Mid-Ohio Skeet Shooting Open 2007

Delaware, OH – Black Wing Shooting Center hosted the 4th annual Mid-Ohio Open, June 23 - 24, 2007. The Mid-Ohio, presented by Ted Latham, is one of Ohio’s newest and fastest growing skeet tournaments hosted by Black Wing Shooting Center. 43 shooters took to the fields and shot at 14,400 targets. Like May’s Heritage tournament, the Mid-Ohio attracted shooters from Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and many parts of Ohio.

Ted Latham, Mid-Ohio’s presenter, provided $1,000 in added money plus $75 Black Wing Shooting Center gift certificates to the 4 winners of the Cellar Championship shoot offs. Each participant was given a unique Mid-Ohio logo hat/lapel pin inscribed with the year 2007 and the opportunity to win additional prizes at Saturday night’s dinner. Over $350 in prizes, which included a flat of AA shells, a Lonesome Charlie Shooter’s Pouch, a $75 Black Wing gift certificate plus many more great prizes, were awarded at random.

However, this year’s Mid-Ohio was not just a bunch of numbers listed on a piece of paper stuck to a wall as so many shoots are, but a story of personal achievements, amusing moments, and personal determination.

First and perhaps the most poignant moment, Bryan Rogers ran his first 100 in the 410. Bryan came close at this year’s Mid-West with a 99, but you have to reach back to 2002 when he shot a pair of 98’s at the U. S. Open and the World Skeet Championships to understand the personal milestone he achieved at the Mid-Ohio. I am not sure who was more thrilled, Bryan or his father and squad member, Jim Rogers. I guess all of his father’s coaching finally paid off for Bryan. Congratulations and keep adding those perfect scores to your record (Jim, congratulations to you also).

At Saturday night’s dinner, Mike Albanese was recognized for achieving a different milestone on Saturday, his 49th birthday. In recognition, of this achievement, a hand carved wooden cane was presented to him in the hopes he would use it Sunday to raise his scores. Also, he was reminded that he would be AARP eligible in just one year.

Another amusing moment occurred at the awarding of the flat of AA shells; Ron Margello shouted out that he would split the flat with Holt Mallard, the shooter who was tasked with drawing names. And just as you would expect, Holt drew Ron’s name. I think a few eyebrows were raised, but I want all who attended to know that it was an honest drawing. Ron did split the flat with Holt. I swear on a stack of AA shells, it was honest!

True grit was showed by Ron Margello’s Squad of new shooters, Pat Burns, Bob Hill and Dick Irene. The Heritage was their first registered shoot and now they took to the fields of the Mid-Ohio. Ron has mentored these new shooters and taught them the ropes of registered skeet shooting, and Ron’s Squad preformed very well at the Mid-Ohio. Congratulations to each of them and keep it up. I understand you are enjoying the competition and look forward to the Spaghetti Open. With Ron’s efforts and other dedicated shooters like him, Black Wing Shooting Center has added 5 new to registered skeet shooters this year with 2 shoots left to go in the season. Keep it up guys!

The Open kicked off with some of the best weather ever recorded for a skeet shoot at Black Wing, another record so to speak. Temperatures ran in the very low 80s with overcast skies and little or no wind. No excuses available here. The rotations were chosen to allow the big guns to be shot in the afternoon anticipating the inevitable Black Wing windy afternoons. Foiled by the rotation, the winds did not kick-up and targets flew fast and true.

The 28 gauge event opened Saturday’s schedule with one perfect score posted by the event champion, Wayne Harvey. Class winners were: AA-1, Mike Harm, A-1, Larry Bolino, B-1, Bill Guinn, C-1, Ted Latham, and D-1, Kevin Bradshaw.

The 12 gauge event followed with a solitary 100 posted by Rick Smelko, the event champion. Class winners were: AA-1, Wayne Harvey, A-1, Hal Hare, B-1, Flint Gabelman, C-1, Mark Allard, D-1, Ed Atherton, and E-1, Kevin Bradshaw.

Like last year, the Saturday evening dinner of brats and burgers was a big hit with the shooters. No one went away hungry. A special thanks to Ted Latham for providing the dinner and especially to Judy Stadtlander, our gracious Black Wing hostess, for preparing and hosting the dinner with Shirley Turrill’s help. Judy it was a lot of work but appreciated by a hungry group of shooters. Leftovers were hard to find on Sunday.

The 410 Event opened Sunday’s schedule with Bryan posting his first perfect 410 score to become the event champion. Class winners were: AA-1, Wayne Harvey, A-1, Mike Harm, B-1, Jason Ohler, C-1, Hal Hare, and D-1, Steve Seggebruch.

The 20 Gauge Event saw 3 100s posted, with Wayne Harvey emerging as our event champion. Class winners were: AA-1, Jim Murphy, A-1, Matt Ohler, B-1, Paul Kautz, C-1, Henry Smith, and D-1, Ed Atherton.

Wayne Harvey took HOA with a 397. His score was just one shy of the best HOA score posted at Black Wing during the 2006 Mid-Ohio by Bruce Christian. Bruce Christian was HOA Runner-Up with a 392.

The second annual Mid-Ohio Cellar Championships were held this year with: Kevin Bradshaw, 28 gauge champion, Bill Lloyd, 12 gauge champion, Bob Darragh, 20 gauge champion, and Paul Kautz, 410 champion. Each shooter won a $75 Black Wing gift certificate. Conceived by Ted Latham as a way to stir interest in our novice and new shooters, the Cellar Championship Events were a success.

Congratulations to Ted Latham for sponsoring the Mid-Ohio and as he said at Saturday’s dinner, ‘Thank you to the shooters for participating and making the Mid-Ohio a success.’