Eastern Zone

New Jersey

I’m just returning from the Southern Grand at the Silver Dollar in Odessa, Fla. I ran into Ken Mlynarz of Lake Hopatcong and Peter Memmelaar of Caldwell, who were able to make it to Florida for the first five days of the shoot, and the two made the most of it. Peter, who is new to the sport, was runnerup in his class on Monday and Tuesday, tied with fellow south Jersey shooter Gary Brown of Medford. Gary bested Peter in Wednesday’s 16-yard carryover for the win, and Peter had to settle again for class runnerup. Ken, on the other hand, besides shooting great singles, had a 99 on Monday and came back on Wednesday with a 100 and tied for class winner. Since Wednesday’s singles were carried over to Saturday, Ken had to forfeit. He made up for it, though, during the preliminary handicap on Tuesday, where he tied four others with a high score of 98. Ken ended third after shootoff.

Bobby Boehler of Brick secured the Class B trophy in Monday’s doubles, and Ed Zimmermann of Lakewood secured runnerup in his class during Wednesday’s 16-yard class championship.

During the Doubles Championship, our “Jersey Girls” Debbie Ohye-Neilson and Patti Norwitz were one-two in the ladies’ category. Debbie totaled 11 Southern Grand trophies, and her dad Kay had seven!

While down there, I ran into Pete Zarzaca of Burlington, who informed me that he and his wife Judy had just bought a house in Spring Hill, Fla. Another Jersey shooter, Mike Petrone of Manville, told me he and his wife Jackie had a house built in North Carolina, and they will still be “wintering” at Silver Dollar.

Remember, our state shoot is May 29-June 1, the earliest it could be this year. As discussed at our state meeting at the 2007 state shoot, the programs will not be mailed to each state ATA member but can be picked up at Ray’s Sport Shop in North Plainfield, 908-561-4400; Harry’s in Robbinsville, 609-585-5450; The Sportsmen’s Center in Bordentown, 609-298-5300; and two locations of L&H Woods and Water: on Rte. 35 in Wall, 732-282-1812, and in Waretown on Rte. 9, 609-242-1812. In addition, programs will be available at each of the NJSTA member gun clubs, as well as Groundswipers GC.

The southern zone is being held at Pine Valley GC May 2-4. There will be 100, 100 and 50 pair on Friday, 200 singles Saturday, plus 100 handicap and 50 pair Sunday.

Pine Belt is having a 250-pair doubles marathon May 17; like last month in the singles marathon, you can participate in as many as you’d like. Those shooting at all 500 get lunch and refreshments afterward.

Lastly, Rich Brzezicki, formerly of Bordentown and now living in Scottsdale, Ariz., will be the 2008 Hall of Fame inductee. Rich will be inducted on Saturday night, May 31, following the Singles Championship, which Rich has won three times (1965, 1968 and 1973). Please make an effort to come down on Saturday to be with Rich and share this milestone in his shooting career. His accomplishments are printed in this year’s state program.

If you have an idea for this column or a question, please feel free to call me at 732-546-7910, or write at jasissa@msn.com.

Joe Sissano

ATA Delegate

New York

Winter is over, and now we are in full swing in shooting registered targets. I hope everyone is shooting well and that you plan to come to our shoots throughout New York and at our homegrounds in Cicero.

At the Browning-White Flyer-Winchester Ammunition Invitational in Florida, the following New Yorkers won trophies: Barbara Rosowski, Peter Rossi, Frank Lohr, James Strickland, Urban Womer and Zaccheus Robbins. Job well done!

Congratulations are in order to Sam Astuto from Rochester for his first 100 straight, entered at Silver Dollar’s Florida Chain Shoot. Winners from New York at this shoot were Sandra Sharp, Dick Rohrberg, Keith Welch, Alexander Puma, Doug Duncan and Frederick Haight. Great shooting, everyone.

New York was well represented at the Southern Grand American in March at Silver Dollar. New York winners were Edward Pettitt, David Clary, Dennis Delorenzo, Edward Raiff, Robbins, Woodrow Doty Jr., Womer, Nicholas Hayes, Christopher Vendel, Joe Benoit, Frank Lohr, Viki Hatch, Duncan, Ron Burdick and Frank Lohr. Good shooting to everyone.

Remember that we have four large shoots at our Cicero homegrounds during 2008. The Empire Grand American will be April 30-May 4; New York State Shoot, July 8-13; Eastern Zone, July 23-27; and Northeastern Grand, Sept. 9-14. Preparations are under way for getting the grounds ready, and we hope you plan to attend.

Best wishes and good shooting to everyone, and we will see you all soon.

            Brian Whalen

            ATA Delegate

Ontario

Longtime OPTA secretary-treasurer Gord Kerr and wife Shirley lost their daughter recently to cancer. Our sympathies are extended to them and the whole family.

Will you be including the Canadian Championships at Hamilton June 26-29 in your shooting schedule? Visit the website at www.2008canadian.com for details. The committee is continuing to work very hard to make this competition one that will be a memorable experience.

Here are a few details about this year’s Canadian Championship that you may not necessarily find on the website. There will be an official digital sports photographer available for hire by shooters. Photographs can be picked up on the grounds.

Bring your dog if you wish. Our information is that you will need to present a current rabies certificate at the border.

We are delighted that the Trapshooting Hall of Fame and Museum will be part of our vendors’ row. Museum Director Kenny Ray Estes will be in attendance to compete and display Canadian trapshooting memorabilia. Kenny hopes to document contributions that Canadian shooters have made to our sport. Come prepared to assist him in this exercise.

Edie Fleeman, ATA youth director, will also be competing (I believe) and will be setting up shop on vendors’ row to provide information about and book slots at ATA coaches schools across Canada and the U.S.

There will be a barbecue dinner Saturday evening, at which time the special event will be held.

And how does this “Canadian Grand” sound? On Thursday randomly drawn numbers will shoot off for two $500 stakes. Another grand is at stake in a similar shoot-out Friday.

There will be over 200 trophies provided, of which more than 150 are available to non-residents.

In a previous article, I recommended that the safest bet for U.S. residents entering Canada and re-entering the U.S. was to get a passport. As of the date of this article, a passport is not mandatory. A birth certificate and valid driver’s license will suffice.

While at the Southern Grand, I got a telephone call from my son Drew. He was quite upset. Chester, our 14-year-old Lab, was staying with Drew. Drew shares an apartment with two other students, and the mother of one of his roommates gave him a large Ziploc bag of cookies—special cookies with lots of chocolate, M&Ms^®, etc. You guessed it—Chester found the bag and ate every one of them, and the chocolate made him sick. Chester put on the “innocent look” but nobody bought it, especially with his head still stuck in the bag.

If you have Internet access, visit our OPTA website at www.trapshooting.on.ca. You will find that Ontario has 21 clubs, situated all across the province, that throw ATA targets. Dates are on the site; hope you can make some of them.

Paul Shaw

ATA Delegate

Pennsylvania

By the time you receive this issue of Trap & Field, warm weather will be upon us here in Pennsylvania, and we can look forward to the start of the season. Make plans to attend one of the state zone shoots. The eastern zone is to be at the Valley G&CC, while the western zone is scheduled for the Clairton SC. Also, it is only a few weeks away from the Keystone Open, the first major shoot at the PSSA Homegrounds. Plus, Pennsylvania is known for marathon days, and this will be the peak of the season. There isn’t a better way to tune up and to support your local gun club than by shooting one of the many marathons around the state.

Some of our local shooters have been able to escape the cold and make it to Florida for the Southern Grand. This year 69 Pennsylvanians made the trip down the East Coast to shoot in the sunshine. Those individuals brought home 15 trophies. Congratulations to all.

In other news, the Pennsylvania scholastic state championship (SCTP) will be held during the Pennsylvania Grand on July 4. That event will be held in conjunction with and during the Singles Championship on Saturday.

Again this year, the PSSA and Valley G&CC have teamed up with Geisinger Medical Center’s Children’s Hospital to sponsor Children’s Miracle Network Day. This will be on Sunday, June 8 during the Colonial Classic. There will be a $1,000 prize offered to shooters who participate in the day’s handicap event. To be eligible for a chance to shoot off for the prize money, you must play the Children’s Miracle Network option in that event. All proceeds from the option will be donated to the Children’s Hospital. I also encourage all shooters to bring an item for the silent auction, to be held in the Hall of Fame room that day. All proceeds from this will also be donated. Last year the PSSA raised $5,380 for the hospital.

Since the 2007 Grand, I have been contacted by several shooters and gun club managers concerned by the change in the ATA target year. With many concerns being expressed, one of the most widespread is that the attendance at fall shoots will suffer. A large portion of those attending these shoots are getting a jump on target requirements for the following shooting season while the weather is still good. Revenue from these shoots is vital for a lot of clubs to make it through the difficult winter months, when shooting (in states like Pennsylvania) just about comes to a standstill. As reported in previous issues of Trap & Field, one of the main reasons the Executive Committee pushed for this change was to reduce the workload at the ATA office with having the target year and annual dues coming due at the same time. As a suggestion, other options that could be considered would be to leave the target year as it is for the benefit of states like Pennsylvania and change when the annual dues come due. With everything being computerized, I don’t see any reason why the target year and the dues have to be simultaneous. For instance, dues could be changed to come due on each shooter’s birthday or on the anniversary of when the shooter joined. Or just keep it simple and make the due date coincide with the calendar year. If this is a concern of yours or your gun club, please contact me in writing, so I can express your opinions or suggestions to the Executive Committee.

If you have any newsworthy information you would like to see in this column, I can be reached at 724-654-7118, by fax at 724-658-6011, or by e-mail at frankpascoe@pascoebuilders.com.

Frank Pascoe

ATA Delegate

Southern Zone

Alabama

The last Florida Chain shoot was at Bear Creek in Panama City March 6-9. Four Alabama shooters attended and shot quite well. John Hyde won the Singles Championship plus his class in doubles and yardage group in handicap. He finished second in the high-over-all. That is some fine shooting, John! Russell Bell won his class in the Singles Championship. I was runnerup in both singles and handicap. Mike Brazell won the Handicap Championship, and both Alabama and Florida can claim him; he lived in Alabama for many years.

Weather was pretty, and Bear Creek is always a most gracious host. The barbecue ribs Saturday night were outstanding, as usual. It may not be the easiest place in the world to break targets, but the club always shows you a wonderful time.

The Southern Grand began the next week. There was very little time to get home, load some shells and the RV, and head for Tampa. This was my first trip to the Silver Dollar. I was very impressed with the number of fields and maintenance of the facilities. Venny Cable came down on Thursday, and we shot Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We shot well at times but were not consistent enough to win. The seafood was great, and a good time was had by all.

It is unfortunate that the U.S. Open this year is at the same time as the Georgia State Shoot. This is going to happen; it always hits on top of someone’s state shoot. I believe that most Alabama shooters will shoot with our Georgia friends. It may be possible for us to make the Open next year.

As I have been practicing at local clubs, I have seen some outstanding SCTP shooters. These young folks never cease to amaze me. A word to the wise to the young shooters, get your registered targets, so you won’t have to shoot penalty at Alabama state.

Don’t forget to mark your calendar for the Alabama State Shoot, less than a month away: May 29-June 1. Hope to see you there. If you need an RV spot, call Bill Parson at 334-399-7996 as early as possible. Spaces are filling quickly.

You can contact me at wsinclair@sinclairlawrence.com or 256-332-2007.

Wayne Sinclair

ATA Delegate

Kentucky

I just returned from the Southern Grand at Silver Dollar SC in Odessa, Fla. They put on another great shoot. Attendance was down some, to be expected with lead and gas so high. I hope things will level off and shooting will hold its own; there is nothing else to do outside that I enjoy as much!

Several Kentucky shooters won at the Dollar: Hunter Clayborn, Lance Ogles, Bill Castle, Royce White, Nora Ross, Adreanna Woolwine, Mike Bowen, Jerry Newell and Mitchell Miller. Great shooting to you all!

I understand that Frank Beckwith has declared this as his last year to take care of camping at the state shoot. Frank has done a wonderful job with the Hall of Fame and camping for as long as I can remember. He and his better half, Sparky, have been a great asset to the sport for many years, and I thank them for the terrific job they have done.

May God bless you with great health and all the shooting you can stand.

I can be reached at 859-734-7071, by fax at 859-734-7072, and by e-mail at ddeaninc@kycom.net.

Terry Dean

ATA Delegate

North Carolina

Several N.C. shooters traveled to the Silver Dollar for the Southern Grand. Weather was good most of the week, and everyone enjoyed the Florida temperatures and sunshine. Trophy winners included Bill Howe, Tom Wilkinson, Bob Schultz, Hunter Galloway, Doug McKinney and Jeff Galloway. I apologize if I missed anyone.

Please congratulate the following N.C. shooters for their wins at the Florida State Shoot: Dennis Taylor, Brad Barnett and Louis Carter. Barnett also carded his first 100 in doubles during the championship.

Be sure to schedule some time to attend the North Carolina State Shoot at the homegrounds June 11-15, and check out our new clubhouse/museum building. Make your hotel and camping reservations early.

As a reminder, if any of you are tired of getting those yardage reduction letters from the ATA, you can have them stopped. You can ask the ATA directly, or through me, to have a “D” or “K” code applied to your record. A “D” code will temporarily stop 1,000-target reductions for the remainder of the target year, and a “K” code will permanently stop reductions until you want to start getting them again. Let me know if you want one of the codes.

Also, if you would like some handicap yardage to be able to squad with your shooting buddies, send me a request, and I will consider it. I am able to increase your yardage in increments back as far as the 25-yard line. The only stipulation is you will not be eligible for reductions for two years.

Visit www.nctrap.com and www.tarheeltrap.com for N.C. shooting information, and check out the tarheeltrap chat room. If you have information you would like to see in this article, please send it to me. I can be reached by e-mail at troush@att.net, or call me at 336-674-8655.

Terry Roush

ATA Delegate

South Carolina

I have bad news from Carolina Star GC. They got hit by some of the severe weather that went through in mid March. Reports are that they lost some roofs off their trap and skeet houses. Best wishes to Peg and Ralph. Knowing them, they’ll have everything back in good shape as quickly as possible.

A bunch of us went to Mid Carolina to the seminar put on by Frank Hoppe. Frank is a gentleman, and all our people had nothing but good to say about him. I really enjoyed his bear-hunting story from when he went to Russia. Mid Carolina was a great host for the event, and I want to thank them for that.

Hannah Tollison was one of Frank’s pupils, and I heard she went to the Southern Grand and broke her first 100 straight. Way to go, Hannah (and Frank)!

This story is not complete unless we ask: did the wind blow? Answer: gusts up to 50 mph. I think this was a little more than Frank was used to, although we understand the wind blows all the time in Nebraska.

I can be reached at fabe7445@bellsouth.net.

Jim Faber

            ATA Delegate

Virginia

A reminder to all Virginia trapshooters, the Virginia Hall of Fame Shoot is May 31-June 1, and I hope you all are making plans to attend. It was a great shoot last year, and I hope it will be bigger this year.

Virginia TA president Mike Jeter has negotiated with Remington to provide an 1100 Classic Trap for a “lucky number” shootoff based on Thursday’s handicap event scores. Numbers from zero to nine will be drawn until we have at least 25 contestants, then we will shoot 10-target handicap rotations until we have a winner. In appreciation to Remington, Event 5 will be the Nitro 27 Handicap. Please invite your friends and vendors you know to come to our state shoot. It was well attended last year, and I hope we can continue to grow it as well as our other shoots. Let’s all thank Remington and Mike for this.

On a sad note, Jim Warf Jr. passed away Feb. 27. Jim was chairman and director at the Izaak Walton League in Lynchburg. Jim was very supportive of the VTA and myself as the ATA Delegate. We will all miss Jim, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and the Lynchburg IWL members.

I can be reached at regood@mpminc.com.

Robert E. Goodman

ATA Delegate

West Virginia

Congratulations go to the only West Virginia trophy winner at the Southern Grand: Pat Swartz, AA doubles for 97 Wednesday. He tied for another award the next day, with 98. Nice shooting, Pat!

The West Virginia Hall of Fame Shoot will be hosted by The Gun Club at Point Pleasant. The shoot will be honoring this year’s inductees: David Kemp, Edsel Kittle, Kent Martin and William Rutherford. Trophies will be the traditional belt buckles, and there will be $1,700 in added money. A meal will be provided to all shooters between the singles hundreds Saturday, compliments of the WVATA. This has always been a shoot that gives back to the shooters of the state and the host club.

The West Virginia State Shoot announces major changes in the program for this year. Friday will now be class championship day for the singles and doubles, and a preliminary handicap will be held between the two events. Friday’s shooting will include $2,400 in added money and the presentation of ATA W. Va. class trophies along with open trophies. This should help those who are chasing All-American points, both in- and out-of-state shooters. More trophies, more money, more points, and Pat-Traps on all fields. What else can you ask for? Add the West Virginia State Shoot to your calendar! Another addition will be a pig roast on Saturday night at 6 p.m. in the main covered pavilion at a cost of $2 per person! You just can’t beat that. Don’t forget the country music on Wednesday night before the shoot on the first trapfield. Please plan to attend and enjoy the picturesque mountains and a wonderfully friendly state shoot.

            Kent Martin

            ATA Delegate

Southwestern Zone

Colorado

I want to congratulate Ed Christian on shooting at and breaking his 75,000th registered singles target. Ed and wife Shirley have been involved in trapshooting for a long time. They used to run the Jackson Hole TC in Wyoming, one of the prettiest trap clubs. Ed and Shirley now live in Ft. Collins, along with Penny, their golden retriever. I would also like to congratulate Susan Kuenzler on breaking her 25,000th ATA handicap target. Susan helps in the office at the Cortez GC, one of my favorite clubs to shoot at; if you have never shot there, you need to put it on your list.

The following information about the SCTP program comes from Cindy Wehrer. They will be having their own championship singles event at Colorado Clays on June 7, a week before our state shoot in Delta. They also will be holding three shoots before that as a warm-up. All shoots will be ATA registered, which will help the kids who want to participate in the state shoot and not have to shoot penalty. Dates and clubs are April 27, Yuma; May 3, Cactus Flats; and May 31, Pawnee TC.

Our zone shoots will be coming up soon, and our Colorado zone shoot is scheduled for July 25-27 at the Grand Junction TC. Our local zone shoots are southern, May 25, Pikes Peak; eastern, May 26, Yuma; northern, June 1, Pawnee; and western, Family Shooting Center, Metro.

Please feel free to contact me regarding any concerns or questions about trapshooting in our state. I can be reached at philvasq@msn.com or 303-808-6152. For the most up-to-date information about trapshooting in Colorado, please check out our website at www.rmclaysports.com/CSTA.html.

Philip Vasquez

            ATA Delegate

Missouri

The MTA hosted a non-registered team shoot March 15. Weather was cold, with misting rain, a 10-mph north wind and gusts to 25 mph. We all had on insulated underwear and gloves and could hardly move shotgun to target. It did help with the cabin fever that everyone had, but very little bragging took place.

The Missouri State Shoot will be held May 12-18, and yes, you did read correctly in my March report that we will have all Pat-Traps. We have the pedestals cut down so the traps will work in the houses. The good news to everyone is that you should receive the same quality of targets throughout the line.

For those bringing carts to get around in, be sure to bring proof of liability insurance. We hope to be able to continue to allow carts in the future. I understand how convenient they are, but please help us with this. Should you need assistance, please call the MTA at 573-346-2449.

I would personally like to invite you to the Missouri State Shoot. We will do anything to make the trip worthwhile.

The Southwestern Zone and Summer Handicap is in July. We will again offer diamonds as prizes. See you at the state shoot, and good luck shooting.

            Karrol Hillebrand

            ATA Delegate

New Mexico

Spring winds toyed with shooters at Roadrunner TC’s March shoot in Alamogordo, held to honor founding member and longtime trapshooter Sid Anderson. In addition to recognition by club members and visitors, Sid had the pleasure of being accompanied by his niece Michelle Tivis and her daughter Kathy as well as by longtime shooting companions Rosie and Bill Kingery. Thank you, Sid, for all you do!

Despite wind gusts in excess of 50 mph, 55 shooters turned out for the competition. Winners included Joe Foster (he only got me by one bird!), Roger Aas, Harry Zuege, Jerry Esparza, Bill Kingery, Mark and Justin Weber, Randy Bingham, Amanda Caton, Jerry Boswell, Justin Hill, Tom Nations, Mike LeFevre, Jim Powers, Joe Max Walker, Dick McFall, Cory and Britt Dalton, Ernie Harbison, Billy Lofton, Diana Driscoll, Monk Palmer, Andy Blore, Dave Olson, Amos Welborn and Robert Leibel.

Cindy Pollock has built a range in Las Cruces and (as always with Cindy) is working with youth to promote the sport. Anyone who has extra equipment or machines and is willing to help her in this may contact me at the number below.

Robert Leibel is in the final stages of getting the Hobbs TR in working order. Stay tuned for upcoming shoots there.

Congratulations and kudos to both Cindy and Robert for promoting and expanding the sport in New Mexico.

Clubs holding shoots this month are Truth or Consequences, Roswell, Albuquerque, Raton, the Whittington Center and Farmington. June shoots will be at Albuquerque and Belen. See Shoot Directory for dates.

The New Mexico State Shoot will be held in Raton June 19 -22. Don’t forget New Mexico will also host a site of the Southwestern Zone July 17-20, in Raton at the NRA Whittington Center.

For other information about shooting in New Mexico, please e-mail me at foster_randy@hotmail.com or call me at 505-412-2709.

Randy Chrobocinski

ATA Delegate

Oklahoma

Spring has arrived, and registered shoots started in March. OTA’s March 15-16 shoot had light attendance due to cool weather and a stiff north wind. On Saturday Charles Leadingfox was high in the 400 singles with 388. Ken Isenburg broke 92 in handicap and earned a half yard. On Sunday Pat Stacey and Jon Guy were high in singles with 98s. The handicap was won by Randy Clay with 96. Rick Bliss won the doubles with 93.

The Oklahoma State Shoot is just a few short weeks away. I would like to invite all Oklahoma shooters as well as out-of-state shooters. You will like the target price! Ron Bliss, OTA president and board member, decided to keep the cost the same as last year—$25 per 100! There are many trophies to be won by both in- and out-of-state shooters. Approximately 80 belt buckles, two Henry Golden Boy rifles, two muzzleloader rifles, custom knives and Lonesome Charlie leather trophies are some of the items to be won. It was decided to have the championship doubles on Sunday morning again, so you can shoot all 400 championship targets in two days. There will be a cookout Saturday evening, as we have done each year. If you like to shoot doubles, we will be throwing 500 on Tuesday afternoon at a bargain price—targets only! Put May 27-June 1 on your calendar to attend the Oklahoma State Shoot at El Reno. Also, let’s all remember in our prayers the men and women in the military.

            Tim Deister

            ATA Delegate

Western Zone

Alaska

It is with considerable pride that I congratulate Eagle River shooter Corey Cogdell, who will represent the U.S. at the Olympics in Beijing this summer as the only female bunker trap shooter. Corey earned her way onto the Olympic team by winning the Spring Selection Match in Kerrville, Texas, in March. After the Fall Selection Match, Corey was down a few targets. On Day 1 of the spring match, she made up the deficit and more and never looked back. When the smoke cleared, she’d bested the field by 12 targets. Corey started her trap career at the Birchwood R&SP in Chugiak, when she took the basic 4-H course. She improved as time went on, winning the all-around title at the 2004 state shoot. She was part of the first all-girl SCTP team at the Grand and won trophies at Satellite Grands and the Oregon State Shoot. In 2003 she was selected to attend the SCTP Junior Olympic Development Camp at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. She won the Spring Selection Match in 2007 as well and was the bronze medal winner at the Pan Am Games that year. She also earned a bronze in her first World Cup Shoot in Korea in 2007. Every Alaskan shooter will be holding their breath when she takes the line this summer in China. Go, Corey!

Congratulations as well to state president Jeff Pokorny, who earned two punches at our March shoot, winning both handicaps under less than favorable conditions. You only need to shoot a 19 on the last trap if you are that far ahead, or so Jeff says.

It’s not too late to plan for the Alaska State Shoot in Chugiak July 16-20; the shoot is also a site for the Western Zone. Please feel free to contact me for more information. I can be reached at 2kaisers@mtaonline.net.

Dave Kaiser

ATA Delegate

Arizona

We have just completed our Arizona State Shoot, which also marks the end of our Winter Chain. Arizona continues to go against the national trend. Our state shoot was up considerably as compared to last year. We certainly hope this trend continues. Red Mountain T&S put on a good show and also exhibited an ability to control the weather. Temperatures were in the middle to high 80s, with very little wind. Jennifer and her crew did a great job.

Congratulations to Larry Mane and Tim Robb for reelection to the ASTA board and to Richard Luckett, elected as a new member, replacing Richard Whitman. Larry will be president for the coming year. We are proud of these individuals for volunteering their time in these important positions. State secretary Betty Sackett continues to provide Arizona and the rest of the U.S. with up-to-date information on our website. State shoot scores and winners were posted daily. If you haven’t seen our website, please pay it a visit at www.aztrap.com.

Ben Avery continues to make improvements to their range. The new clubhouse is predicted to be complete in May and the RV sites in September. This, along with the help being provided by Paul Doetsch as their trap consultant, should make for a welcome addition to next year’s Winter Chain. Put our Winter Chain on your schedule, and bring your friends.

This year a Western Zone site will be the Garden Canyon TC in Sierra Vista. This club throws black targets in a clear sky background. If you want to shoot some high scores, put this shoot on your schedule for July. The weather is mild for summertime temperatures in Arizona. Contact Rod Ritter at 520-458-9534 for more information. See you on the range.

Doug Hawkins

            ATA Delegate

California

It’s that time of year when our state association gives a beautiful gold-coin buckle to the winner of the handicap event at our Winter Chain shoots. Winners to date are Wayne Poffenbarger, 92, Newman; Bob Wood, 96, Santa Maria; Scott McCracken, 89, Barstow; Jeff Cook, 96, Kingsburg; Steve Stoffan, 90, Martinez; Willie Willhite, 96, Kern Co.; and Doug Gustafson, 93; Sunnyvale. Congratulations, and good luck to all who are trying to win one.

North Hollywood president Gary Bombalicki reported that they have poured the cement on their fourth trapfield and can now shoot over four traps for ATA shoots and club events. The members have worked extremely hard at this club the last few years to get everything up and running, and they have done a great job. It’s a great place to shoot. I hope you’ll plan to attend one of their shoots in the future.

Doug Gustafson had another fine weekend at the March shoot at Sunnyvale as he took home a trophy in every event. That included a singles win, 99; two handicap trophies, 95 and 93; two doubles, 96 and 94; and the HOA with 477x500. His 93 in Sunday’s handicap earned him the Winter Chain buckle. Great shooting, Doug!

Well, he’s going to the Olympics. Jeff Holguin, our state doubles champion two years running, made the Olympic team in Double Trap after two qualifying matches. Glenn Eller of Katy, Texas, and Jeff finished first and second, respectively, with 615 and 612. Jeff ran the last 50 targets to earn his first berth to the Olympic team. Both are members of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, as are Josh Richmond and Bill Keever, who placed third and fourth.^. Jeff believes that being on the Army team and shooting with these guys all year has helped his shooting. Congratulations, Jeff and all the Olympians; we’ll all be pulling for you.

Have a great month of shooting.

Eileen Williamson

            ATA Delegate

Nevada

It is that time of year to dust off the shooting equipment. In northern Nevada, the winter was bad enough that it has been a while since I shot. Good thing I have a gun safe, or I may not have found my gun.

Sage Hill CS in Reno will be hosting the 57th annual Golden West Grand May 6-11. This is a great shoot and is located in an area where there is good night life coupled with great areas to tour, such as Lake Tahoe. Not only that, but Capital City GC in Carson City is scheduled to hold a shoot May 4-5. Two shoots at different clubs so close together is a great way to get the most bang for your bucks.

May 17-18 will be the doubles marathon hosted by Spring Creek T&SC. For all those who love doubles, this is a shoot for you, with 500 pair thrown on the 17th and, if you’re still in the mood, handicap on the 18th. Moe and his staff throw some of the best doubles targets I have seen, and this is a great way to get your doubles in order before the shoot year kicks off in earnest.

With increasing prices, a lot of us are more selective in the shoots we plan to attend. I would recommend the Nevada State Shoot June 10-15 in Elko at Spring Creek. There will be excellent trophies for both in- and out-of-state shooters. Open added money has been increased by $1,500. Make your room reservations early.

If there are any issues or concerns you have, please contact me. My e-mail address is jhebert1@frontiernet.net, and my phone is 775-934-0905. I hope to see you at the next shoot.

            John Hebert

            ATA Delegate

Utah

With winter finally behind us, we all have a bit of cabin fever and look forward to warmer days. Along with seasonal changes, trapshooting tournaments begin again. May brings us a full schedule, with Helper kicking things off May 3-4; Heber, May 10; Sevier, May 16-18; Spanish Fork, May 23-26; and Golden Spike, May 31-June 1. Please get out and support the gun clubs, and good luck with your shooting in 2008. I look forward to seeing you at the shoots.

On the Utah State Trapshooting Association political side of the coin, after several years of serving as officers, Chuck and Tammy Gardner are ready to step aside and let someone else step up. The USTA has grown and flourished under their watchful eyes and the help of the other officers. Nominations are being accepted for USTA officers and must be submitted by June 15. For further information, interested parties can contact either Chuck or Tammy via e-mail at tgardner@comcast.net or by regular mail at USTA, PO Box 1421, West Jordan, UT 84084. The positions are open to ATA members in good standing. Elections will take place after the meeting June 28 at the state shoot at Spanish Fork.

Good luck and good shooting! You can reach me at 801-597-3957 or by e-mail at dsudbury@gatekeepers.com.

Joe Sudbury

ATA Delegate

Wyoming

Greetings, fellow trapshooters. Weather in Arizona is warming up rapidly, and I see the temps in Wyoming are rising. As I write this article, I am also sending the WSTA the names for the Wyoming state team.

Casper will soon be in full swing to get ready for the state shoot and the Western Zone following that. I am sure all shooters are hoping for some really nice weather. I am already getting inquiries from out of state for information, so this is encouraging. I hear the camping spots with power are long gone, but there should be plenty of dry camping and spots at the campgrounds.

I would like to again request information about your clubs. I believe a little advertisement will help you entice more shooters. Send any information to me at 70 Upper Clear Creek Rd., Buffalo, WY 82834; johnc_6@q.com; or 307-217-1168.

John Campbell

ATA Delegate

Central Zone

Illinois

I just received my advance copy of the Illinois State Shoot program. It really looks nice. I especially like the color for the cover. I want to thank Jim Lyons for a job well done. Not many of us know the amount of time and effort required to come up with this quality finished product.

I have received several calls about the 10-per-post method of shooting singles and handicap. Somewhere the rumor got started that we intended to shoot 10 per post at Brittany this year. Not true! As stated in the program, we will use two-trap banks, 50 per trap. We do ask that you take two boxes of shells to the line. We will shoot five per post, verify the scores, and go right back to the line for the second 25. Some of our senior shooters may require a break between the 25s, or in the case of excessive heat, we may all need a drink of water. Our intent is to reduce the time spent back at the bench. If we keep the shoot moving, there should never be a need to go to 10 per post. In the program, we reserve the right to go to 10 per post if absolutely necessary. Personally, I do not like 10 per post and can guarantee it would have to be a really serious situation before we change the format.

Lately, there seems to be a great deal of concern about our present handicap system. I have received correspondence that advocated a total change; I have also read that perhaps a tweak would suffice. Others want it left as is. I’ve heard that the ATA will not survive unless the handicap system is changed. Others say that if it is not broken, don’t fix it. I’m sure this will be a topic of discussion at this year’s annual meeting. I need to know how you folks feel so I can do the right thing. I have my own opinion, of course, but I feel that any vote of mine should reflect the majority of shooters in the state of Illinois. Please speak up when you see me, or call, write or e-mail.

As always, call me at 815-448-5120, write me at 627 B Main St., Mazon, IL 60444, or e-mail me at mattroofing@sbcglobal.net.

Jim Matteson

ATA Delegate

Indiana

Here in Indiana, the shooting season is starting to gear up for a great summer. We are anticipating a very good shooting year. We will have our three Indiana zone shoots in May, and the state shoot will be in July at the Indiana Homegrounds. We are also hosting an ATA Central Zone site at St. Joe Valley CC near Ft. Wayne. I hope everyone will be able to attend these shoots.

The SCTP teams are also practicing and getting ready for the state shoot. I want to thank the coaches of our SCTP teams. It takes a lot of time to put together a team and have practices every week. I also realize that you spend money out of your own pocket for the kids as well as coaching clinics. If anyone has a chance, watch some of these teams at the state shoot this year. There are some really good shooters out there.

Just a reminder to the SCTP coaches: if you can pre-squad your teams, please come in on Monday of state shoot week to classify. It sure will save time standing in line Tuesday morning. Hours to classify your teams will be Monday, 3 to 6 p.m. Thanks, and I hope to see everyone at the state shoot.

The ITA now has a website: www.indianatrap.com. There is still work to be done, but it is coming along really well. Thanks to Ryan Clark for volunteering to get the site up and running.

Congratulations to the Southern Grand trophy winners from Indiana: Al Gamblin, Robert Medaris, John Roussel, J. Batz, Wayne Duvall and Tank Lunsford.

I can be reached at king8a@yahoo.com.

            Roland King

            ATA Delegate

Iowa

Hello, everyone. The state high school shooting season culminates this month with the high school trapshooting championships May 17 at the Iowa Homegrounds in Cedar Falls. Go to www.iowadnr.com/law/shootingsports/sctp.html for up-to-date information, or contact Ben Berka, shooting sports coordinator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, by phone at 515-281-0140, by fax at 515-281-6794 or at Ben.Berka@dnr.iowa.gov.

Speaking of high school, I would like to remind high school seniors and parents of the Trapshooting Hall of Fame scholarships. These $5,000 scholarships are open to any high school senior who is a member of the Amateur Trapshooting Association. Applications must be submitted by July 1. Visit www.traphof.org for more information.

All ISTA members should have received a letter from ISTA president Jon Peterson, which included the 2008 state team members, financial statement and shoot dates for the 2008 season. If you haven’t received Jon’s letter, please contact Deb Oelmann, secretary-treasurer, at PO Box 128, Aplington, IA 50604-0128 or at dkoelmann@fbx.com.

As always, if you have any information you would like to see in future articles, please contact me at iowadelegate@aol.com or call me at home at 515-967-3551. Iowa State Shoot and ISTA information can be found on the ISTA website www.iowastateshoot.com.

Finally, I want to encourage all of you to support those who defend and protect our right to own and enjoy firearms by being a member of the NRA.

Tom Dentel

ATA Delegate

Michigan

I’m sure everyone in Michigan is happy to see the month of May roll in, as the weather can only get better now. The Spring Team Shoot will be history by the time most of you receive this issue. I hope that many of you had the opportunity to enjoy the first shoot of the season at the MTA Homegrounds. Our new kitchen personnel are dedicated to making your dining experience the best possible. Please take the time to have breakfast; lunch or dinner. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the great food.

I hope that many of you have the opportunity to attend the 21st annual Great Lakes Grand American May 20-26, shoot all or part of the 2,200 targets that will be thrown, and enjoy your time shooting with family and friends.

Michigan was represented well at the Florida Chain Shoot and the Browning-White Flyer-Winchester tournament at the Silver Dollar SC in Odessa, Fla. Michigan shooters capturing trophies at these events were Lawrence Grubbs, Sam Farley, Kathy Fitzgibbons, James Lopez and Michael Ballard. Congratulations go out to all!

I had the good fortune to attend the 28th annual Southern Grand in March at the Silver Dollar. Total attendance was down by 20% when compared to 2007. Fifty-five Michigan shooters took part in the competition this year, compared to 65 last year. Michigan represented 6.8% of the total. In total, 16 trophies were collected by the following Michigan shooters: Michael Klug, Steven Ohrt, Leo Derderin Jr., C. P. Burke, Robert Scheonrock, Robert Morton, Richard Musetti, Ron Riley, Jerry Mathias, Steven Van Vels and Barry Wallman. I commend all for their ability to prevail in the face of fierce competition. Please see results in this issue of Trap & Field.

I recently received news of the passing of past Michigan director Asher (Buckshot) McGhee. Many of you may remember Asher shooting with brother Gary during the ’70s and ’80s at the MTA Homegrounds. Asher and Gary were the first two individuals I shot with at MTA when I started shooting registered targets in 1976. Asher worked as a campground director prior to being elected to the MTA Board of Directors. My sympathy goes out to his family and friends.

Good luck shooting at your favorite club! I look forward to seeing all of you at upcoming events in Michigan. Please travel safely and take time to enjoy yourself. If you wish to contact me, you may do so via e-mail at dprice@michigantrap.org or zoowie@peoplepc.com.

D. Z. Price Sr.

ATA Delegate

Minnesota

I’m sure most of you are already aware of the Minnesota shooters earning a spot on the All-American team. I do, however, want to take the opportunity to congratulate them. Making the men’s first team was Eric Munson. This was one of Eric’s higher placements. Bob Munson and Scott Gens earned spots on the men’s second team. Keeping it a family affair again this year, Lou Ann Munson earned a spot on the women’s second team. Making the junior second team was Drake Dill, and on the sub-junior second team was Josh DeJong. I have had the pleasure of spending a lot of time with both, and I have to say they are not only great shooters, but also examples of the finest young people you will ever meet. Making the veteran second team was our current ATA President and ATA Delegate, Neil Winston. Making the senior veteran first team was past MTA secretary-treasurer Lou Kosiba. Rick Nelson earned a spot on the PVA team and did so after attending four points tournaments.

It should be noted that all these people are not only great shooters, but they have contributed to trapshooting in many other ways. The number of years Neil and Lou have served our organization, the many donations Bob and Annie have made to our youth fund-raising and to the betterment of the Alexandria club, the years served by Annie on the MTA board, the dedication demonstrated by Rick in making not only the PVA team but also becoming one of our finest overall shooters, and the way these people have represented Minnesota on the national trapshooting scene speaks well for all Minnesota shooters. Congratulations to these great shooters and fine people.

I need to correct an error in an earlier article. I mistakenly reported that Rich Stuntebeck had donated a Remington 870 youth trapgun. The gun that Rich has donated is a Remington auto youth model. Thanks again to Rich for donating this plus other items.

You may remember previously reported news regarding the possibility of a new club, capable of holding our state shoot and located in the south metro area. This new site, if it happens, would be focused on providing all popular shooting sports with the necessary venues. The first step was to get language changed in an agreement between the state and the University of Minnesota regarding the potential site. I have already reported that Dave Dill, father of junior All-American Drake and the state representative from Crane Lake, was successful in completing this first step. The next was to get a bill passed to determine preliminary design, cost and feasibility for the facility. Assuming this study proves the project to be worthwhile, Rep. Dill would next expect to ask for funding through the state’s bonding program to cover construction costs. I’m pleased to report that Dave is now working hard to get the feasibility study passed. If it does, the bond funding request would not come until the next bonding session. News on developments to come as it happens.

I’m pleased to announce several event sponsors for our 2008 state shoot. For the fourth year in a row, Kolar Arms will be sponsoring our Singles Championship and Remington our Handicap Championship. I can’t say enough about what this support has meant to our association, and thanks to both of these fine companies for supporting the sport we all love. I ask that you show our thanks by giving them a chance to be your supplier of choice when you have an opportunity to do so.

Sponsoring our Thursday handicap for the third year in a row will be Recob Target Shop, also the supplier of our White Flyer targets. Recob is a supplier of targets and all shooting supplies to gun clubs. Sponsoring our class doubles for the second year in a row is Pride Engineering. Pride is my business, and I am pleased to be able to help support our shooting association. We continue to work to get additional sponsors; our goal is to have sponsors for all events.

As I write this, we are in the process of obtaining advertisers for our 2008 shoot program. When you read this, there will still be time to get your ad in. It can be written off as a business expense and is a great way to support our organization. Call me or Jim Walkowiak if you can help us. At the same time, another gentle reminder is in order for donations to our live and silent auctions. Leo Harrison read this article and has donated a shooting bag he won. Many trophies make great auction items. Also, anyone with a spare gun that isn’t being used could think about gifting it to our association’s youth program. It might be the start of a whole bunch of new ATA shooters. Money from Rick Nelson’s generous donation of a Remington 870 for last year’s auction will be put to good use as part of our new SCTP club reimbursement program.

Don’t forget to support our clubs. They will likely be facing reduced revenues due to rising gas and shell prices. May will be a great month to shoot some registered targets—Alexandria, Buffalo, Detroit Lakes, East Bethel, Forest Lake, Grand Rapids, Owatonna, South St. Paul, Walker, Waseca, and Winona all have shoots scheduled. Get out and support these clubs and bring a new shooter along. It would be great if some of these clubs could find a way to match or beat Buffalo GC’s “new shooters recruited” record from last year (unless, of course, Buffalo tops its own impressive 2007 numbers). Consult Shoot Directory in this magazine for the exact dates.

I can be reached at MarkZ@Pride-Eng.com.

Mark Zauhar

MTA President

North Dakota

It is with regret and sympathy that I report the passing of 2004 NDTA Trapshooting Hall of Honor member Charles (Bud) VanEckhout of Minot. Bud, 86, died of natural causes at his home. Recently I visited with two of Bud’s dearest friends, Truman Graves and Don Shillander, who said that a complete obituary would be sent to Trap & Field. When they mentioned that, I was reminded of the obituary that was sent to Trap & Field for one of our family friends from back when I was a kid growing up in western Nebraska; that friend was Bueford Bailey. I remember one line in particular, where the writer stated that Bueford used to comment that the one page in Trap & Field he wanted to stay out of was the last page (the Completed Careers section). I feel the same way.

I always enjoyed talking to Bud, and on occasion I had the chance to shoot with him at Minot. Even in his later years, he could break some respectable handicap scores. Afterward he would always comment that he should quit shooting his Browning because it just shot way too high for him. I enjoyed listening to him talk about the “old days” at the Minot GC and Harolds Club and a shootoff that he had with Britt Robinson. I will never forget the heartfelt acceptance speech he gave at his NDTA Hall of Honor ceremony. It was pure Bud at his finest, very moving and at times hilarious. My condolences to Bud’s wife Hope and the rest of his family and friends, Godspeed, Bud; you will be missed by many!

I was informed recently of a book being published, titled “Trapshooting in North Dakota—A Five Decade Photographic History” by Chester E. Nelson Jr. The book has 240 pages with over 700 photos taken by Chet, dating back to the early 1960s. Books will be numbered based upon when orders are received. If you are interested in a copy for yourself, please contact Chet at 402 E. Brandon Dr., Bismarck, ND 58503; 701-255-1902; or cnelson@undalumni.org. I am anxious to receive my copies; I guarantee that with his more than 40 years of involvement in trapshooting as a competitor, photographer, NDTA board member and past ATA Delegate, Chet’s book will be informative and a collector’s item.

I would like to remind everyone to make motel reservations early for the upcoming Rough Rider Shoot, June 20-22 in Grand Forks, and the North Dakota State Shoot, July 24-27 at the Capital City GC in Bismarck. Both locations are popular tourist and business sites.

Not long ago Deb Cunningham phoned to say that Marc had had a heart attack at their home in the Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas, area. Since that initial call, I have had the chance to visit with Marc and can happily report that he is feeling much better and is anxious to resume his duties. I am confident that Deb will keep him on the straight and narrow in the future. Marc, I want to remind you of that sign that used to be along the interstate just before you crossed into the Montana border: “Even Custer was alive when he left North Dakota.” Take heed, my friend; maybe you and Deb would be safer back in North Dakota!

I can be reached at jwagner@horizonresources.coop or 701-572-3499 (evenings), 701-572-2171 (days) or 701-770-2171 (cell).

Jeff Wagner

ATA Delegate

Ohio

Greetings from the Buckeye State! First, I would like to invite everyone to attend the 2008 Ohio State Shoot June 17-22. (SCTP competition is scheduled for Monday, June 16.) The OSTA Board of Directors has worked very hard to keep target costs down and add trophies to the tournament this year. The entire program can be obtained from the OSTA website at www.ohiotrap.com. Information on camping can be obtained at www.cardinalcentercamp.com.

This is the month for the Ohio zone shoots, May 17-18. In order to be eligible for the 2009 all-Ohio team, you must shoot the all-around event (400 targets) at your respective zone location.

I would like to thank the applicants for the 2008 Ohio Trapshooting Foundation college scholarships. All applications have been forwarded to the OSTA Board of Directors for their review. Winners should be notified by the OSTA secretary around the end of May.

With the advent of a new trapshooting season, all of us can look forward to good times spent with good friends. Why not share the fun and excitement of trapshooting by setting a goal to introduce one new person to our sport? Whether a friend, neighbor or family member, he or she would enjoy a day at the range, and I’m sure the club would appreciate the business as well!

I can be reached at ohiodel@yahoo.com or 614-975-7955.

Dean Townsend

            ATA Delegate

South Dakota

Now that May is here, the weather is finally allowing us to have some good days at gun clubs here in South Dakota. As you start shooting, either leagues or registered, remember to bring a friend to the club. It’s the best way to introduce our sport to others.

Wayne Hofer and grandson Nathan of Huron spent some time traveling back and forth to Florida this winter. Nathan won 11 sub-junior trophies at the Dixie Grand and 12 more at the Southern Grand. Grandpa also shot well, winning a couple of trophies at the Southern. Great shooting, guys!

Remember to check out the big Cabela’s Shoot at Mitchell over Memorial Day weekend May 23-26.

I can be reached at home at 605-336-7285 or at work at 605-336-2288.

            Bob Felber

            ATA Delegate

Wisconsin

I’m sure many of us were beginning to wonder if the snow was ever going to leave, but it’s finally gone, and we’ve even got a few shoots under our belts. The Wisconsin zone shoots are just around the corner: northwestern and southeastern are May 31-June 1 at Heart of Wisconsin and Waukesha, respectively; northeastern and southwestern are June 14-15 at Langlade/Antigo and Sauk Prairie, respectively. See the Shooter’s Calendar for programs and possible preliminary event details.

Last month I congratulated members of the 2007 all-state team. This month I would like to list those shooters for people who do not visit the WTA’s website:

Men’s—captain Gerald Demulling, .9660; George Hass, .9631; Jonathon Denman, .9567; David Studnicka, .9560; David Blazek, .9531; Glen Grabski, .9484; David Lade, .9479; Todd Meyer, .9475; Chad Blanke, .9468; Dwight Fitzsimmons, .9452.

Women’s—captain Cathy Wehinger, .9399; Karen Stingl, .9117; Janet Reding, .8993; Dixi Campbell, .8944; Mary Bleiler, .8867.

Junior/sub-junior—Jonathan Filtz, .9203; Joseph Kirsch, .9117; Tyler Vertein, .9095; Kyle Wojicechowski, .8990; Logan Christy, .8800.

Veteran—captain Fritz Thistle, .9419; Bruce Wiegmann, .9416; Don Moe, .9396; James Grunewald, .9371, Jim Marcou, .9223.

Senior vet—captain Robert Weyker, .9154; Douglas Jerabek, .9127; Ronald Rieck, .9065; Richard Otto, .9062; Ray Moser, .8851.

High average award winners are Hass, singles, .9952; Demulling, handicap, .9450; and Dan Murphy, doubles, .9800. I’d like to note that these averages are based on in-state targets only and were all higher after dropping scores shot out of state.

Wisconsin also has several representatives on the All-American team: Demulling, men’s second; Wehinger, women’s first; Adam Becker, juinor first; Thistle, veteran second; and Jerabek, senior vet second.

Shooters contending for the all-state team, remember, you must participate in a championship singles, championship doubles and championship handicap at a zone shoot (does not have to be the zone in which you reside) in order to be eligible. The addition of a separate sub-junior team this year means that there will be places for 10 men, five women, five veterans, five senior vets, five juniors and five sub-juniors.

Thanks to everyone who turned out and participated in the Paul Sedwick Memorial April 19 at the Portage R&GC as well as his memorial service that followed. I’m sure Paul was there in spirit.

I can be reached at trapshootingguy@hotmail.com or 608-485-2662 with news you’d like to see in T&F. Grind ’em up!

Jay P. Adams

ATA Delegate

Shoot on over to the ATA!


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