike Prexta to claim top honors in B class. The father/son shoot-off elicited the most crowd participation that evening. William ultimately prevailed in the shoot-off to take the class B trophy.

Ohioan Bill Mayer mastered the pump gun course with a perfect score of 50x50 to top the 86 shooters who competed in the event this year, claiming Master class champion honors. Lady shooter and Ohioan Mackenzie Rummell came out on top to claim her trophy, six targets ahead of the closest competitor.

Side by Side

50 shooters donned horizontal barrels to participate in the sideby-side event this year. Class champions were Mike Pancerev (M1) from Pennsylvania with a 48x50 which was topped by Ohio’s Adam Baluch (AA1) who ending the round with a 49x50.

Pennsylvanian Paula Caletri kept the momentum going to take another top Ladies spot with her 43x50.

Super Sporting

On Saturday night, the 50-bird Super Sporting layout was set up on the South course in place of the sub-gauge stations. A record crowd of 171 shooters chased the trophy, with steady course traffic from opening at 8:30am to closing at 3pm.

Several shoot-offs were held on Sunday evening to determine the Class champions in this event. Ohioan Bill Mayer put up another 50x50 to set up a shoot-off with Chad Roberts of California, Mayer prevailed in the shoot-off to claim the M1 spot. Also shooting a 50 on the course was fellow Ohio shooter Brian Stern who claimed A1, one target ahead of John White III. Michigander Mary Krentz put up a 44x50 and won the tie breaker against Paula Caletri to take yet another Ladies title.

Saturday Evening Banquet

Ohio Sporting Clays Association

President Joyce Waters presided over the Saturday evening banquet that featured a great dinner, abundant door prizes, several raffles, along with the induction of a new member into the OSCA Hall of Fame. Being selected for the OSCA Hall of Fame is a great honor and is not bestowed on an annual basis. Instead, it is awarded by the Board of the OSCA only when they deem it appropriate to honor an individual who has distinguished him/herself.

This year, 12-time Ohio State Ladies Champion, Eva Reda became the first woman to be inducted into the Ohio Sporting Clays Hall of Fame. Reda found her love of shooting at 14 years of age with her father and OSCA Hall of Fame inductee, Dave Hudgins. What started as a way to spend more time with her father, turned into a pursuit of excellence. When introducing Reda, OSCA Board

Member Christina Loudenslager said, “Eva’s hard work and dedication continue to transform into, not only her own personal success, but an inspiration to other women competing throughout the sporting clays community. Eva is, and always will be, a trailblazer for women in the world of sporting clays. She has been described as the modern-day Annie Oakley: a fiery little redhead who has given so much for this sport. We are proud to induct Eva Reda into the OSCA Hall”.

FITASC

The Ohio State Championship featured a 100-bird FITASC main and 50 bird 20-gauge, and 28-gauge FITASC events. As with the other sub-gauge events, no HOA champion was declared in the 20-gauge or 28-gauge FITASC events. Awards were given for class and concurrent champions in both.

In the 20-gauge FITASC championship a pair of Ohioans

FITASC

took the top spots. Dan Bailey of Eagle’s Nest Sporting Grounds was Master Class champion with a 46, equaled by Dustin Maroon who took the AA1 spot. Christina Loudenslager dominated the Ladies FITASC competition. She was Ladies Champion in the 20-gauge FITASC event with a 43x50, in the 28-gauge FITASC event with a 44x50, and in the FITASC main with a 91x100. The 28-gauge event was led by Dustin

BILL

FAME INDUCTEE EVA REDA

FATHER DAVE

Maroon’s 47x50 for AA1 and David De Fernelmont’s 46x50 for M1. Darrin Plys matched De Fernelmont’s score to earn the B1 trophy.

Four old style parcours made up the 12-gauge FITASC main event. At the Ohio State Championship, only shooters who are residents of the State of Ohio are eligible for state trophies in the Main Event and 12ga FITASC. So, while Bill McGuire of Tennessee and Ethan Smith of Ohio both shot a 98 in the FITASC event, Smith was awarded the honors and trophy as Ohio FITASC Champion. Runner-up in the event was Russell Gilliam with a 96.

Main Event

The 200 bird Main Event at the Ohio State Championships was held on two courses over Saturday and Sunday. There were 284 shooters vying for Ohio resident honors and 133 for non-residents looking to earn some of the payouts.

At the conclusion of the event on Sunday, Travis McLeod of Ontario came out on top with a 195, followed by Blaize Whitehead of

SHOOTREPORT

OHIO STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RESIDENT

CH DUSTIN MAROON

RU CHRISTIAN SEYBERT

M1 GARY JANSON

AA1 WILLIAM BROWNING

A1 DAVID SHANABARGER

B1 STAN MALOVRH

C1 ROBERT KIRK

D1

BEVINGTON

E1 GINO LAVALLE

LADY CHRISTINA LOUDENSLAGER

SUB JR JOSEPH PRENTOVICH

JR WILLIAM BROWNING

VET TODD KEMMERER

SUP VET BILL MAYER

SR SUP VET JIM NELSON

2022 OHIO STATE CHAMPION DUSTIN MAROON

OHIO STATE CHAMPIONSHIP NON-RESIDENT

CH TRAVIS MCLEOD 195

M1 BLAIZE WHITEHEAD 191

AA1 MASON MENTZER 179

A1 KATELYN HENRY 164

B1 ROBIN BUSSHAUS 162

C1 TRENT LINE 165

D1 DONALD SALLADA 146

E1 OWEN FARRELL 121

LADY AMBER BROWN 178

SUB JR GRANT GLOSSNER 175

JR BLAIZE WHITEHEAD 191

VET BILL MCGUIRE 191

SUP VET RODGER BECKER 187

SR SUP VET JIM NELSON

Pennsylvania who posted a 191. But, at this state shoot, it’s all about who claims the title of Ohio Sporting Clays Champion. As in FITASC, only resident shooters can win trophies and awards.

With a 93 on the red course and a 97 on the green course, Dustin Maroon of Defiance, Ohio, earned his second Ohio State Resident Champion trophy. Just one target behind him for runner-up was Christian Seybert with a 189. Maroon is a band teacher for the Stryker Local Schools and works at the Adams Conservation Club as a target setter on their 5-Stand course.

Christina Loudenslager, who finished the event with a 184 was crowned Ohio Ladies Sporting Champion and M3. This is the third time she has earned the Ladies Champion title, adding this crown to her 2019 and 2021 wins.

Following the shoot, the OSCA Board announced that Loudenslager has been elected President of the OSCA. Looking forward to next year, the OSCA Board announced that the Ohio State Championships will be held at Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo during the first week of August.

LOUDENSLAGER ON FITASC

CHRISTINA LOUDENSLAGER AND DAN BAILEY

VERNON NATIONAL SHOOTING PRESERVE IN VERNON CENTER, NY

BY LOUISE TERRY

Hiddenin the scenic hills of central New York State is a yet-undiscovered, beautiful jewel of a sporting clays club and pheasant hunting preserve. On 550 acres, with an adjoining 100 acres leased during bird season, this facility is a hunter’s, shooter’s and a target-setter’s paradise, offering a tremendous variety of possibilities. The land has quite a family history for owner Ron Acee, his wife Darcy and Ron's three sons: Simon, Jason, and Jared. Darcy, Jason, and Ron sat down with ClayShootingUSA during the recent New York State Sporting Championship to explain the history of the land and the operation, that today is, Vernon National Shooting Preserve. Seeing the place now with a clubhouse, and an impressive, fully stocked Pro Shop, you’d never know this land and these buildings had been a working dairy farm for many years. In fact, what was the original dairy barn, transformed into the clubhouse and pheasant pens 30 years ago. Today this building has been further remodeled and has morphed into the clubhouse, complete with dining area, Pro Shop with an

adjoining outdoor porch and openair pavilion. The current pheasant pens and other out-buildings have been added over time as the facility has grown.

Family Operation

Jason explains that his grandfather, Sam, who owned the land the club sits on today, was an avid pheasant hunter and brought Ron up the same way. So, when Ron purchased the property from his father some 30 years ago, understanding the wild pheasant population was on the decline, he got his preserve license and began doing pheasant hunts part-time in conjunction with his crop program. The hunting preserve then added clay target shooting as an

additional service to their customers.

Jason recalls as a kid, Dad taking him and his two brothers shooting at a local fish and game club. With Ron’s limited hours due to farming, Ron decided to buy a few traps so they could shoot on their own farm. Jason was the most interested of his sons in the range, so he found himself spending a lot of his spare time helping his father around the club with plans of eventually running it himself.

Fast forward 20 years and you have today’s operation. As a familyrun business it takes many hands to keep it going. Darcy is the driving force in promoting and marketing the range through corporate and private events, as well as expanding the customer

and member base. Ron manages the development of the range and the gun business. Jason multi-tasks between the Pro Shop, the range, and events, in addition to his day job. Darcy’s sister, Joelyn, runs the day-to-day gun transactions and inventory. So, on any given day, you will find a friendly face ready to get you out to the range or help you find the perfect firearm. Ron’s son Jared has joined in to help at the range dedicating time to the gun shop, while simultaneously running another gun shop that Ron started in Sherrill, New York. Oldest son, Simon, took over the crop business and is involved in the gun shop as well.

VERNON NATIONAL TEAM

Picturesque Setting

Upon our recent arrival at the club for the New York State Sporting Championship, Darcy and Jason suggested that Bill and I take a drive around in a cart to check out the property. After meandering around touring the grounds and taking pictures for almost 2 hours, we were blown away. First stop, we were told, was to follow the cart path right up to the top of the property to see the FITASC layouts. After driving up the long hill through the woods, we exited the woods, and the cart path transitions to an open field. The first impression is simply jawdropping. Across the top of the ridge, the most beautiful view in that part of the state presents itself. On a clear day, which we had, you can see all the way to the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains to the north and you have a 270-degree commanding view overlooking the beautiful Mohawk River Valley. It was stunning. What a fabulous place to shoot 4 parcours of FITASC.

The 16-station sporting course is set midway back down the hill, winding along in the trees, thru a combination of some open field areas combined with gullies, wooded stations over and down deep ravines, and enough varying terrain to challenge just about everyone. Further down the hill below the sporting course, there’s a 5-Stand overlay on the skeet field, and back toward the clubhouse there’s a big open meadow with a trap field where the Make-A-Break was set at the recent New York State Shoot. The 5-Stand “warmup” is in a beautiful spot beyond the clubhouse overlooking a pond which is guarded by a giant willow tree. Large open fields up the hill directly above the clubhouse central area allows for additional

layouts and stations to facilitate sub-gauge and side events when hunting season isn’t open.

Their operation is a product of years of building this business as they went. 15 years ago, they opened to their members and to the public. Five years ago, they added their own “Trapmaster” card system. Today they have 3 traps set up at every station with three menus programmed into their proprietary software system for the controllers. They were fortunate that one of their club members who runs a local manufacturing business designed and built the controllers and card system to meet their needs, writing the software to keep everything running with maximum flexibility for their customers. Shooters in one squad, regardless of ability, can each choose between easier presentations, tournament-like presentations, or a super sporting menu all while shooting the course together. Solo shooters have the benefit of a delay function on both the sporting course as well as at the 5-Stand layout.

Ben Wise, the target setter for the recent New York State Sporting Championship, had a big smile on his face as he recalled when he first saw the terrain. He immediately began to envision the possibilities for a multitude of target presentations, and he was all in. Wise stated that he had a ball working on his course designs,

which he wanted to ensure made full use of the terrain, while giving all shooters a fair chance at enjoying all the events. Even though he had to reset the 16 stations after the Prelim and both Main Events on the central sporting course layout, he never ran out of great ideas for the 850 target presentations he set.

As I ventured through the Pro Shop, I found that they are dealers for Browning, Beretta, Benelli, SKB, Bettinsoli, Caesar Guerini, and Fausti shotguns, including the Ladies Syren brand from Guerini and the Beretta Vittoria. They are fully stocked with an impressive selection of guns, clothing, shooting vests, ammo, and accessories. Vernon National also offers gunsmithing services and gun-fitting services on the premises.

Currently they don’t offer regular food service during the week because their traffic is sporadic. However, they do provide food service for corporate events or on weekends for groups that order ahead. During hunting season, they offer regular food service for the hungry hunters.

Complete Wingshooting Facility

For shooters who are interested in pheasant, quail and chukar hunting, they’re open with their

Preserve License from September thru April 1, weather permitting. They release an average of 5,000 pheasants per year. In season, they put birds out weekly for their hunting members and offer walkup hunts that are stocked the morning of the hunt for nonmembers. Vernon hosts the occasional tower shoot, which are very popular for corporate events. They have guides & gun dogs available, or hunters can bring their own dogs. There is a pistol range and a 600-yard rifle range, clays cart rentals and gun rentals. Shooting instruction is available by reservation for beginners or for those wishing to improve their game.

When asked what their “message” is, Darcy was quick to answer with a smile; “Come try us. We want everyone to feel welcome and we want to schedule more registered sporting clays events in the future. We’re open Wednesday, Friday and Sunday for nonmembers and any time for members.” Darcy explained that they are actively working to grow their corporate events to augment their day- to-day business and better support their staff. Clays and hunting memberships are available for locals in the area and for out-ofarea shooters who may come by occasionally. All are welcome.

After our very enjoyable weekend there, we have already been back to shoot some midweek practice. It’s a beautiful place run by some great people. If you’re ever in this area of the country, we suggest you plan ahead and give it a try. Call the Pro Shop for further information at (315) 829-2529 or call Darcy at (315) 272-6211. Tell her Louise and Bill sent you. n

THE FUTURE OF OUR SPORT WON’T GROW ITSELF.

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO GROW THE SHOOTING SPORTS.

If just 1 in 3 hunters and target shooters introduce one new person to the shooting sports, we’ll secure a strong future for generations to come. The +ONESM Movement is a mission to do exactly that. We need your help to spread the word about the single most unifying force in the shooting sports today. Together we’ll ignite the passion of millions of new hunters and recreational shooters. And build the future of the way of life we love.

Be the one. Join the +ONE Movement. Visit nssf.org/plusone.

SM

PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA SHOOTING GROUP

BY BRANDY ELROD

The Texas chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America is an organization that serves veterans with spinal cord injuries or disease, and individuals with disabilities. Their objective is to help those wounded warriors live an active life through various community programs including sports recreation. The Texas Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America has been in existence since 1979, the National PVA has been around for 75 years. Membership in Texas PVA is free and open to honorably discharged veterans who have suffered a spinal cord injury or disease (such as MS, ALS). Currently, the Texas PVA has a total membership of 570 veterans. All these members are in a wheelchair and compete in various wheelchair sporting events. I had the pleasure of competing with some of their shooting sports athletes in the disciplines of Sporting Clays and Olympic Trap.

Supporting ThoseWho Sacrificed

The Texas chapter serves veterans in San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and Corpus Christi, as well as the surrounding cities and towns. From supporting important health issues to connecting veterans to resources and programs, Texas PVA is a multifaceted, fully committed advocate for veterans and families of veterans with spinal cord injury and disease (SCI/D). The Texas PVA is a member organization looking out for its members as well as all people with disabilities. The sports and recreation program participates in everything from outdoor shooting sports, hunting, archery, fishing, wheelchair basketball to boccia, and various other sports. The organization provides funding so that members can participate in any sport of their choosing. Texas PVA and its satellite offices work closely with local and state organizations to advocate for solutions to the problems affecting disabled individual’s needs. The success and longevity of the Texas PVA programs rely on fundraising and donations from

generous individuals, companies, and foundations in the community. The largest fundraiser is a Thrift Store program which provides approximately $360,000 annually. Additionally, a monthly chapter grant is received from the National PVA office, and funding is provided through the Amazon Smile Program.

introduced to the sport by Butch Roberson the former owner of R&R Traps. As interest grew among the disabled veteran community, they formed a shotgun shooting group with help from the National Sporting Clays Association, Paralyzed Veterans of America Texas Chapter, and the National Shooting Complex, all local resources in the San Antonio area. Alvin stated he liked shooting because everyone shoots the exact same targets whether you're able bodied or disabled.

face is the range terrain they must traverse. Making sure the athletes have hard surfaces to move about the course, the parking lots, as well as chair friendly restroom facilities is critical to supporting their success.

Zach Jones has been competing for three years and supported Alvin’s assertion that finding equipment is one of the challenges he also faces in order to compete in shooting sports. Zach is a T4 paraplegic due to Transverse Myelitis suffered in 2017. Jones does not let this stop him, stating that his favorite part about the Texas PVA shooting program is the camaraderie and support the participants receive from each other and the organization.

A Noble Cause Seeking Partnerships

Meet Zach and Alvin

Alvin Guerrero, a disabled veteran from San Antonio, Texas, has been competing in the shotgun sports for fourteen years. Alvin was involved in a motor vehicle accident that left him as a T12-L2 paraplegic. Guerrero was

The biggest challenges faced by disabled veterans, according to Alvin, revolve around adapting equipment to work and function properly. He says there is often a lot of “trial and error”, for disabled veterans when adapting equipment to allow them to participate. I personally witnessed this in 2019 at Para-Nationals in Colorado Springs, Colorado, when an athlete had a hard time competing because their torso wheelchair strap was slipping while shooting. This athlete was unable to maintain a complete upright position and had to continue to reposition after every shot, causing rapid fatigue. Another challenge the athletes

The Texas PVA not only helps the veterans but also helps their families and caregivers with access to everything a veteran may need. That range of needs includes military benefits, advocacy and legislation, health and wellness, housing, sports and recreation, research, and education. The Texas PVA not only needs funding but also volunteers for their fundraising efforts and special events. If you are a Paralyzed Veteran interested in becoming a member, or you are an individual that wishes to donate your time or provide financial support you can visit texaspva.org n

INDEX

”High rib options for maximum field of view, ideal balance and a trigger that is second to none. The F3 is shotgun technology at the top of its class; Made in Germany.“

Bill McGuire, 2019 World English Sporting Veteran Champion

TRAP SKEET SPORTING CLAYS TRAP SKEET SPORTING CLAYS

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