rep308
NES Member
We took our team to the World Shooting Headquarters in Sparta IL to represent the State of Massachusetts in the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) National Shotgun Championships July 13th-16th. This year they opened the event to any team that shot their state championship, instead of limiting it to those who won their state championship. There were over 1500 youth athletes from 42 states. It was a great experience and our team shot well. The complex is immense with 130 trap houses, 2.5 miles of them, 40 skeet houses and two 15 station sporting clay courses. Golf carts are a must.
Tuesday - travel and arrival day:
It was a giant non issue flying with firearms. We check them in at Southwest at Logan, the TSA guy wished us luck. Upon arrival in St. Louis, they had our firearms in a separate location, we just showed our tags and were off. I should put a firearm in all my luggage to avoid the lines. Temperatures tuesday were brutal 101, with a head index of 117. Sparta is a little town of 3500 people we stayed about 30 miles away in the deluxe accommodations of the Super 8 motel. They were nice, clean and the air conditioning was a life saver.
Wednesday - Opening day
Our team of five were divided into two squads. We had the great fortune to be matched up with a squad from South Carolina, the two time defending champs who went on to win again this year. They were intense and some of the nicest people you could meet. Once they determined we were not a threat, they started giving our kids advice. They approached each station and conferenced on choke and shot selection. They all had a skeet, IC and light mod chokes in a holster type device on their belts. After seeing a clay they decided which target to use #8 and which to use #9. They shot like the champions that they are.
We had some time to kill in the vendor pavilion, with store fronts from Beretta, Browning, Winchester, Bob Allen and others. They we scored some pins and hats and ogled the shotguns. That evening was the opening ceremony, where we marched in carrying the MA State flag. There were a total of 1500 youth athletes, representing 42 states, with no representation from ME, NH, VT or RI. We did take a bit of a ribbing about 'you can have guns in MA?' but it was all good natured.
Thursday - second 100 sporting clays
The temps were in the high 80's and everyone said how lucky we were with the weather. We shot our second 100 sporting clays and were continued to be amazed by the SC team. The three man squad ended up finishing each in the 180's out of 200 targets, winning the event in a shoot off.
Friday - 100 skeet morning, 100 trap afternoon
The temps remained in the 80's and we again were split into two squad for skeet. Again it was easy to pick out the kids who were skeet'ers vs trap'ers. One kid on my son's squad shot a 99/100. In the afternoon it was finally off to the trap field, our main event. There are 130 trap field in a row, the curvature of the earth prevents you from seeing them all. It was nice to shoot with out the pressure having to hurry. Our team shot well with a 97, 96, 96, 94, and 92. Four kids from other teams racked up perfect 100's. We went off to the Winchester store to get AA 25 and 50 straight patches which they gladly handed out.
Saturday - second 100 skeet and 100 trap
Here came the heat, low 90's but it felt worse. Our kids did OK at skeet but were starting to wear down. In the afternoon back to the trap field where they dropped a couple more than usual but some members stepped up to fill the gap. The team ended up with a 939/1000 good for 16th place out of 52 teams. One athlete shot a 194/200 for 34th place, a 189/200 was good for 103th place out of the 560 contestants in Varsity class. The winning team shot 979/1000!
After shooting we went to the main building to meet Larry Potterfield of Midway USA. Mr Potterfield gave our team a generous grant and contributes hundreds of thousand of dollars to youth shooting. A real nice down to earth guy who gives a damn.
That evening we ran into some very nice people from Alaska, they brought 3 squads, 15 kids. They have been staying at the same hotel as we did, we met them last year. As the kids played the second annual MA vs Alaska beach volleyball game (MA won to tie the series at 1-1) we dreamed of taking them up on their invite to go up and shoot with them.
All in all it was a great event. We need more representation from the North East! Go if you can!
View attachment 18972View attachment 18973
Tuesday - travel and arrival day:
It was a giant non issue flying with firearms. We check them in at Southwest at Logan, the TSA guy wished us luck. Upon arrival in St. Louis, they had our firearms in a separate location, we just showed our tags and were off. I should put a firearm in all my luggage to avoid the lines. Temperatures tuesday were brutal 101, with a head index of 117. Sparta is a little town of 3500 people we stayed about 30 miles away in the deluxe accommodations of the Super 8 motel. They were nice, clean and the air conditioning was a life saver.
Wednesday - Opening day
Our team of five were divided into two squads. We had the great fortune to be matched up with a squad from South Carolina, the two time defending champs who went on to win again this year. They were intense and some of the nicest people you could meet. Once they determined we were not a threat, they started giving our kids advice. They approached each station and conferenced on choke and shot selection. They all had a skeet, IC and light mod chokes in a holster type device on their belts. After seeing a clay they decided which target to use #8 and which to use #9. They shot like the champions that they are.
We had some time to kill in the vendor pavilion, with store fronts from Beretta, Browning, Winchester, Bob Allen and others. They we scored some pins and hats and ogled the shotguns. That evening was the opening ceremony, where we marched in carrying the MA State flag. There were a total of 1500 youth athletes, representing 42 states, with no representation from ME, NH, VT or RI. We did take a bit of a ribbing about 'you can have guns in MA?' but it was all good natured.
Thursday - second 100 sporting clays
The temps were in the high 80's and everyone said how lucky we were with the weather. We shot our second 100 sporting clays and were continued to be amazed by the SC team. The three man squad ended up finishing each in the 180's out of 200 targets, winning the event in a shoot off.
Friday - 100 skeet morning, 100 trap afternoon
The temps remained in the 80's and we again were split into two squad for skeet. Again it was easy to pick out the kids who were skeet'ers vs trap'ers. One kid on my son's squad shot a 99/100. In the afternoon it was finally off to the trap field, our main event. There are 130 trap field in a row, the curvature of the earth prevents you from seeing them all. It was nice to shoot with out the pressure having to hurry. Our team shot well with a 97, 96, 96, 94, and 92. Four kids from other teams racked up perfect 100's. We went off to the Winchester store to get AA 25 and 50 straight patches which they gladly handed out.
Saturday - second 100 skeet and 100 trap
Here came the heat, low 90's but it felt worse. Our kids did OK at skeet but were starting to wear down. In the afternoon back to the trap field where they dropped a couple more than usual but some members stepped up to fill the gap. The team ended up with a 939/1000 good for 16th place out of 52 teams. One athlete shot a 194/200 for 34th place, a 189/200 was good for 103th place out of the 560 contestants in Varsity class. The winning team shot 979/1000!
After shooting we went to the main building to meet Larry Potterfield of Midway USA. Mr Potterfield gave our team a generous grant and contributes hundreds of thousand of dollars to youth shooting. A real nice down to earth guy who gives a damn.
That evening we ran into some very nice people from Alaska, they brought 3 squads, 15 kids. They have been staying at the same hotel as we did, we met them last year. As the kids played the second annual MA vs Alaska beach volleyball game (MA won to tie the series at 1-1) we dreamed of taking them up on their invite to go up and shoot with them.
All in all it was a great event. We need more representation from the North East! Go if you can!
View attachment 18972View attachment 18973
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