Memorial Day Open

     The Skeet and Trap ranges hosted 54 skeet shooters at the annual Memorial Day Open tournament on May 27 and 28. 
     Hot and breezy describe the weather for the two big guns on Saturday.  Three 99s shot off for 12 ga. Champ.  Bryan Jones outlasted and runner-up Mark Scott and AA1 Robert Williams.      Class winners were Erik Bauer (A), Col. “TW” Williams (B), Jim Goodwin (C), Robert Melikian (D), and Gordon Riley (E).  In order of finish, our ladies were led by Kim Minnig, Valarie Gath, and Meridith Tunick.  Veterans Tom Warren and Tom Colligan shot off a fine pair of 93s with Mr. Warren prevailing for the concurrent championship.
     In the 20 ga., VSSA President Richard Haynie won the shootoff over Jim Hickerson.  Their two 100s were the only two of the weekend.  Class winners were Robert Williams (AA), Kevin Donaldson (A), Jefferson Key (B), Norm Fanning (C), and Robert Melikian (D).  Kim Minnig again prevailed among the ladies with Tunick and Sunni Bond Winkler rounding out the ladies placements.  In this event Mr. Warren took the Veteran’s title with a 94.  Roy Winkler also shot a 94, but retired before the Veteran’s shootoff started.
     Following class and concurrent shootoffs, our B, C, D, and E shooters buckled down to a handicap shootoff for three flats of ammo.  For the second year in a row, Gordon Riley prevailed.  This time winning a flat each of 12 ga. and .410 bore shells. 
     On Sunday the blazing sun created dark shadowy pockets in the background of trees causing the early morning shooters to have some difficulty in the 28.  But not Kim Minnig and her dad (me) who shot 99s at nine with long runs of 11/88 and 88/11, respectively.  Ron Waidlich also shot a 99.  It was Kim’s first gun championship and a big congrats goes to her (But, I got a kiss!! HA!!).  Class winners were Chris Talacek (AA), Doug Minnig (A), Errell Spangler (B), Joe Copsey (C), and Paul Bauer (D).  Errell Spangler’s fine 95 took the Veterans title.
Sunday afternoon the .410 event proved to be competitive as the previous events.  Three shooters smashed 97 of the 100 targets with the little gun.  Buddy Baker won the shootoff over Chris Talacek and Mark Scott (AA1).  Class winners were Jones (A), Copsey (B), Tom Wycoff (C), and Carl Josefson (D).  Kim won the ladies again.  Veteran Roy Winkler won his concurrent with a 93.
     For High Overall, Mark Scott snatched the title from Bryan Jones in the shootoff arena.  Robert Williams (AA), Chris Talacek (A), Kim Minnig (B), John Knight (C), and Robert Melikian (D) were the remaining class winners.   Other Izaak Walton members who placed in either class or concurrents were Jorge Bonilla, Jeff Fletcher, George King, Doug Newcomb, Patricia Riley, Alan Sachsel, Steve Sencindiver, Alan Talacek, and Phil Tomlinson.
     A big and hearty three cheers goes to our fellow Ike Jeff Fletcher who provided a Camo gun case to the HOQ champ and Browning knives to the Class champions.  Thanks, Jeff. 

     Future skeet events include:
•  Doubles Marathon:  August 12 & 13
•  Autumn Leaves Open:  September 23 & 24
•  Bender-Shima Shooting Clinic:  November 2- 5
     For reservations in future events call me at (703) 371-1018 or (703) 318-0214 or email at minnigd@verizon.net.

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Virginia State Trapshoot

     With just outstanding weather at the 2006 Virginia State Trapshoot held at the Winchester Gun Club, several AFC/IWLA members have made great strides in being champions at this year’s shoot.
     Adel Moussa won the “Old Dominion Clay Target Championship” with the only 200 straight  with 296 entries. John Campbell won F Class with a 192.  Alan Hemer won his yardage group with a 93 in a handicap event.  Paul Gasparides took the yardage group in the next handicap event with a 96. 
     The next day handicap yardage group was won by Goff Ingram with a 96.  Sunday’s handicap event starred 3 of the AFC’s members: Adel Moussa, 96; George Hafkemeyer, 95 (both won their respective yardage groups) and Betty Farley, 93, took High Lady.
     On Tuesdy, the 4th of July, Dan Sirk took the B class Virginia Doubles Championship with a 95.  And last, but certainly not least, Betty Farley repeated her good shooting with a 91 to take the High Lady in the Virginia Handicap Championship.
     Many of our members participated in this year’s Virginia State Trapshoot and had a great time.  I want to thank those who participated in the State Team Championship, although we did not carry the trophy for 2006.   Well, there’s always next year to look forward to. 
     Congratulations to all the members and winners who took part in this year’s state Trapshoot and great shooting to all of our Champions.