President's Letter
Jacksonville Clay Target Sports was buzzing with activity in May as we hosted the General Pletcher Open and the 57th Armed Forces Skeet Championship. Active Duty teams, Reserve, and retired military members of all branches of the Armed Services gathered at JCTS for a week of competition and camaraderie. JCTS Skeet Chairman Bud Steil recaps the results of these exciting tournaments in his column below. We all extend a huge thank you to Skeet Chairman Bud Steil and our incredible staff, Bobby Turner, Tony, George, Steven, Chuck, and Sarah Lawrence for their stamina, patience, and versatility that enable JCTS to provide an enjoyable shooting experience for so many!In June, we will continue the capital improvement schedule at the club. Most of the work will not be seen, as improvements will be in the cart-storage facility where a concrete floor will be constructed. Additionally, a new bathroom will be built at the Sporting Clays South course.
Lady shooters of all skill levels are invited to join the Jax Belles With Shells which meet on the last Friday of each month (see JCTS calendar). Founded by Michele McManamon, this group continues to grow in size with new lady shooters. The past several months, the ladies have focused on skeet shooting. JCTS volunteers offer instructions to novice shooters or those seeking instructions. Afterwards, the ladies gather for refreshments, networking, and educational programs. In addition, JCTS offers Ladies Clinics every Saturday and Sunday at noon. You can reserve a spot in either the monthly shoot or the clinics by calling the Pro Shop 904-757-4584.
This year for the first time the club will have a pheasant-hunting trip scheduled to take place at Cottonwood Borco Ranch in South Dakota. This hunt will be November 13 - 16, with November 12 and 17 counted as travel days. For more information please contact me at 904-631-0577 or check the JCTS Bulletin Board.
These summer months are a great time to introduce your friends and family to clay target sports, as well as a great time to get your skills and your equipment ready for the competitive season and the hunting season. The Fish and Wildlife Commission offers Firearm Safety and Hunter Safety programs at the club every month for new shooters. In addition, JCTS is fortunate to offer six clay target disciplines, NSSA Certified Instructors, and one of the country’s best gunsmiths, Gunsmiths Inc. So, join us at JCTS to get your sporting life in top shape! We look to seeing you at the club!
President
904.631.0577
Skeet Report
Jacksonville Clay Target Sports was a busy place in May. JCTS hosted the General Pletcher Memorial and the 57th Annual Armed Forces Skeet Championships (AFSC). There were 136 shooters taking the field in the Pletcher May 12-14 and 160 shooters in the AFSC May 15-19. Both shoots went off very well thanks to our Club Manager, Bobby Turner and his staff. Saturday of the Pletcher was a bit tricky thanks to Mother Nature. The competition had to be stopped twice because of lightning. The shoot got back on track, but the schedule was running an hour or more behind. To add to the mess a large tree limb fell in the campground narrowly missing several RVs.
Saturday night JCTS hosted a BBQ dinner as the shoot offs carried on. Mother Nature hung onto her grip Sunday morning drenching the first flight of shooters, and then skies cleared producing a gorgeous day. Congratulations to some of our talented Florida competitors for their performances in the Pletcher, including Emmett Kogan, Mike Kogan, Dave Haviland, Andre Williams, and Howard Chin. See how you favorite shooters faired on the NSSA website.
The 57th Annual Armed Forces Skeet Championship kicked off Monday morning with picture perfect weather. Col Chris Naler USMC RET, AFSA president started the opening ceremony by addressing the crowd and introducing the Active the Duty Teams. The Teams lined up on field three from station one to seven with the US Navy Color Guard from NAS Jacksonville assembled just outboard of station four as the National Anthem of Australia and then the US played. Yes Australia, for the first time in many years Australia was represented by a three man Australian Defense Force (ADF) team. When the field cleared CWO5 Jim Tiner USA Ret escorted honorary first shooter, Caroline Lause, to station seven. Caroline is the widow of Tom Lause. Tom was a leader and advocate of skeet shooting. He was a National Skeet Direct, Zone Four Director and Past Vice President of Florida Skeet. Caroline broke her low seven target as hard as a shooter can. Congressman John Rutherford welcomed the Armed Forces competitors to Jacksonville and praised them for their dedication to national and global peacekeeping. Wednesday night the AFSA Board of Directors meeting was held. North Florida’s own Steve Johnstone was elected as the new AFSA Vice President, and it was decided to hold the 2018 AFSC at the Tuscon Trap & Skeet Club. Thursday night, all participants convened at Dave Marco’s new hanger located at JAXEX Craig for the Hall of Fame Banquet. Many thanks to Dave and Julie Marco for letting the AFSA use their grand facility, and Mark Thompson for setting up the gala.
Congratulations to some of our talented Florida shooters for their performances in the AFSC, including Ken Keth, Howard Chin, Steve Johnstone, Dave Mullarkey, John Hale, and Fred Walkup. See all Armed Forces results at the NSSA website.
NSSA Zone 4 Skeet Championship
JCTS is looking forward to hosting the Florida portion of the Zone 4 (Southeastern US) Skeet Championship August 11 – 13, 2017. This competition will be shot under the I-Shoot Format where the Zone 4 competition will be held in six different locations simultaneously. The idea behind this format is to allow more participation by cutting down on travel distances. The locations will be linked by computer. In addition to JCTS, the other Zone 4 I-locations are Ft. Rucker AL, Memphis TN, Ft Campbell KY, South River GA, and Ft Bragg NC.
New Requirements for Flying with Firearms
SCI recently reported that Delta Air Lines has adopted some new guidelines for flying with firearms in checked luggage. Most of the new rules are related to retrieving the checked firearms upon reaching your destination and are designed to ensure they are picked up safely. Read about the new rules.
We look forward to seeing you at the club!
Bud Steil
Skeet Chairman
gsteil61@gmail.com
JAX BELLES WITH SHELLS
JCTS has established a ladies shooting group, Jax Belles With Shells, that meets once a month to enjoy shooting sports and networking. The group meets the last Friday of each month from 3:00 - 5:30pm, (with adjustments to that schedule during the holidays). They are currently enjoying growing attendance by a diverse group of women who have a wide variety of shooting experience. The women have focused on skeet shooting the past two months with the assistance of several instructors from the club. Following each shooting session, the women break for refreshments and networking.
All lady shooters are invited to join the monthly events. To get on the mailing list, or RSVP your attendance, please contact:
Michele McManamon 904.424.4484 or Michele.McManamon@sandler.com
Early Piety 904.993.7419
JCTS Pro Shop 904.757.4584
See the JCTS calendar to confirm event dates and times.
LADIES' CLINICS
Saturdays and Sunday, 12:00pm noon
By appointment
Pro Shop: 904-757-4584
OR Early Piety: 904-993-7419
Sporting Clays News
Announcing the Fired Up! Sporting Clays Shoot
Collegiate News
The Collegiate shooting season will be taking a slight breather as we enter the summer months, but not for long! Our season culminated in the ACUI Clay Target National Championships in San Antonio, which were held March 27 thru April 2. Over 840 collegiate athletes from 85 universities attended, a new ACUI record. The weather cooperated as some of the top shooters in the nation competed in 6 different events: Sporting, 5-Stand Sporting, American Skeet, American Trap, International Skeet and International Wobble. JU Shooters took Gold, Silver and Bronze medals, with JU Shooting Team Ron “La Machine” Palazzetti grinding out a perfect 100/100 in the Skeet Event, giving JU another National Team championship title in the American Skeet Event, as well as taking National RU Team in the 5-Stand Sporting Event and 3rd in International Skeet. This is the largest (ACUI) Collegiate event to-date – great news for the development of high school leading into collegiate shooting! Even better is the FACT that high school and collegiate shooting teams boast some of the highest GPA’s of any discipline on campus!
The SCTP High School and Collegiate Nationals will be held July 8 - 15 at the Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio, and Jacksonville University is the defending SCTP HOA Collegiate National Champion. Over 2,700 athletes from around the nation will be attending, including the major powerhouse collegiate teams. This is a wonderful testament as to the growth of our young shooters over the past 10 years, thanks to support from the MidwayUSA Foundation (www.midwayusafoundation.org) and the Scholastic Clay Target Program (www.nssf.org).
Many thanks to the Jacksonville Clay Target Sports Club, and all of the other Clubs here and around the country who have stood behind our youth and collegiate shooters, as they are our future. God Bless and safe shooting!
By David T. Dobson, MBA
NSCA Certified Instructor, Level III
NSSA Certified Instructor, Level III
Paragon Master Instructor
JU Faculty & JU Varsity Shooting Team Head Coach & Founder
Gunsmith News
Greetings Jacksonville Skeet and Trap Club Members!
As many of you have seen, we are adding a new look to our business. A huge “Thank You” to Lance Day, Bobby Turner, and the JCTS board for assisting us in this transition. More signage and spring cleaning will be leading us into June as we work hard to refresh our old façade.
The summer months are a great time to complete maintenance and upgrades to get your equipment ready for the season. As always you can find your favorite cleaners, lubricants, and other firearm maintenance supplies in our shop. In addition, we are happy to announce we have launched our Pro-Shot retail line. Top of the line Payne Galloway chamber brushes, cleaning towels, choke tube lubricant, and other products will now be regularly available to the membership. We are also expanding our ESP Customer Hearing Protection to include accessories and visual enhancers. Electronic Silencers as well as Background Enhancing Ear Service are available as well.
Come see us soon to get your firearms in top shape!
Kelsey Doleo
Office Manager
904-410-2206