Welcome the South’s competitive clay shooting
environment. The
weekend of the Alabama State Championships was perfect.
I mention perfect because a few of the scores shot this
weekend were near perfect.
Wayne Mitchell of LIMESTONE HUNTING PRESERVE
and SPORTING CLAYS provided shooters with great southern
hospitality, comfort, and quality targets.
Chuck Frazier of North Carolina provided the
target setting that would bless some and frustrate others.
The weekend started with Friday’s preliminary
event. Tre’
Sides would best the rest of the shooting field by 8
targets. Tre’
shot an impressive 99x100 to get things going.
WOW!! Friday
also had the first shoot-off on the ESPN game set up by Jim
Riggs. The
shoot off would prove to be as exciting as the pre-lim.
With the top 8 shooters of day ready to compete in the
shoot-off, the automatic trapper would be set to release targets
at 2.5 second intervals. This
was dropped from the 3.5 qualifying rounds.
Jamie Riggs of Nashville, TN. would draw Tre’
Sides in the second round and the fireworks began.
Jamie is the only woman to date to qualify and be
extended and invitation to shoot in the GREAT OUTDOOR GAMES
on ESPN this summer. Tre’
is experienced in this format and has won on the OUTDOOR GAMES
in the past. So
here they go, after the 3 mandatory rounds both competitors were
still tied. Then came the sudden death rounds, the auto trapper would be
set to release targets at 2-second intervals.
Tre' and Jamie shot and again were tied.
The tension grew, Tre’ could sense that Jamie was
getting into a rhythm, Tre’ stepped backed to get more shells.
That was all it took.
Tre’ distracted Jamie enough to best her by one target
on the next round. That
would advance Tre’ to the final round against fellow Alabama
resident Richard Patty.
With the auto trapper set at 2.5-second
intervals, Tre' and Richard began.
ompetitors
were perfect past two rounds, the third round would have Richard
with a Score of 4x5, and Tre ‘would shoot last, with the money
on the line, Tre’ would shoot 4x5, breaking the fourth target
from the hip. TIED!
But wait, they left judge would call the last target out of
bounds. Richard
Patty would be Friday’s Champion.
Awesome shoot-offs, showmanship, competitive edge and
incredible gun handling.
Saturday would bring new shooters to northern
Alabama along with renewed hopes of greatness.
The weather would cooperate with plenty of sun, however
old man North Wind would howl and blow all day.
There would be three rotations on Saturday and Sunday,
with shooters changing rotations each day. The FITASC event would kick into high gear as well.
The FITASC event was a TEAM USA qualifier.
After the wind had died on Saturday and dust settled, Wendell
Cherry would be sitting in the driver’s seat; he would
post 98x100 to lead all shooters going into Sunday.
Saturday night would bring out the live music under the
main tent as well as pizza for all to eat.
While all were getting fed and enjoying a little southern
hospitality, there were 12 shooters getting ready for two
different shoot-offs. To the West of tent the ESPN game would be shot off and to
the East, the SNOOKER game would be shot off.
First let me describe the Jamie Riggs show that
occurred on the ESPN game:
Saturday was definitely Ladies Night, and on this night
Jamie would show all in attendance why she had qualified for the
Great Outdoor Games. She
quickly defeated all shooters who would step into her game.
Next we would witness the great shooting of
eight individuals as they shot off on the Snooker challenge.
All day Friday and Saturday shooters had shot this game
to qualify for Saturday’s shoot-off; the money in the pot was
high. The winner
would have to make his way through the brackets without getting
beat. Richard Patty would rise to the top on this night as he had
the night before on the ESPN game.
The final round of Snooker would pit Richard against a
local favorite, Jeff Boyken.
Richard and Jeff would go through the mandatory rounds
with Richard obtaining a good lead.
Then in the last four frames, Jeff was forced to shoot
the more difficult targets to catch up.
The distance would prove to be too great, as Richard
would continue to score points.
More awesome competition!!
Sunday would bring a cool soothing breeze with
sunny skies and some incredible scores.
In the main event Wendell Cherry would shoot a 94x100
giving him a weekend total of 192x200. A tough score to best on any course!
Remember how I mentioned that this was a perfect
weekend? Well, here it comes again!
Tre’ Sides would post a 99x100 on Sunday to and a two
day total of 193x200 to best Wendell on the Sporting Clays
course. Both
shooters were as incredible on the two main event courses as the
weather was all weekend. While
Wendell was bested on the sporting courses, he was not to be
denied on the FITASC course.
Wendell would best the field by 6 targets to win this
qualifying event, again proving why he is on both Team USA
squads.
With all the champions crowned, the weekend of
beautiful weather and great shooting finally came to an end.
All would leave Wayne’s place having experienced
LIMESTONE’S great facilities.
A true shooter’s facility with a great staff and plenty
of local shooters to join if you are ever in the area.
For all the results go to http://www.bamaclays.com/
George Briscoe II
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