"Summer's End Sporting Clays Shoot" at Silverton Sporting Ranch

Welcome to everyone checking out my Blog! I created it because I love shooting Sporting Clays and have been involved in it one way or another for over 15 years. I have patronized quite a few clubs in the East. Some well known, and some not. Not enough information is reported about Shooting Clubs and what information is reported in various publications, is usually focused upon the larger ones leaving smaller local clubs without much exposure at all unless it is by word of mouth. I am hoping to change that with this Blog.

Smaller Clubs need to be talked about; pictures need to be seen. In today's economy, out of necessity, people are cutting back on travelling long distances like they used to for Shoots, and the local more accessible Clubs will be seeing more and more shooters.

As I shoot locally, at the smaller Clubs, or at the larger more famous ones, I will share my experiences with you in this Blog.

Now for the first Post.......

This past Saturday and Sunday; August 18-19th there was a "Summers' End Sporting Clays Shoot at Silverton Sporting Ranch in Canaan, Maine. Silverton is owned and operated by Denise Murchison. More can be read about Silverton here: http://silvertonranch.blogspot.com/ including a link to Silverton's website.

On Saturday there was a 100 Target NSCA registered shoot and a 48 Target Triples shoot.

It was a "fun shoot," but it was fun shoot that had tournament quality targets! The first four stations presented challenging, thought provoking presentations.

For example; Station number one had a "right-to-left" quartering "away" target. On "report" (approximately 50 yards) was an incoming target that fell to the left!

There was a mixture of "in-your-face" targets: a mixture of speed, distance, and close targets! This was a thinking man's and woman's course!

One of the more unique stations was Station number ten: a combination of shooting station set to the right of the Trap House, and the target presentation was a single rabbit, followed by a trap target; and on "report" a rabbit and a trap target; and finally, two "simo pair" of a rabbit and a trap target! A slow gun wasn't going to find any of these targets at all!!

The wind wreaked havoc with presentations in the open field areas. I had a good squad headed up by Mark Brannon, his friend Tom; Jeff and Sarah St. Pierre. Jeff and Sarah St Pierre run the 5-Stand at the Arnold Trail Club in Sidney, Maine. The fee for the Main Event was $45 with $20 for re-entry; and $25 for the Triples Shoot.

Sunday at Silverton was the Maine State 5-Stand Championship, the Flushing Flurry, and the Long Bird competition. It was a sunny bright day, with no winds at Silverton. The turnout was low, but the action was high, and lots of fun at this competition.

An added touch that I have never seen in other 5-Stand Competitions was the addition of comfortable wooden lawn chairs provided for the competitors' comfort while waiting their turn to shoot the 5-Stand. Denise Murchison makes you feel welcomed, and at-home while at Silverton. Silverton, in my opinion, is truly the "Addieville" of northern New England!

The presentations were challenging on this Level 3 competition; consisting of 2-shot singles, reports and simo pairs.

The Long Bird was shot from two positions. The first hoop was set as a 45 yard crosser. The second shooting position was set at a 60 yard crosser. A shoot-off was necessary and won by Micah Parker of New Hampshire.

The two-man Flurry was won by Mark from Maine, and "yours truly."

I think the most effective way to shoot a flurry is to concentrate only on the targets presented by the machine in front of you. I didn't chase targets thrown by the other machine. I let my team mate handle those.

It was a great 2 day Shoot!! A job well done by Denise; her Field Manager J.D. McLellan and her staff......!

Denise also served food for participants: burgers, hotdogs, salad, chilli with cornbread and sodas, at no additional charge! That's a wonderful and welcomed touch. The 5-Stand Championship fee was $25 (on both days fees included NSCA registration).

And now for some photos:



Here is "Yours Truly" with J.D. McLellan, Field Manager of Silverton


A better photo of J.D.



Silverton's owner, Denise Murchison speaking with JD

Here is a Slideshow Presentation........