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I would like to take the time to give a brief overview of all the winners but reading it for yourself might be best. Go to www.shootscoreboard for all the winners. Since it is the South Carolina State Shoot I will mention the winners of the Championship weekend.
The South Carolina State singles champion is George Powell with 195 and 99 extras with James Stephen Conley. George has been a singles champ RU two times against Shawn Speakman and Rodney Raines and finally got it done. A prince of a man and a great ambassador for the sport.
Kevin Stephens is your South Carolina State Doubles Champion with a lone 96 and HAA winner with 376. Kevin was looking at the pictures of the two newest NCHOF inductees and reminisced about shooting with and competing against Brian when he was a youth shooter. Kevin has a precious 10-year-old daughter and it has been great to see her grow up over the years with her dad still shooting and winning!
The 2025 South Carolina Handicap Champ is Thomas Campbell. This gentleman is an amazing competitor, and I always enjoy watching him shoot. Always positive and ready to get out and spread the lead. His 91 added another notch to his already storied shooting history.
Unfortunately, I don’t really know James Conley but he put in the work to secure the 2025 South Carolina State Shoot HOA with a 928. His next closest SC competitor was Phil Bagley with a 925. Another piece of South Carolina history made for the record books.
I arrived Thursday night and shot Friday and Saturday. The shoot ran great as usual and everyone had a great time as far as I could tell. Jimmy Wilson, Marty Hill and everyone involved in the operation of the shoot did a great job and a big thanks to all! With pre-squad and pre-classification the cashiering went smoothly with very little waiting in line! I mean it just gets better and better every shoot.
The Hall of Fame banquet went great with Brian Keever and Noah Gouge inducted. Dennis Taylor spoke for Noah and told a few stories including his 300x300 at the Grand American in Sparta. Dennis led that squad and was able to witness more trap shooting history that day. NCHOF inductee Bill Keever spoke for his brother and talked about their early days in trapshooting and their similar careers in the military and the Army shooting team. They competed together for a year, but he refused to discuss the details. Brian spoke of his early days of shooting and thanked his parents and his brother for their support.
Every Hall of Fame induction is a special time. Families come and distant friends show up for the festivities and of course the pictures. We were able to get a picture of the current HOF members that were at the banquet. I have been attending HOF banquets since 2001 and have managed to take pictures at most of these events. Over the years we have lost HOF members and life goes on but the pictures of these men and women live on. Make plans now to attend the HOF banquet in 2026 regardless of who is inducted because it is a special time to celebrate all the living members.
One shooting event coming up this week and it is at the Rockingham County Gun Club. It will be a BIG50 and all are invited but the focus with be on the youth and AIM teams. We will be honoring Roger Shaffer and trophies for the youth were donated by Hall of Fame shooter Charlie Brown.
Be sure to check out Dan Johnson’s newest story in Tall Tales & True Stories. I appreciate the effort in putting these together for others to enjoy! And you just never know what he will write about next.
Hopefully I will have an update on the NC Hall of Fame winners over the championship weekend. I could guess and make a mistake and face the consequences so I will refrain until I can see it with my own two eyes.
That is about it for this week and hopefully I didn’t forget anything. Hello to Scott, Ronnie, Cowboy, Tim, Bobby, Phil, Mac, John, Art, Will, Mark C, Mark S, Class C Dan, Thea and Anne and until next week……smokem