Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut by Dale Nelson

The Douglas Ridge Youth Shotgun Team had a very successful weekend at the Hillsboro Trap and Skeet Club P.I.T.A. 2016 Nut Shoot.  The Team brought eight youth shooters to the event and started the Tournament off on Saturday September 10 shooting singles trap on squads 1 and 2.

After all the chips hit the ground, Henry Phipps (16) had broken 97/100 targets for his first 50 Straight, his personal best to date and a “D” Class win.  We had a little ceremony for Henry’s achievement in which his teammates riddled his lucky hat with #8 shot.

McKenna Johnson (13) won the “D” Class Runner-up in singles with a 95.  Please note that this Runner-up is to Teammate Henry’s win in this class!  For those of you unfamiliar, the “D” class is all shooters within that average score range.  The shooters compete in the “Classes” regardless of age or gender.  The Team competes against all participants at the PITA Tournaments, not just other Junior shooters.  The exciting thing about all of this is that it is often the Junior shooters that are the stiffest competition!

Dylan Nelson (16) took the Junior Singles title with a 95.  Dylan continues to be the top shooter on the team but his teammates are rapidly catching him.

In Saturday’s Handicap, McKenna Johnson took home the Sub-Junior win with an 88.  Dylan Nelson took the award for short yardage Handicap “Runner-up” with a 93.  In Doubles, McKenna won the Ladies title with a 77.  Dylan took a “D” Class runner-up in Doubles with a 91; his personal best doubles score.

On Sunday, Lindsay Barone (17) stepped up to the line and showed us all what she can do in singles!  She shot a personal best 92 to take the ladies singles and in the process shot her first 25 straight. 

Gavin Bogden (12) took the Sub-Junior Singles title Sunday in his very first tournament.  To top it off, his Grandparents from Germany were there to see it.  Good job Gavin!

Dylan won the Junior Singles again on Sunday with another 95.  He is a very consistent shooter.

There were several other very good youth shooters at the Nut Shoot and it’s a pleasure getting to know all of these fine young men and women and watching them develop into the future of our sport.

The Summer Multiplex checks have been mailed.  Congratulations to our HOA winners for the season:

• HOA – Kyle Seever
• Alaska: Chip Verrelli
• British Columbia: Lisa Salt
• California: Tom Sarko  (Glen Jager-ff)
• Hawaii: Tommy Kushima
• Idaho: Wayne McCulley
• Nevada: Todd Delong
• Oregon: John Adams
• Washington: Tim Plagman

The random draw winners are:

• Ken Bush (shooting at Boulder, NV)
• Tom Leedy Jr (shooting at Coon Creek, CA)
• Mickey Razy (shooting at El Dorado, CA)
• Lisa Salt (shooting at NOTSC, BC)
• Sherry Burris (shooting at Orovada, NV)
• Tommy Kushima (shooting at Schofield, HI)
• Tom Rogers (shooting at Yakima, WA)

MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND REGISTER YOUR CLUB FOR THE WINTER SEASON – STARTS OCTOBER 1 & 2

The Yakima Valley Sportsmen’s Association has completed a major portion of their facility renovation.  

Made possible in part with grants from the WA State Recreation & Conservation Office (RCO) and the FARR Program (Firearms & Archery Range Recreations).  They have removed and replaced their trap pads and purchased new machines.  This completed project brings the facility and parking up to current ADA standings.

The YVSA hopes you will attend the 67th Annual ‘Big Yak’ Blanket Shoot – September 17th & 18th – Over $8,500 in cash and prizes including wool blankets, Montana Silversmith buckles & silver coins. Come see our new look!

If your club has made improvements and/or purchased new equipment please let us know and we will help spread the word.  Email to sue@shootpita.com

Just what is the ODC?

We call it the Oregon Doubles Classic and “Classic” it has become. Here is a condensed overview of the ODC in its second year of existence and currently supported by nine trap clubs throughout the state. The ODC is an opportunity for those that love to shoot doubles to register as many as 500 targets in a marathon setting, usually held a day before a scheduled event at a participating club. At your beginning shoot you are classified and do not change during the 24 events with a total 12,000 targets theoretically possible. Realistically, shooters must accumulate a minimum 1500 targets to qualify for a year end trophy, based on the highest 1500 targets and presented at a BBQ banquet hosted by the Portland Gun Club. Trophies this year are Gist belt buckles offered for Champion, Runner-up, AA, A, B, C & D winners and runner-ups as well as Lady, Veteran, Senior & Junior (only 1,000 targets required for Juniors).  Targets cost $22.00 per hundred and includes all fees, trophies and the banquet. A Lewis is the only option offered and at each shoot $50.00 is presented to a shooter winning the drawing based on one ticket for each one hundred targets that day.

Potential contestants need not be intimidated by the offer of 500 doubles targets per day. You may shoot all or any part of the program you wish. There is still time to participate at the eight events remaining this season. For dates and locations or more information contact Mike Riggs, OSTA President at 503-997-2449 or Sue Brewer at 541-258-8766.  Click here to view the standings as of August 5th.

The 2016 Grand Pacific results are finally available.  Many think in our digital world this should be automatic so I must take a minute to explain that the winners are computed manually and shoot off results are recorded as they become available; complied by volunteers, many of whom are performing multiple tasks.  The internet service at Evergreen Sportsmen’s Club is poor which hampers our efforts to post results in a timely manner.  These are excuses I know.  In my half time position with PITA I am responsible for the website.  This is my explanation for the delay, please accept my apologies.  If you find any errors or would like additional information, send me an email (sue@shootpita.com)  Now on with the show….

Click HERE to see the winner’s lists – photos can be viewed and downloaded by clicking this link to Flickr.

Additional winners include:

• Buddy Backer winners – Nate Teesdale and Josh Tiegs 60/60
• Champions of Champions:  Jim Warn     Lady: Kate Bonn
• Rookie of the Year – Jake DiMaggio with a scores of 276/300.
• Husband & Wife Team – Esther & Jimmie Puckett 565/600
• Two in a Family – Chance & Colton Vines 577/600
• Non winning ladies shoot off – Karen Blaetler
• Event #7 – BT99 winner – William Benson
• Sub-Gauge random draw Browning 20 gauge Citori winner – Myron Sawicki
• RCBS reloading press winner – Michael Sargent
• Event #17 – Citori 725 winner – Bill Scharnhorst
• Event #17 – BT99 winner
• Grand 7 – BT99 winner: Geoff Fern, 250# Northwest shot winner: Jon Thompson, $100 Connie’s certificate: Gary Bonetti

Attendance Stats:

An update after the Albany Gun Club ODC event on July 15th – Jim continued to run the 1st 50 and ended the new record at 512 straight in doubles – Congratulations Jim!!

Just hours ago Jim Warn of Canby, OR broke the record for PITA Doubles Long Run!!  Shooting at Hillsboro Trap & Skeet Oregon Double Classic competition Jim broke 450 orange White Flyers two at a time to shoot the longest run in doubles in PITA History! This record was previously held by Ron Stubbings of Victoria, BC on 6/28/03.  See more PITA record on page 268 of the Average Book.  Great shooting Jim!!

Old Skagit Gun Club

On Saturday and Sunday, June 18 and 19, Old Skagit welcomed shooters to their PITA registered shoot. Thirteen Canadians braved the rigors of the border crossing and joined with 58 U. S. shooters for two days of competition.

Saturday moisturized everybody with light rain showers but targets flew well with the absence of wind and several excellent scores were recorded. In the singles competition Old Skagit welcomed its first squad to the 125 Club. Jennifer Anex, Herk Sorsdal, Don Meece, Dave McCallum and Chuck Manning set the pace with all going straight on their first trap of the day. Don Meece continued on to go 100 straight and tied Jon Thompson with his 100 straight for A Class. Jennifer Anex and Dave McCallum were also shooting well and dropped only one target apiece and tied with Gurjit Gakhal for B Class. One more 100 straight was achieved by Luben Izov for C Class and Phil Van De Keere scored 98 to take D Class. This was Luben’s first 100 straight and after the day’s competition was over his hat was shot to commemorate the occasion. After lunch competition continued and Chuck Manning took handicap champion and Larry Stewart took short yardage with their 94’s. Dave McCallum was long yardage winner with 93. Doubles scores continued to be good with Don Meece scoring 97 for A Class. Jack Kennedy, Wayne Burns, and Jim Storlie completed the winners list taking B, C, and D Classes respectively.

Sunday the weather changed completely and was sunny with just a few clouds. In singles Sean Miller in B Class scored the fourth 100 straight of the weekend, followed by three 99’s. A total of five 99’s were recorded with Jon Thompson’s taking A Class and David Leung’s C Class. Phil Van De Keere again took D Class, this time with a 93. The winds picked up in the afternoon but Jon Thompson continued to be on and was champion in handicap with 95. Luben Izov also continued to have a good weekend and took short yardage as Colin Grover took long yardage. Don Meece continued his hot streak in doubles with another 97 for A Class winner with Jack Kennedy, Sean Miller and Don Alvis taking B, C, and D Classes respectively.

The entire weekend Gurjit Gakhal’s daughters had been teasing him that he wasn’t quite making the grade since he wasn’t at the top of the scoreboard but he made them proud in the end with his consistent performance to claim High Over All for the total 600.

Gurgit Gakhal and his daughters

Colin Grover - Another Old Skagit winner

Wayne Burns -winner at Old Skagit

Steve Jungquist

Sean Miller

Rick Holt and David Leung

Luben Izov

Jack Kennedy Chuck Manning Larry Stewart

Don Meece

Jennifer Anex_Herk Sorsdal_Don Meece_Dave McCallum_Charles Manning Skagit 6_18_16

Congratulations to all and thanks for joining us for a wonderful weekend and successful shoot. Please see our Trophy Report for the rest of the winners.

On May 28, 2016, in rain and cold conditions (2.0 C) Mike Nielsen celebrated shooting his 50,000 P.I.T.A. registered target at North Peace Rod & Gun Club in Fort St. John B.C. NPR&G is Mike’s home club, and he wanted to shoot his milestone with his fellow club members, friends and family present. Unique to this milestone is that Mike’s 50,000 targets have all been shot on Squad 1, from either post 1 or 5.

NPR&G presented Mike with an embroidered shooting vest marking the occasion, and Les Madsen presented Mike with his P.I.T.A. 50,000 pin and certificate.
In appreciation for everyone in attendance, Mike gave out commemorative “shot” glasses, and bought a round for the house. Despite the cold and very wet weather everyone have a great weekend.

Washington State Shoot Making a Big Push for Jr. and Sub-Jr. Shooters This Year

While we’re always trying to come up with new ways to attract younger shooters to the sport, money is usually a good motivator. This year, the Washington State Shoot is pulling out all the stops with its $3,500 youth program and free shells.

That’s right, not only is there a $2,000 cash purse split between both the Jr. and Sub-Jr. shooters, but free shells as well.  Sportco, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Jim Bradbury, and Rusty Bunn have all come together and are guarantying free shells for the Championship Singles and Handicap (Event 7, 9, and 10).

Custom buckles will also be awarded to the top three Jr. and Sub-Jr. shooters. Those buckles also come with a nice chunk of change. That $2,000 purse is split equally between both categories paying 6 places!  Last but not least, guaranteed ½ priced targets for any youth shooter this year. Come join us for the 83rd annually Washington State Shoot July 13th-17th at Evergreen Gun Club, we’d love to see you there.

You can view the entire program online through this website under the program section. You can download it in its entirety at www.wspita.com.  Any questions about the program contact:

John Gustafson

WSPITA Board Member

253-307-4530

johnf@agent694.com

The summer multiplex season starts the first week of June (6/7-9).  These fun, relaxed, 50 bird events are a great way to get new shooters involved with registered shooting.  Reporting of scores is done with a simple, easy to use excel spreadsheet.  To register your club contact Sue, sue@shootpita.com, 541-258-8766 .  Click here for more details.