Hi everyone. I want to start this column by introducing you to the 2022 Illinois All State team.
Open
For those of you not familiar with Illinois shooting, trust me when I say this is a formidable group of shooters. Congratulations to all of you!
Next, I want to acknowledge some shooters that have reached milestones in their careers. James Martin and Greg Hogue have shot 25,000 Handicap targets; Jay Miller has shot 25,000 Singles targets; Mike Hathaway has shot 50,000 Doubles targets and Tim Hays has shot 75,000 Singles targets. Well done all you guys!
Finally, I want to tell you about a gem of a small, two trap club I shot at a few weeks ago. Lake Fork Sportsmen's Club is located about 25 miles east of Decatur, IL, off of Route 36. When I pulled in, I found a clean, well-maintained club where the members were busy setting up the two fields. The shoot started on time, and everything ran smoothly throughout the day. It reminded me so much of the little clubs my dad and I shot at when I was a kid. Simply put, it was a relaxing time with good friends, good targets and I had a really good time. I know it's fun to go to large shoots, but let's not forget that small clubs have their own unique enjoyable experience. Tony Jones manages the club, and you can find the contact information for the club on the ISTA web page if you think you would like to give them a try. Trust me, you will not regret it.
By the time you read this it will be December, so everyone, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Next month I'll introduce you to the 2022 Illinois All-Americans. Support your local clubs.
Bill Duncan, ATA Delegate
Hi everyone. The heat has broken here in Illinois and shooters are coming out to shoot some birds in the new target year. The only problem is anymore it seems to rain every weekend. Oh well, it's always something.
Ian Lawrence has shot 50,000 Singles targets. This is quite an accomplishment for this young man. You can see where his great scores come from. Brian Frost has shot 25,000 Handicap targets.
The Illinois Northern Zone shoot was held at Downers Grove Sportsmen's Club on September 10 and 11. Saturday the weather was great and Sunday it rained off and on with clouds. The shooters still came out and shot their usual great scores. Steve Johnson won the In-Zone Singles title and Mike Westjohn won Out-of-Zone. The In-Zone Handicap title was won by Jake Diliberto and Mike Westjohn struck again with the Out-of-Zone title. Dan Staker won the In-Zone Doubles title and Dave Dressler won Out-of-Zone. To finish it out, Dan Staker won the In-Zone HAA and, not surprisingly, Mike Westjohn won Out-of-Zone. Good shooting everyone and thanks to the Downers Grove staff for putting on a great shoot.
The one thing I dislike about writing a monthly column is talking about someone who has passed. It always makes me sad. When that person was a good friend it is particularly tough to do. Jerry Graham died right before the start of the Grand. Jerry was a great guy and an even better shot. I first met him years ago when he was one of the few people still shooting a Model 12 in competition. He later switched to a Ljutic and between those two guns he shot himself into the ISTA Hall of Fame in 2012. Jerry never shot off for an award. He was content to shoot his score and go home. It was refreshing to be around a guy who shot for the love of the game and not trophies and points. Poor health limited his shooting of late, but he kept trying to shoot a round or two to be with his friends. My sincerest condolences go out to all of Jerry's family and friends. Rest in peace!
Support your local clubs! They need you.
Bill Duncan, ATA Delegate
Hi, everyone. You can tell Illinois shooters were active at the Grand American by the number of milestones that were reached. As before, the number is the milestone reached and the s, h, d, and c after their name stand for singles, handicap, doubles and combined respectively.
25,000
Thomas McCue S; Greg Aitken S; John Morgan H; Ted Mueller S; Robert Randell S
50,000
Lauren Dunn D; Marvin Cremer H; Lawrence Nemec H; David Peace S; Ken Knearem S; Tony Jones H
100,000
Ron Fearheiley C; Mark Chiodini C; Norman Lemay C; Ken Rigler S; Mark Fielder D; Ronald Roesslein S
Quite an impressive list. It makes me proud to be an Illinois shooter when you see the dedication that is going into our sport. The word for the Grand American this year was HOT, both in scores and temperature. It was miserable shooting on occasion, but I know of no one who required medical attention during the shoot. Illinois shooters displayed their usual excellence by all sorts of class, category and yardage group wins. See the Trap and Field magazine Grand issue for detailed results. I want to talk about one Illinoian who came ever so close in the big one. Junior shooter Steve Margherio broke 100 straight from the 27 yard line and tied for the Grand American Championship. Sadly, he lost the shoot off, but he won the Junior Championship. He also completed his Grand Slam while still in High School. I talked to Steve after the shoot off and I know he was really disappointed. I told him, and I truly believe, that if he keeps shooting as he has been, one day he will be holding one of those big trophies. Steve is a great shot, a keen competitor and a great young man. He is an asset to Illinois trapshooting.
I was saddened to learn that long time Director Ned Meyer has resigned from the ISTA board. Ned has been with the organization for so long and done so many great things for Illinois trapshooting it is difficult to imagine going on without him. I understand that personal problems have caused this and want to wish him the very best in the future. I also want to congratulate Lauren Dunn who has agreed to replace Ned on the board. Thanks Lauren for stepping up, I know you will do a great job.
As I write this, the new shooting season is about to start. I want to wish everyone good shooting in the coming year and encourage everyone to support their local, small clubs. Without your support, we will lose them.
Bill Duncan, ATA Delegate
Hi everyone. Have I got a list for you! You can tell shooting is going strong by the number of shooters who have reached milestones this month. The number at the top of each column is the milestone they have reached. The S, H, D, or C, after their name stands for singles, handicap, doubles, or combined targets respectively--
25,000 -- Milton Hilton S; Garrett Helms D; Kevin Morrison S
50,000 -- Lawrence Gillum S; Bruce Bennett H; Dale Schlueter H; Jack Reeves S; Paul Rogers D; Sue Staker S
100,000 -- Tony Deangelis H; Gary Crowe C; Kenneth Wubben D; Lynn Gibson S; Dale Schlueter C; Pat Hermes H
Illinois shooters have been doing well at shoots across the Midwest. No major championships, but lot of Categories, Classes and Yardage group wins. I want to mention two shooters who have shot with great consistency. Chase Horton and Ian Lawrence just keep shooting great scores. When you shoot like that, the wins have to follow.
As I have traveled around to small clubs, I have noticed what I talked about last year in one of my columns. The clubs are basically running on volunteer labor. I want to encourage all shooters who go to one of these small shoots to jump in and help. These clubs are being squeezed from all directions and if we don't help them, they will not be there anymore. Please do what you can.
Last month I told you I missed the weekend at the Illinois State Shoot because I came down with Covid. It has been 5 weeks as I write this, and I finally feel that I am getting over it. I am telling you this because I don't want anyone else to go through this. Do not let your guard down! You do not want to get this!
Thanks to incredible generosity on the part of Illinois shooters at the State Shoot, we now have about $43,000 dollars for the new Hall of Fame. Thanks to everyone who gave! It means so much to me that you stepped up like you did. We are going to draw up some plans and break ground as soon as possible. Stay tuned for updates.
Bill Duncan, ATA Delegate