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Krieghoff Challenge
Pennsylvania State Shoot

Elysburg, May 23, 2012: PSSA is pleased to announce that Krieghoff has agreed to continue its sponsorship of the Krieghoff Challenge through 2015. This means that an opportunity to win a beautiful K-80 Combo will be available to every participant in the Krieghoff Handicap for the next three years. 

The Krieghoff Challenge has made the Krieghoff Handicap the best attended event at the State Shoot and the PSSA Executive Committee, on behalf of all shooters, wishes to thank Dieter Krieghoff and Krieghoff Inc. for their generosity and outstanding support of trapshooting. We also are appreciative of the efforts of John Allem and Allem's Guncraft in making this opportunity possible for the State Shoot participants.

2005 State Shoot (First Year)
Mike Johnson

2006 State Shoot (Second Year)
Jacob Koons, Hegins, PA

2007 State Shoot (Third Year)
Devi Ruthod

2008 State Shoot (Fourth Year)
Larry Shade, Hamburg, PA

2009 State Shoot (Fifth Year)
Allen Peed ,Hughesville, MD

2010 State Shoot (Sixth Year)
John Spangler, Irwin, PA

2011 State Shoot (Seventh Year)
Harold Burkholder, Chambers, PA

2012 Keystone Open
May 18-20, 2011

Perfect Shooting Weather.
Debbie Neilson Ohye wins HOA for
second straight year.

Elysburg, PA, May 20, 2012: Debbie Ohye owns this shoot. After winning 9 trophies last year she won 8 more this year, including the HOA and the singles with 200 straight. Last year she also won the HOA championship with 781x800. She won the May Singles with 100 straight to bring her singles total to 300x300. The HAA title went to Antonio Lobo of Easton, CT with a 388x400. Jay Griesemer (right) of Lansdale won the Handicap crown with a field high 98x100. Francis Myers of Edinboro won the doubles with a field high 99x100. Donald Neilson won the Preliminary Doubles title with a 100 straight. Ken Darroch also broke the hundred in the event. Justin Slater of Phelps, NY won the May Doubles with a field high of 99x100. Continue here.

2012 PSSA Shoot Program
PSSA Pre-squadding Forms
April 2, 2012

Elysburg, PA: Click here for a digital copy of the 2012 PSSA shoot program. Also list below are the pre-squadding forms for all four PSSA sponsored at Elysburg for 2012. Each form has the directions for submitting the forms. 

	May 18-20	Keystone Open
	June 9-17	Pennsylvania State Shoot
	June 29-July 1	Pennsylvania Grand
	Sept. 7-9	Westy Hogans
	Directions to Homegrounds
	Camping & Vendors

2012 Southern Grand
March 11-18, 2012

Pennsylvania trapshooters won 37 trophies at the Southern Grand at Odessa, Florida. The event was held from March 11 to March 18, 2012. Cody Davis (left), from Shohola, PA, led state shooters with 9 trophies. Frank Pascoe, an All American from New Castle, won 5 times, including winning the championship title in Wednesday's Handicap. Continue here.

PSSA Lawsuit vs Valley G&CC
March 2, 2012

For Immediate Release

The Pennsylvania State Sportsmen’s Association (PSSA) commenced a lawsuit on March 28, 2011 against the Valley Gun & Country Club (VGCC) and its officers. After the filing of Preliminary Objections by the Defendant, VGCC, there were briefs filed by both parties and oral arguments were heard in front of Judge William Harvey Wiest in the Court of Common Pleas of Northumberland County, PA on October 4, 2011

On February 3, 2012 Judge Wiest issued his Order refusing to dismiss the lawsuit and ruled that the PSSA has stated a meritorious claim against VGCC and its officers.

Now with the Order issued, the lawsuit can move forward to the discovery phase in preparation for trial. When asked about the Order, PSSA President, Michael Schuler, indicated that he was “certainly pleased”.

“We would never have brought the lawsuit” said Mr. Schuler, “if we did not believe it to have merit. The PSSA feels vindicated that the court agrees with us”. Mr. Schuler further expressed his hope that after this ruling the VGCC will cease this time-consuming and expensive litigation and work with the PSSA to promptly fulfill the terms of the Agreement the parties signed in 1995. “That”, said Mr. Schuler, “will benefit everyone, not just the parties to the lawsuit, but the entire community”.  Release on PDF file.

2012 PSSA Club Shoot Calendar

Click here to take you to the bottom of the page for the PSSA club shoot calendar. The calendar is now prepared for the 2012 shooting season. Club officers can now place their shoot on this special calendar. Here are the directions for placing info on the calendar.

Historical Fact
"Who was Joe Hiestand"
December 27, 2011

Joe Hiestand is a Hall of Fame shooter and many think he was the greatest trapshooter of all time. He won many of the greatest trapshooting events of his era and many, many silver awards during the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s.

He won 5 Clay Target titles, 4 Doubles Target titles, 5 All Around titles and 7 High Over All titles at the Grand American. And dozens and dozens of lesser awards at the Grand American. He won 33 Ohio State Championships. At one stretch he broke over 1000 straight clay targets. He was selected to 21 All American Teams, most selected by Jimmy Robinson when only 7-10 were selected per year with no second teams.

All of his silver trophies were stolen in a 1960's robbery.  Police are certain that all were immediately melted down for scrap silver  To my knowledge the Trapshooting Hall of Fame in Vandalia, Ohio does not have any Hiestand silver trophies simply because they were all stolen. Hiestand did donate many other artifacts to the museum including a large collection of vintage shell box's.

He was a university chemistry professor and served in the Ohio state legislature. His classroom was under siege during the college Vietnam riots in the late 1960's. During WWII was a gunnery training officer, teaching hundreds of pilots in gunnery during World War II. He died in 2004 at the age of 97. It was my privilege to speak to him on several occasions and earn his friendship. He wrote for Trap/Field for many years and is an ATA Hall of Fame inductee. He was known to shoot pigeons in Pennsylvania on a number of occasions.  

2012 All American Teams
November 25, 2011

Ian and Joseph Recla Sub-Junior & Junior All Americans
Frank Little and Carolyn Elliott, both PA Hall of Famers, lead the state with 13 lifetime selections in Pennsylvania. Little was selected to 33 teams overall.          Photographs colorized from b/w to color by Hamilton Web Design

Stephanie Sandler of New Ringgold, Ian Recla of Mahanoy Plane, Sheldon Hostetter of Lebanon, James Blevins of Gettysburg and Richard Hamilton of Fleetwood all earned first team women, sub-junior, veteran and chair  selections. Stephanie has now earned 10 selections. Hostetter was again named to the vet first team, his fifth straight such selection. Sheldon was a men's second team selection back in 2006. Ian Recla and Hamilton were making their first selections. Stephanie has been selected to 8 women's All American first teams, one women's second team plus one first team sub-junior award. For Hamilton, it was his first selection after 50 years of trapshooting, including the last 46 years shooting ATA targets. For Blevins, this was his fourth selection. He was selected to the vet teams back in 2007, 2008 and 2011.

Frank Pascoe of New Castle was selected to the men's second team and  has been selected seven times, the first back in 2001. Charles Bennett Jr. (left) of Montrose was selected to the junior second team, his first selection. Joseph Recla of Mahanoy Plane also was selected the junior second team, also his first selection. Both Joseph and Ian are brothers.

Ian Fleming (right) of Manor made the team for the first time, as a second team sub-junior. Cord Kisthardt of Hummelstown made the team for the second straight year, this time as a junior second team selection.

William Hazlett of Sarver was selected to the vet first team. Hazlett won the Grand American Handicap back in 1980. Philip Criado of Franklin made his third All American team appearance being selected to the vet second team. This was his second selection. Ralph Challingsworth of Kersey was a second team selection. Ralph has been selected for the senior vet team three straight years, from 2010 to 2012.  
Click here for story and photographs.

2012 Pennsylvania All State Teams
November 19, 2011

Elysburg, 11/19/2011: The PSSA would like to announce their official 2012 All State Teams. This is the 39^th year the PSSA has honored the best shooters in Pennsylvania. Both Joel Etchen (3^rd) and Stephanie Sandler (7^th) retained their captains positions from last year. Etchen has been selected to twenty all state teams, Sandler twelve. For the second straight year Sandler has led the state in composite averages, including singles, handicap and doubles. She is the only women to lead state composite averages. Other team captains include senior vet Vic Ameye for the first time, Junior Cord Kisthardt for the first time and Vet Sheldon Hostetter for the third time. State Hall of Famer Anna Mae Eberle  has been selected to 36 all state teams, last being selected in 2009. Stephen Ollock and Ken Darroch were selected for the 21^st time, joining Emerson Bornmon as the most selections for men. All three men are also state Hall of Famers. Lisa Long was selected for the 18^th time. Bruce Malone was selected for the 17^th time while Steve Huber and Frank Pascoe were selected for the 16^th time. Genevieve Davis has 15 selections.

2012 Men's All State Team

2012 Women's All State Team

2012 Vet All State Team

2012 Senior Vet All State Team

2012 Junior/Sub-Junior All State Team

  2011 State High Average Leaders
October 29, 2011

The PSSA has released the 2011 high average award winners for the 2011 target year. Andrew Zborovsky of Trafford, PA led the men's singles averages with an average of .9884 on 3400 singles targets. This was the 4th time in the last 5 years that Andrew has led the state in singles average. Sean Bardell of Bedford led the state in men's handicap averages with an average of .9229 on 2400 handicap targets. This was his first appearance on the leader board. Ken Darroch led the state men's doubles averages with a .9664 average on 2800 doubles targets. This was the state record 12th time Ken led the state in doubles averages. Stephanie Sandler led the state women in singles averages for the 5th time with a .9805 average on 3900 singles targets. Casey Inks, a junior shooter from Waterford, led the state women in handicap averages with a .9146 handicap average on 2400 handicap targets. This was her first appearance on the leader board. Stephanie Sandler also led the state women in doubles averages with a .9632 average on 2800 doubles targets. This was her 10th straight year leading the women in doubles averages.    

 2012 PSSA Southwestern Zone Shoot
West Penn Gun Club
September 24-25, 2011

Ian Fleming	Larry Bertolino	Jack Aldridge

JACK ALDRIDGE WINS TROPHIES IN 
ALL FOUR EVENTS

Ian Fleming broke a 197 to secure the PSSA Southwestern Zone singles title. Larry Bertolino bested Earl Fairman Jr. for the handicap crown after both broke 94's. Bart Walker broke a field high 94 to win the twin bird title. Jack Aldridge won the HAA with 381x400. He also finished with the AA awards in the singles and handicap events and placed third in the handicap. Pamela Walker won the ladies singles while Patricia Sartoris won the ladies handicap. Tina Boland took the ladies doubles trophy home. 52 gunners shot the singles while 53 participated in the handicap. The doubles entry was 34.
Results

 2012 PSSA Southeastern Zone Shoot
South End Gun Club
September 24-25, 2011

Lisa Long	Glenn Kelly	Sheldon Hostetter

Glenn Kelly became the third gunner this year to win the zone singles championship with a lone 200x200 when he won the PSSA Southeastern singles title. Joe Pascoe (NW) and Roger Herb (NE) also won singles titles with lone 200's. Jack Jabs won the handicap title with a field high 97x100 while Sheldon Hostetter won the doubles with a field high 98, 4 targets ahead of runner-up Donald Feeg. Dennis Cacciola won the HAA with 382x400. Tammy Van Blargan Hensel won the ladies singles while Lisa Long won the ladies handicap and doubles. 60 gunners shot the singles while 61 participated in the handicap. The doubles entry was 35.
Results

 2012 PSSA Northwestern Zone Shoot
Bradford Gun Club
September 24-25, 2011

Casey Inks	Joe Pascoe	Frank Pascoe

PASCOE FAMILY WIN 10 AWARDS
CASEY INKS WINS TWO LADIES TITLES

Joe Pascoe broke a field high 200 straight to win the 2011 PSSA Northwestern Zone singles title. Joe than broke a 96x100 to win the doubles crown over his father Frank when the elder Pascoe missed the last target in the first round to tie and Joe put him away in the second round. Frank Pascoe didn't go away empty handed however. He won the handicap with a field high 98x100 and took the HAA with a 390x400. Casey Inks won the ladies singles with a 197 while Belinda Pascoe won the ladies doubles with 97. Inks also won the ladies handicap with a 90x100. 56 gunners shot the singles while 53 participated in the handicap. The doubles entry was 42.
Results

2012 PSSA Northeastern Zone Shoot
Valley Gun & Country Club
September 24-25, 2011

Roger Herb	Steve Huber	Joseph Recla

Roger Herb broke a field high 200x200 to win the PSSA Northeastern Zone singles title. Steve Huber's 96x100 wins the doubles crown while Joseph Recla broke a field high 96x100 to win top honors in the distance handicap event. Huber also won the HAA with 388x400. Susan Owens won the ladies singles title with 192 while Genevieve Davis won the ladies doubles with 91x100. Irene Patterson won the women's handicap crown with 91x100. 109 gunners shot the singles while 110 participated in the handicap. The doubles entry was 72.
Results

2011 Grand American
August 3-13, 2011

Sparta, IL, August 5, 2011: Pennsylvania produced two winning teams in the National Team Races on August 5th, which included 100 singles, 100 handicap and 100 doubles shot on that day. The "Men's Team" finished runner-up with 1461x1500. Leading the way was Donald Neilson (right) with a 295x300. Joel Etchen and Steve Huber broke 292x300 and Cody Davis and Frank Pascoe broke 291x300. Minnesota defended their championship from last year with 1473x1500. The "Senior Vet Team" of Ralph Challingsworth, James Blevins and Robert LeFever finished runner-up in the Sr. Vet category with 852x900, one target behind the winning team from Missouri. Blevins led the team with 286x300.

Sparta, IL, August 6, 2011: Steve Huber (left) broke a field high 100x100 from 27 yards to win the Krieghoff Handicap at the 2011 Grand American. The score, his first perfect hundred in handicap, placed Steve in the Grand Slam Club of having career high's of 200x200 in singles and 100x100 in doubles and handicap. Other PA shooters include the late Mel Krepps, Terry Rottman, Joe Pascoe, Dan DeDionisio, Ken Darroch and Joel Etchen. PA Grand Slam Winners

Sparta, IL, August 7, 2011: Stephanie Sandler (right) won 4 HOA-HAA awards at the conclusion of the Preliminary Days at the Grand American. She was ladies runner-up in the White Flyer Preliminary HOA on 1000 targets, runner-up in the Preliminary HAA and runner-up in the Browning Super 400 Doubles. She finished third in the White Flyer Super 400 Handicap. Stephanie now has 7 trophies and counting. Steve Huber finished runner-up in the Preliminary Days HAA with a 398x400. Pennsylvania now has 37 awards on settled events. Cody Davis has walked away with 6 trophies so far including Class AA winner in the Rio Ammo Doubles, the EZ-GO Doubles and the Sparta Doubles.

Sparta, IL, August 8, 2011: Cody Davis of Shohola, PA won his 7th trophy at the 2011 Grand American as Championship Week kicked off with the massive Class Singles Championship. Cody (left) was the only state shooter to record a win in the event. 2109 shooters took the line for the event, up from 1674 last year, a 21% increase. Cody smashed a perfect 200x200 to finish third in the Class AA category. His trophy comes with a caveat. He will be shooting AAA in the singles championship on Wednesday.

Sparta, IL, August 9, 2011: Pennsylvania shooters won five trophies in the Class Doubles event on Tuesday. They dominated Class AA with Ken Darroch winning to top prize while Donald Schaffer Jr (right) finished second and Steve Huber third, all with perfect 100's. Michael Pintirsch won the top award in Class B with a 99 while Doug Worrell took third place in the same class with a 98. Todd Klikus and Susan Owens won awards in the Anzaldi Memorial Presidents Handicap.

Sparta, IL, August 10, 2011: Elysburg regular Robert Malmstedt (left) of Somerville, NJ won the 2011 ATA Clay Target Championship with a perfect 200x200. Robert has won many awards at Elysburg over the years and can be seen at all the major shoots at Elysburg. Donald Schaffer Jr of Newtown, PA, broke a 199x200 to nail down fourth place in Class AA. The previous day Donald broke a 100x100 in the doubles class championship and finished second in Class AA. Ian Recla broke a 196 to win the Zone Sub-Junior Champion/Champions race, which was run concurrent with the Clay Target Championship. Kay Ohye, another Elysburg regular, finished second in the Senior Vet race with 200x200.

Sparta, IL, August 11, 2011: Thursday was Champion/Champions day at the Grand American. Philip Criado (right) of Franklin, PA broke 100x100 to win the Vet title. He became the fourth PA resident to capture the vet award. Other winners include Robert Whitehead (1995), David George (1987) and Bud Garman (1986). Last year Frank Pascoe won the Men's C/C. This year's winner is still undecided. Stephanie Sandler won her second doubles award, winning the top ladies trophy with a 98x100 in the Gibson-Ricketts Doubles. Last week she won the Wenig Doubles with a 99x100. Ben Clepper of Freeport broke 97x100 in the Crow Shooting Supply Handicap to win the 25-26 yard trophy.

Sparta, IL, August 12, 2011: Cody Davis won his 8th trophy of the 2011 Grand American when he broke a 100x100 in the Doubles championship and finished with the Class AA top award. Donna Natcher broke a 95 and took 5th place in Class D while Jim Blevins (left) smashed a 98x100 to win the senior-vet runner-up prize. It was his third GAH trophy this year. Jim is a three time All American. He has also been selected to 9 All State Teams. 

Sparta, IL, August 13, 2011: On the final day, the Grand American Handicap highlights the day and the entire shoot. Only one state gunner came away with an award. Tony Nunes (right) of Sinking Spring finished 15th in the Grand American Handicap when he carded a 98x100 in the big event. The Preliminary Handicap on Friday actually had more shooters. No state gunners finished in the HAA and the HOA standings. We ended with 69 trophies with Stephanie Sandler winning ten times, Cody Davis had 8 wins, Steve Huber had 5 wins while Tyler Nuns and Ian Recla each had four.

Week 1 scores and photographs.

Week 2 scores and photographs.

All Major Winners, 1900-2011.

Alphabetical List of All 2011 GAH Winners.

List of All 2011 GAH Winners By States.

All 2011 GAH Results By Events.

USA Shooting Nominates Josh Richmond
 to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team
July 26, 2011

USA Shooting is proud to announce that Staff Sergeant Josh Richmond (Hillsgrove, Pa.) has qualified for a nomination to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team pending approval by the United States Olympic Committee. Josh was a Pennsylvania All State team junior selection in 2002, 2003 and captain in 2004. He won the sub-junior state singles championship in 2002. Upon approval, Richmond will be competing in his first-ever Olympic Games in London 2012 as a Men’s Double Trap athlete. At just 25 years old, Staff Sgt. Richmond has dominated the international scene since clinching the World Championship title in 2010. USA Shooting would like to congratulate Staff Sgt. Josh Richmond on his 2012 Olympic nomination, wish him success at his first Olympic Games and thank him for proudly serving our country. (Photo courtesy of USA Shooting.) 
More

  PSSA Records Manual
August 24, 2011

Who has the highest doubles average for a single year? Who won the most state singles titles in state history? What lady has won the most state women's singles titles? Who had the first 99% singles average in Penna. Who has the highest HAA score at the PA state shoot? He did it twice! What two shooters have won 11 HOA titles? Who won the most junior and sub junior state singles titles? Who has been selected to the most all state teams, men and women? Who shot the most singles targets in one year and how many? Click here for the latest edition of the PSSA Trapshooting Records Manual, recently updated.

2011 Hall of Fame, Trapshooter of the Year
Application Forms
July 26, 2011

The Trapshooting HOF would like to make their HOF induction and Trapshooter of the Year forms available for our shooters. Please fill out forms correctly and mail to the name of the person listed on the form. Please note the deadlines. The forms are available for download with the links listed below. Any questions should be directed to HOF chairman Joel Etchen. 

2011 ATA Eastern Zone Shoot
Elysburg, PA
July 21-24, 2011

Elysburg, PA, July 24, 2011: Well the hottest ATA Eastern Zone Shoot is now in the books. Thursday saw the thermometer rise to 103 but Friday was a historic day indeed. 106 degrees with a 131 degree heat index. The name should have been changed to the Sahara Open. Saturday and Sunday to temperature dropped to the mid 90's. It took a lady to show us all how to shoot in all this heat. Elizabeth Evering (left) of Joppa, Maryland, shooting from 23.5 yards, smashed 100 straight to win the Handicap title. It was the 6th perfect score to win the Zone title. She became the third woman to wear the crown. Also on Sunday, Michael Blaisdell (right) of Keene, NH broke the only perfect score in the doubles championship, with a field high 100x100. It was his first. Back in 2005 he and Brian Whalen locked up in a historic 575 target shoot-off for the zone singles title. Michael won that one also. On Saturday David Shaeffer Jr. of Glyndon, Maryland won his second straight singles crown with 200. He won over David Proper and Brad Heath. He became only the third shooter to defend his singles title. The last was Frank Little back in 1972 and 1973. Blaisdell won his second HAA title with 392, one better than Brad Heath while Chris Vendel won his third HOA title, ten targets more than Debbie Ohye Neilson, who finished second. Stephanie Sandler won four of the five major ladies titles including Singles, Doubles, HAA and HOA. 
Full Results.

39th Annual PA Grand
July 1-3, 2011

Elysburg, PA, July 4, 2011: New York's Brad Heath (left) captured 3 of the 5 major titles at the 2011 PA Grand held under a blazing, hot sun from July 1-3, 2011. Heath captured the doubles title with a 99 and a shootoff victory over runner-up Robert Malmstedt of New Jersey. Both broke 99. Brad than went on to capture the HAA and HOA crowns. His HAA is his second straight and his HOA was his 4th straight.  Another Empire State gunner Chris Vendel won the singles crown with 200 straight on Saturday, outlasting PA State Champion John Paul Manetta III and third place finisher Greg Smith of Rhode Island. James Youd of Indiana, PA won the handicap title with a field high 98. Debbie Ohye Neilson won the ladies singles, handicap and HAA while Stephanie Sandler won the ladies doubles. Full Story

2012 PSSA Shoot Dates
PSSA Home Grounds
Elysburg, PA

Four your advanced planning we have listed the 2012 PSSA shoot dates at Elysburg.
Keystone Open	May 18-20, 2012
Colonial Classic	June 9-10, 2012
PA State Shoot	June 11-17, 2012
PA Grand	June 29 - July 1, 2012
Westy Hogans	Sept. 7- 9, 2012

2011 Pennsylvania State Shoot
Elysburg, PA
June 11-19, 2011

Elysburg, PA, May 19, 2011: Merle Gommer of Hanover Twp, PA won the 2011 PA state handicap championship with a state high 97x100. For Gommer, it was his first major title at Elysburg. John Manetta II (left) won the state singles title with 200 and than won the HAA title. He was also the AAA doubles winner on Friday. John II has been selected to two state men's teams. His father John was an 11 time all state selection while mother Nanci was selected for 4 ladies teams. Brian Shyda of Lebanon won the state twin bird crown with a state high 99x100. Frank Pascoe won the HOA title. This was his third HOA and his sixth major state championship. Stephanie Sandler won 19 state trophies during the 9 day shoot. Laura Spiridon won the ladies doubles crown, Joyce Marsh (right) won the ladies handicap crown while Sandler took the ladies singles title and the ladies HOA and HAA titles. Stephanie has now won 21 major ladies state titles including eight straight HOA ladies titles. Full Story 

2011 Keystone Open
May 13-15, 2001

Elysburg, PA, May 16, 2011: The 21^st annual Keystone Open was again contested with rain and threatening weather for the entire three-day event. The trophy list includes winners from eleven states. Justin Slater (left) of Phelps, NY broke 200 to win the singles title. All American Frank Pascoe won the handicap title with a field high of 99x100 and James Johnson of Belle Vernon, PA broke a perfect 100 to take the doubles crown. All American Debbie Ohye Neilson (right) trophied in every event and won the HOA title while Pascoe broke 394x400 championship targets to win the HAA. He won the HOA in 2006. Debbie became the first women to win a major title at the Keystone Open. Paul Cerney of Glenshaw, PA won the Shriners “Grand” Option. All American James Blevins took home five senior vet awards while John Minjock won five vet awards. All American Stephanie Sandler took home six awards including the championship award in the Preliminary Doubles with a field high 99x100.
All Winners

2011 ATA Eastern Zone Shoot
Elysburg, July 21-24, 2011

The PSSA will host the 2011 ATA Eastern Zone Shoot at the PSSA home grounds in Elysburg, PA from July 21-24, 2011. The Eastern Zone will award $18,950 in added money and trophies. 227 trophies will be awarded including 50 ATA trophies. Make your plans early for any RV spots and local motels. Pre-squadding directions are on page 26 and 27 of the official program.

2011 Official Program

Directions to Homegrounds

Camping & Vendors

Past Champions

Local Motels

Statement of Position by the PSSA
March 29, 2011

Elysburg, PA: The Pennsylvania State Sportsmen’s Association (PSSA) has, regrettably, recently commenced legal action against the Valley Gun & Country Club (VGCC) and its officers. This action in equity was filed in the Northumberland County Court of Common Pleas. This action primarily seeks “quiet title” to certain land and specific performance on certain provisions of an Agreement (the Agreement) dated January 18,1995 between PSSA and VGCC. This action was initiated after lengthy negotiations between the parties failed to accomplish the transfer by the VGCC of the land that they had agreed to convey, despite their accepting payment year after year from the PSSA.
Full Text of Statement

Old Gun and Powder Advertising
January 7, 2011

Back in the day the basic method of advertising one's product was by print. Today it's radio and TV with some magazine and newspaper advertisements. That means a company would have to set up their advertising words and their graphics and take them to a media source such as a magazine journal, such as Sporting Life, The American Field, The Sportsmen's Review, a newspaper or a print shop where their advertisement was printed and placed in public locations like stores. The three main kinds of advertising that found their way into stores were posters, calendars and die cuts. They even produced tin advertising with lithograph art on them More.

2011 All American Teams
November 17, 2010

Cody Davis Named Captain of 2011
Junior All American Team.

Cody Davis (right) of Shohola became the 17th Pennsylvanian to be selected as captain of one of the All American teams. He is the 2011 Junior Captain. The other junior captain was Joe Pascoe in 2003. David George leads the state with four captain selections, twice as a senior vet and twice as a vet. 

Stephanie Sandler of New Ringgold, Laura Spiridon of Warren, Cody Davis of Shohola and Sheldon Hostetter of Lebanon all earned first team women, junior and veteran selections. Stephanie has now earned 9 selections while this was the first selection for Laura. Cody made his 6th selection, all in a row from 2006 to 2011. Hostetter was again named to the Vet First Team, his fourth straight such selection. Sheldon was a men's second team selection back in 2006. Cody was selected to 3 sub-junior teams and now three times as a junior. Stephanie has been selected to 7 Women's All American first teams, one women's second team plus one first team sub-junior award.

Frank Pascoe, selected to the Men's Second team, has been selected six times, the first back in 2001. Cord Kisthardt was selected to the Junior Second Team, his first selection.

Dylan Darhower of Mechanicsburg was selected to Junior second team, his third All American team selection. He earned his way on the Sub-Junior first team in 2009. Kay Lynn Hamilton Bornman of Oley was selected to her third Women's All American team, all second team selections and her first since 2007. KayLynn was also honored in 2004 and 2006.

Philip Criado of Franklin made his second All American team appearance being selected to the Vet Second Team. William Hazlett of Sarver was selected to the Vet Second Team. Hazlett won the Grand American Handicap back in 1980. This was his first selection. Ralph Challingsworth of Kersey and James Blevins of Gettysburg both made the Senior Vet second teams. For Blevins, this was his third selection. He was selected to the Vet teams back in 2007 and 2008. Ralph has been selected for the Senior Vet team twice, in 2010 and this year. Click here for complete story and photographs.

  2011 Pennsylvania All State Teams
2010 High Average Leaders
November 9, 2010
Will Become Permanent of Nov. 23, 2010


Stephanie Sandler Led State in Composite Ave.
Another First For Stephanie

Elysburg, PA, 11/09/2010: The PSSA has announced their 2011 Trapshooting All State Teams, based on performance from the 2010 shooting season. This is  the 38th All State Team. Stephanie Sandler led all shooters in the state with a composite average of .9498. Second was the men's captain Joel Etchen with a composite of .9494. The team captains include Sandler (7^th), Etchen (2^nd), Sheldon Hostetter (2^nd), John Allem (3^rd) and Dylan Darhower (1^st). Frank Pascoe led the state in singles averages with .9872 while Laura Spiridon led the ladies with .9743. Both Pascoe and Spiridon led the state for the first time. Glenn Lash (left) led the state men in handicap averages for the seventh time with a .9238 average. Sandler led the ladies for the fourth year in a row with a .9282 average. Sandler also led the state women in doubles averages for the ninth consecutive year with a .9543 average. Etchen led the state men for the fourth time with a .9614 average. Emerson Bornman was selected to his 21st men's state team, a state record for men. Anna Mae Eberle leads the state ladies with 36 selections. She last made the team in 2009. They will become permanent in two weeks if no changes are made. Email average changes or questions to Richard Hamilton or Chuck Fritzges.
Click here for more information and photographs.

2011 Year PSSA Southwestern Zone
Sept. 25-26-2010

Ruffsdale, PA, The Ruffsdale Gun club hosted the first PSSA Southwestern Zone shoot on Sept. 25-26, 2010. At its 2009 annual membership meeting the PSSA agreed to increase the number of zones from 2 to 4. The Ruffsdale Gun club was selected to host this Southwest Zone Shoot. Paul Harvey (left) broke a 199x200 to win the singles title. Donna Natcher won the ladies title. Ken Darroch (right) of New Castle won the doubles title with an in state field high 98. Natcher also won the ladies crown. Van Black (left) won the handicap title with a 95 and a 24x25 in a shootoff with runner-up Michael Sutton. Pauline Belak-Snook took the ladies handicap title. Black also won the HAA with a 388x400. His HAA score was also the highest of all four PSSA zone shoots this weekend.
Results

 2011 Year PSSA Northwestern Zone
Sept. 25-26-2010

Bradford, PA, The Bradford Gun Club was the host of the initial Pa State Sportsmen’s Association (PSSA) Northwest Zone Shoot this past weekend. At its 2009 annual membership meeting the PSSA agreed to increase the number of zones from 2 to 4. The Bradford Gun club was selected to host this Northwest Zone Shoot. Windy conditions on Saturday kept most scores low, but Sunday’s calm weather resulted in a number of outstanding scores.

Frank Pascoe of New Castle claimed the resident high-all-around trophy with a 384 X 400. Pascoe recorded a 197 X 200 in singles, a 92 X 100 in doubles and a 95 X 100 in the handicap event. In Saturday’s singles event, sub-junior shooter, Zack Johnson, (top, left) from Sugar Grove, had the lone perfect 200 X 200. Zack became the first sub-junior to win a PSSA zone singles title. Charles Austin (right) of Edinboro won the Resident Champion crown in the doubles event with a
95X 100. After a 5 way shootoff Scott Holdren of Philipsburg was named the resident handicap champion. Results

 2011 Year PSSA Northeastern Zone
Sept. 25-26-2010

Elysburg, Pa, Stephen Lechleitner (right) broke a 198 to win the singles title at the Northeastern PSSA Zone Shoot held at the Valley Gun Club in Elysburg. At its 2009 annual membership meeting the PSSA agreed to increase the number of zones from 2 to 4. The Valley Gun club was selected to host this Northeast Zone Shoot. 101 shooters faced the traps for the event. James Lechleitner broke 95 doubles target to win the twin bird event while Ian Recla broke a 97 to win the handicap title. Ian became the first sub-junior to win a zone handicap title. The HAA award went to Steve Huber with a 385x400. Results

 2011 Year PSSA Southeastern Zone
Sept. 25-26-2010

Reading, PA, Tammy Van Blargan Hensel became the first women in PSSA zone shoot history to win the main singles title, breaking a field high 198x200 at South End Gun Club. Tammy also took the ladies titles in the handicap and doubles events. At its 2009 annual membership meeting the PSSA agreed to increase the number of zones from 2 to 4. The South End club was selected to host this Southeast Zone Shoot. Guy Livingston won the handicap title with a 97 from 23 yards while Jim Prendinger smashed 97 doubles targets to win the twin target title. HAA went to Sheldon Hostetter with a 379. Larry Grabowski finished second with 378x400.  Results

 Rain Hinders 2010 Westy Hogan's
September 10-12, 2010

Elysburg, PA: Rain and cold weather was again a factor in the 2010 Westy Hogans. But as expected, another large turn out for this, the

  2010 Grand American
Pennsylvania Trophy Winners
Aug. 3-14, 2010

 

Frank Pascoe
Winner of Champion/Champions
Duplicates fetes of Crothers & Little

Steve Crothers
C/C Champion, 1925, 1931, 1932

Steve Huber
Presidents Handicap Champion

Stephanie Sandler
Winner of 35 GAH trophies since 2008

John Vandine
Winner of 9 trophies.

Ian Darroch
Junior GAH champion.

PENNSYLVANIA GUNNERS BAG 90 TROPHIES DURING 2010 GRAND AMERICAN TOURNAMENT,
 A STATE RECORD.

Frank Pascoe wins Champion/Champions race. Becomes 3rd state resident to win title, first since Frank Little back in 1992. Steve Huber wins Presidents Handicap while Andrew Kormos wins sub-junior title and Cody Davis wins junior title in same event. Sheldon Hostetter takes home Vet title in Class Doubles event.

Sparta, IL, August 14, 2010: Steve Huber wins Presidents Handicap and qualifies for $100,000 shootoff. Frank Pascoe wins Champion of Champions race. Stephanie Sandler wins 35th Grand American Tournament trophy since 2008. With all due respect to all the other great women shooters in the history of Pennsylvania trapshooting, Stephanie is simply  the greatest lady trapshooter in PA history. Junior shooters   John Vandine wins nine times while Cody Davis wins 7 trophies. Sheldon Hostetter wins 6th vet award. Vet Team wins first place in the National team races on Remington Day, events 10, 11 and 12. Ladies Team finish second while Senior Vets finish third. Tyler Nunes breaks 200 to win the sub-junior class singles title. The Recla brothers, Joseph and Ian, combine for 7 awards. Frank Pascoe wins top AAA award in CTC. Frank also wins champion/champions race, only third from PA, joining Steve Crothers (three times) and Frank Little (one time). Ian Pentecost takes home top Class C award in the CTC. Robert Bundy finish's fifth in Blazer Handicap. Ian Darroch wins Class B HAA and junior Grand American Handicap.

Pennsylvania Trophy Winners

Preliminary Days

Championship Week

Final alphabetical listing of 2010 Grand American.

Alphabetical listing of all major GAH events, 1900-2010.

38th Annual PSSA PA Grand
July 2-4, 2010
Elysburg, PA

Elysburg, PA, July 4, 2010:  Paul Brown of Addison, NY broke the only 98 to win the 38th PA Grand Handicap. He was also the only gunner to break the middle 50. Frank Pascoe outshot PA Hall of Famers Sheldon Hostetter and Joel Etchen to win the doubles title with a 99x100. Pascoe won the HOA award back in 2007. Brad Heath (left) won three of the 5 major awards, winning the singles, HAA and the HOA. Brad has now captured three HAA and three HOA titles. He also won the doubles with 100 straight back in 2000. Kate Schmidt (right) had the only ladies 199 to claim the top women's trophy in the singles championship. Debbie Ohye Neilson won a resounding 7 trophies during the three day meet, which featured perfect shooting weather for all three days of the tournament. On the first two days the only clouds in the sky were from the nukes at Berwick. However, the temperature did reach well into the 90's on the final day of the sun drenched tournament.. Results

  2010 PSSA State Shoot
June 12-20, 2010

Elysburg, PA, June 21, 2010:  The 2010 Pennsylvania state shoot is in the books. The highly successful shoot ended on June 21, 2010 when John Spangler won the PA state handicap championship. He also won the Krieghoff challenge earlier in the week. On June 20th Frank Pascoe won his second state singles title and on June 19th Stephanie Sandler (left) became the first women to win the state doubles title. "Doc" Ollock won his first HAA title while Frank Pascoe won his second HOA title.
All Scores

History of ATA Satellite Grand's
December 23, 2008

Today there are ten ATA Satellite Grand's spread all across America. The stated purpose of these shoots was to make Grand American style and trophy  shoots available to ATA members all around the United States. The very first of these shoots, the "Spring Grand," was first held in Arizona in 1977. The newest one is the "Heartland Grand" which started this year. Kay Ohye holds the record with 85 major Satellite Grand titles. Ray Stafford is second with 54 titles. Leo Harrison III is third with 49.

	Alphabetical list of all winners, 1977-2008
	List of winners by year, 1977-2008

Pennsylvania Love Affair with the GAH
Preliminary Handicap
~January 18, 2008~

Over the years Pennsylvania shooters have done exceptionally well in the Preliminary Handicap at the Grand American. Take a look and see who has written their name into the record books, in this, the second largest trapshooting event in the world. Their stunning victories are how legends are made. We salute these extraordinary shooters and their historic accomplishments. Full story

Library of Congress Photo Release
~January 14, 2008~

Be sure to check out these four historical photographs just released by the Library of Congress. The photographs have never been published before showing a very young Ben Higginson and a new photo of Plinky Topperwein. 

Where did the ATA logo come from?

For years I have wondered where the famous ATA logo came from and who designed the logo. It was actually developed between 1919 and 1923 by the old industry administered American Trapshooting Association. I may have part of the answer or possibly just more questions. You decide. Click here for more information.

What's the most famous logo in all of trapshooting? Click here to find out. 

Pennsylvania Legend
~ George Newmaster ~

There was never any other Pennsylvania shoot quite like George Newmaster. He lived in Myerstown for many years after moving from Lebanon. He was inducted into the PA Hall of Fame in June of 1988 and should be an ATA Hall of Famer. He was an 8 time All American including 4 first team Vet selections. He won 3 Westy Hogan Singles and 2 doubles title Asbury Park, NJ. In 1942 he won his most prestigious title, the famed Marshall Singles Marathon with a 497x500. Steve Crothers and Joe Hiestand each won the title five times. Mark Arie and Walter Beaver each won it once. See our 6th in a series of great photographs of Pennsylvania trapshooting immortals.

Pennsylvania's Mr. Trapshooting
~ Elmer Shaner ~

Born during the second year of the Civil War in 1862, Elmer Shaner became one of the greatest figures in the history of American trapshooting. A one room school teacher from Slippery Rock, Shaner died in 1939 destitute in a  Masonic home in Elizabethtown. He left a legacy in trapshooting circles that will be remembered as long as trapshooting is around. He never shot a registered target. See our 5th in a series of great photographs of Pennsylvania trapshooting immortals. 

John Philip Sousa Pennsylvania Connections

John Philip Sousa, the "March King", is a Trapshooting HOF inductee. He shot in Pennsylvania on many occasions and he died in Reading, PA in 1932. See this wonderful photograph in the 4th of a series of old, original photographs in my personal collection. At the time of the photograph he was president of the old American Trapshooting Association. 

Ed Hellyer, 2 Time State Champion

Continuing with our Historic Pennsylvania trapshooting photographs, we have an unpublished photo of Ed Hellyer of New Alexandria, PA. Ed "The Village Miller" Hellyer won or tied for the state Singles Championship three times and was one of the most feared shooters of his time.  

J. A. R. Elliott at Honeybrook, PA

Another in a series of long lost old time trapshooting photographs, this photo shows Trapshooting HOF immortal J.A.R. Elliott shooting clay targets at Honeybrook, PA. The village is located south of Reading on PA Rt.10 in Chester County......... 

Newly Found Photos of Charlie Newcomb

PSSA & ATA Trapshooting Hall of Fame webmaster and historian Richard Hamilton has located some long lost, never published photographs of Charlie Newcomb. He is a Pennsylvania and ATA Hall of fame inductee.