I hope everyone survived all the rain over the weekend. NC started out with 4 trap events scheduled and only Durham County managed to weather the no-rain rain storm. Only one event in the books for this week and CCLEOA shoots Friday with temps in the mid-70’s and winds 15-25mph……
Scarlett Su will hopefully send me some info on their shoot on Saturday. Evidently the locals showed up and they dined on chicken noodle soup and chilis. Scarlett always puts on a great shoot, and the lunches are good also. Hopefully I will get over there to participate one day. She did day that SubJr Ronan Weary won the HOA with a 265.
BIG SHOUT OUT to Sean Reese and his 200 straight in singles at the Hog Heaven Fall Festival shoot. I had reported in a past smoke report about NC shooters at the event but some of the shoot scores had not been posted. I mean I can’t keep up with everything, but I try and a 200 straight is big news!!
If you are looking for a new installment from Dan Johnson in Tall Tales & True Stories, he was unable to produce an article this week and he chose to play golf instead. He commented that it did not rain while he was playing.
Most of you are familiar with Florida shooters Shane Platt (Josh Platt’s dad) and former Florida ATA delegate Jake Jacobs. They have a little friendly competition involving a red solo cup that moves back and forth between the two competitors. At this moment Jake is in possession of the cherished trophy and hopefully Shane can win it back at the Dixie Grand. At this moment it is doubtful that Shane will make the ride North because his wife had surgery and their travel plans might be affected.
Of course, that is pale in comparison to the friendly wager Marty Hill and Dan Jones have. I am not sure if it is a buck an event or what, but Dan has a stack of dollar bills that have to be at least 6 inches thick. I have always wanted to take a picture of that stack and maybe I will get it at the Dixie. Marty does win a few of them back from time to time.
The Dixie Grand cranks up on Tuesday October the 7th and runs through Sunday October the 12th. According to Marty Hill the classifications are well past 200 shooters and hopefully the weather will hold out for this event. For those of you that attended last year it was quite an interesting Thursday night and Friday morning when Hurricane Helene came through. Massive flooding and devastation throughout the mountains of NC and Forest City is only 28 miles from Lake Lure. We left Forest City and hit 74 amongst the fallen trees and downed power lines. When we got to Shelby the city had power in some areas and no power in other areas. By the time I got to I-85 it was pretty much smooth sailing. Praying that we have 6 days of cool crisp no wind weather…….
John and Grace Sandell took a trip out West and commented that they would be visiting Yosemite National Park. John was trying to text me and somehow clicked a button to make a video call. It was 11:30 in Jamestown and I guess 8:30 PM where he was. We chatted for awhile and he is back in Massachusetts from what I can tell. Grace and John shoot sporting clays around the area and John shoots some ATA. John hosted BIG50 shoots at the Charlotte Rifle & Pistol Club several years ago.
Looks like we will have two new inductees into the NC Hall of Fame in 2026. I imagine the banquet event will be during the South Carolina State Shoot, but I cannot confirm that fact. Jim Hughes and John Miller will be honored at a dinner on Saturday night. Both gentlemen have worked tirelessly to help trapshooting in North Carolina and at the NC Homegrounds. Both have lengthy trophy lists and too many to mention here. Not sure who will give their induction speeches and that is yet to be announced.
Please keep George Sudderth’s wife Evalyn in your prayers. Both her father and sister are in hospice. That is quite a strain on the family and tough for all involved. Years ago, when JC Nunn was in hospice I was in his room watching the Redskins and the Cowboys play football. JC was heavily sedated and resting. Someone asked me how it was going, and I said well it is just like when we go to a trap shoot in the motel, he is sleeping an I am watching TV……
That will about do it for this week. Have a great week everyone and it looks like the weather is going to get a little wet and windy on the coast. Hello to Scott, Ronnie, Cowboy, Tim, Bobby, Phil, Mac, John, Art, Barron, Mark C, Mark S, Dan, John W, Thea and Anne and until next week……smokem