As you read this, you already know we were forced to cancel the Illinois State Trap Shoot. I want to personally apologize for that decision to our shooters both in Illinois and across the mid-west. It was agonizing for the Board of Directors to do this but we felt we had no other choice. Let's hope for a vaccine so we can come back bigger and better next year.
On a happier note, Illinois shooters have been shooting very well at state shoots across the mid-west. There are so many shoots I can't talk about them all so please refer to shoot reports in Trap & Field magazine. I do want to mention a few shooters that have been shooting extremely well. Chase Horton, Ian Lawrence, Frank Haynes, Mike Dennis and Frank Payne have been shooting lights out wherever they have shown up. Good shooting guys. I am looking forward to watching you and all other Illinois shooters at the Grand.
While I'm on the subject of the Grand, I want to really thank the Missouri Trapshooting Association for hosting it this year. It is a monumental thing to host a shoot like this and the fact they took this on speaks volumes for their commitment to trapshooting.
I want to recognize some Illinois shooters that are reaching some milestones. Consuelo Aguilera will soon reach 100,000 combined targets. Richard Anderson will soon have 50,000 Singles targets. Harvey Schultz and Garrett Helms are reaching 25,000 Singles targets. David Coles and Ian Lawrence are homing in on 25,000 Doubles targets. You can't win if you don't show up and shoot. Good job all of you for your commitment to our sport.
On a sad note, Carl Havens, husband of Betty Havens, of Embroidery by Betty, recently passed away. Carl was a fixture in Betty's tent at any shoot they were at across the mid-west. Carl was a great guy and will be missed by the trapshooting community. Our condolences go out to Betty and her family.
One of the duties of a Delegate is to certify a new club that wants to start to shoot ATA targets. I recently went to the The Diamond Indoor Trap Range in Diamond, Illinois, to do this. I have been shooting trap for more than 50 years and have never seen an indoor range. Not knowing what to expect, I pulled up to the facility and was completely impressed. Leon and Christy Baine have built a well thought out, first class experience for shooters. Everything about it screamed to me their commitment to registered shooting and I am looking forward to going back to shoot there.
Bill Duncan, ATA Delegate
As I write this, the Illinois State Shoot should have just finished and I would have great stories about the event. Sadly we are still wrestling with trying to have the shoot. Public health concerns, insurance issues and common sense are making this decision really tough. When you read this we will have made the decision. Just know the Board of Directors made the best decision we possibly could.
Shooting is finally picking up and Illinois shooters are doing well. At the Nebraska State Shoot: Ian Lawrence won six trophies, Chase Horton won four, Mike Dennis won three and Hannah Martin also cracked the trophy list. At the Tennessee State Shoot: Charlie Bickle and Harvey Schultz won 3 trophies, Joan Davis and Kyle Fabisiak both won two and Donald Kalsch, Tom Hoffman, Chloe Turasky, Jeremiah Schultz, Adam Fabisiak and Mike Gill all won a trophy. Chloe almost won the open Out of State Singles Championship. Good shooting one and all.
I recently learned a shooter from Florida, who grew up in Illinois, was killed in a tragic car accident. My condolences go out to the family and friends of Brant Williams. Rest in peace, Brant. I'll see you on the other side some day.
I have been advised that Anthony Fortino is closing in on 120,000 combined targets. Anthony is a great shot who won both the Singles and Doubles Championship at the Grand in 2013. Life has gotten in the way lately and he has not shot as much as he had in the past. Good job, Anthony. I hope you will be able to return to your previous form in the future.
Finally, the Illinois Board of Directors is working on a new idea to raise money for the Hall of Fame. Stay turned for future developments.
Stay safe and shoot well!
Bill Duncan, ATA Delegate
As I am sure you have heard by now, the Board of Directors have voted to move the Illinois State Shoot to the last weekend of July. Due to both political and health concerns, the Board saw no way forward other than to move the shoot later into the shooting season. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our shooters.
I need to correct a mistake of mine. I incorrectly recognized Denise Dressler's Singles milestone by her maiden name of Stultz. I apologize to Denise, Dave and anyone else who was confused by my mistake.
I was deeply saddened to recently read that Joe Spradley had passed. I first met Joe at the Illinois State Shoot years ago when we both wanted to buy an old Remington trap gun. (Joe liked Remington's as much as I do.) I ended up with the gun, but much more importantly, I got to know Joe. If there is a dictionary of phrases, all you would need to do is put a picture of Joe next to the phrase "Class Act" and you've said it all. We will miss you, Joe. When I join you some day, we will find two high grade Remington's and shoot 50 bird derbies forever.
The country is starting to open up now and the shooting season is ramping up. Due to Illinois' plan to open, small clubs are going to be the way to go to shoot. Please support our small clubs as much as you can. We need them to survive this pandemic for our sport to grow.
Everyone stay safe.
Bill Duncan, ATA Delegate
I am writing this in late April and I am amazed, as everyone else is, at the shutdown of shooting across the country. I was at the ATA website and saw page after page of cancellations and postponements. I think there is no doubt that this will be a year where we will not shoot as much as we expected. If worst comes to worst, and we are forced to stay close to home, then please try to support the local clubs in your area. They are going to need your support more than ever.
The Southern Grand in Florida was able to take place in March and several Illinois shooters did well. Hannah Martin won Lady I Preliminary Doubles. Bill Jordan won Class C in the Class Singles. In the Christiansen Handicap, Hannah Martin won the event and Mike Dennis won the Veterans category. In the Handicap Championship, Mike Jordan won the Senior Veteran category.
Other notable accomplishments are Steve Brink is about to shoot 75,000 Singles and Denise Dressler is about ready to shoot 50,000 Handicap targets. Ian Lawrence placed second in the All-Around Junior category. Many other Illinois shooters made the lists of their respective categories. Good shooting everyone. You make us all proud.
I am now going to talk about something near and dear to my heart -- a new Illinois Hall of Fame. When the Illinois State Shoot moved to Brittany Shooting Park in 1999, a small room was built in the corner of the clubhouse. We have used that room ever since as the Hall of Fame. Because we have such a long and rich history in Illinois, we have outgrown the space. The Illinois Board of Directors has voted to raise money to build a bigger and better building next to the ISTA building at Brittany. You can go to the ISTA website to see a drawing of the building we are planning to build. With the economy shut down now, I know money is tight but please consider donating, in the future, when you can, to help us. Next month, I'll talk about the way you can donate money.
Bill Duncan, ATA Delegate
As I sit down to write this, the coronvirus has swept across the planet and turned our lives upside down. Here in Illinois, we are on lockdown, and I'm afraid registered trapshooting is going to take a major hit in our country. As much as I am going to miss seeing all of my friends at shoots, I want them alive and well when this is all over. So please be patient, smart and safe as we wait for this pandemic to pass.
In February, I went to Tucson, AZ, for the Spring Grand. If you have never been to the Tucson Trap and Skeet Club, you need to put it on your bucket list. It is a world class shooting facility with every shotgun shooting discipline available to you. Illinois shooters did well there. Chase Horton won the Preliminary Handicap, 27 yard group. Frank Haynes won the Sub-Vet award in the Prescott Handicap. Dave Huber won the Vet trophy in the Pleasant Valley Handicap. Ziggy Tkaczenko won the Chair awards in Class Doubles, HOA and HAA.
I want to do a shout-out to Steve Brink and Denise Stultz. Steve is about ready to shoot 75,000 singles targets and Denise will soon shoot 50,000 handicap. Too often we reward scores and forget about dedication. Congratulations to both of you on these achievements.
Over the next two years the Illinois Board of Directors will be raising money to build a Hall of Fame at Brittany Shooting Park. The Hall we have now at Brittany is too small, and we need to build a bigger and better building. We are in the process of creating a GoFundMe account at the Illinois State Trapshooting Association webpage. I plan on updating each month on how things are going. Please plan on giving what you can. The history of Illinois trapshooting is rich and we need a proper hall to display it.
Bill Duncan, Illinois ATA Delegate