By: Dave Guinn

Black Wing Shooting Center
hosts the
second annual Autumn Skeet Classic

Delaware, OH – Black Wing Shooting Center (Black Wing) hosted the 2nd annual Autumn Skeet Classic, September 18 – 20, 2009.  The Autumn Skeet Classic capped Black Wing’s 2009 season, another great year for Black Wing, with 62,000 targets thrown during the year.

Henry and Sam Smith, of The Rafter H-Bar-S Farms, presented The Autumn Skeet Classic, a fun shoot not only for the shooter, but for the spouse or friend who accompanied the shooter.  $500 in added money was awarded.  A very special long sleeve Navy Blue T-shirt was given to each participant with the name of the shoot printed on its sleeves along with a 2009 Rafter H-Bar-S hat pin.  New to this year’s shoot, a 28 Ga C,D side event was held at the conclusion of the shoot at which a pair of Ohio State vs. Iowa football tickets was given away.  

Saturday night’s dinner was just a little different this year.  A Mystery Award was given away that surprised everyone and the Autumn Skeet Classic held the first Calcutta in the history of Black Wing.

The weather couldn’t have been better at this year’s shoot.  34 shooters enjoyed the weather in a fun and competitive shoot.  The Doubles Event opened The Autumn Skeet Classic on Friday. Mike Harm took the Event Championship with a 94.  Class winners were: B1, Dave Guinn, C1, Jim Nappi, and D1, Ken Quintenz.

The 20 Ga Event began Saturday’s events.  Bryan Rogers claimed the 20 Ga Event Championship by posting a 99.  Class winners were: AA1, Bruce Poyer, A1, Greg Cheek, B1, Tim Witzler, C1, Ken Quintenz, and D1, Bob Hill.

The 410 Event followed the 20 Event.  Saturday’s unusual order of events was necessary to allow for the Saturday night Calcutta auction.  Bruce Poyer won the 410 Event with a 96.  Class winners were: AA1, Bryan Rogers, A1, Greg Cheek, B1, Tim Witzler, C1, Holt Mallard, and D1, Jim Nappi

The Saturday activities ended with a home cooked dinner.  Sam Smith and her great crew of helpers prepared a mouth-watering and well appreciated dinner for the shooters, their spouses, friends and a hard working Black Wing Staff.  The dinner was just the beginning of Saturday night activities.  

Sam & Henry had a gift for each shooter who attended the shoot.  The gifts were spread out on a table in the front of the room and included items such as a $75 Black Wing gift certificate and a Lonesome Charlie Shooter’s Pouch. Each shooter was given a shot glass filled with candy and a number attached to the bottom of the glass.  As numbers were drawn, the shooters came forward to claim their gift.  No one picked the $75 Black Wing gift certificate because it was on the table in a plain envelope.  Sorry guys!  To make sure someone did get the gift certificate, it was awarded as 2nd prize in the 28 Ga C,D Shoot-off.

Next came the drawing for the Mystery Award.  Sam & Henry really came up with an outstanding award, a 4 hour, one-on-one, skeet lesson with John Shima, 5 time world champion and member of the NSSA Hall of Fame.  The lucky shooter picked by random drawing was Tim Whitzler.  Congratulations Tim, I will go for you if you can’t make it.

The Calcutta auction concluded the festivities, with the auction conducted by Black Wing’s John Richardson.  30% of the proceeds raised from the auction and entry fees went to charity with the winning bidder and winning team splitting the rest on a  60% - 40% basis.  The winning bidder was Mike Albanese and the winning team consisted of Bruce Poyer, Mike Koehler, and Greg Pike.  Congratulations to everyone.

The 12 Ga Event started Sunday’s activities.  Bruce Poyer walked away with the 12 Ga title with the sole 100.  Class winners were: AA1, Mike Albanese, A1, Greg Cheek, B1, Ted Latham, C1, Steve Seggebruch, D1, Dick Irene, and E1, Ken Quintenz.  

The 28 Ga Event concluded the Autumn Classic with Bruce Poyer posting 100 to take the Championship.  Class winners were:  AA1, Greg Cheek, B1, Ted Latham, C1, Steve Seggebruch, D1, Ken Quintenz.

Bruce Poyer claimed the HOA Event Title with a 394 and Greg Cheek followed as Event Runner-Up with a 378.  Ted Latham was HAA Event Champion with a 454 and Dick Irene as Event Runner- Up with a 452.

The 28 Ga C,D Event followed the Sunday shoot-offs.  Over 15 shooters lined up for a chance to win Buckeye football tickets.  Jim Nappi walked off the field with the Buckeye football tickets, Judd Smith pocketed the $75 Black Wing Gift Certificate and Sam Smith claimed a $25 Black Wing Gift Certificate.

Our thanks to Sam and Henry Smith for sponsoring this shoot.  Your support and the support of our other sponsors have helped create an exceptionally successful registered skeet program at Black Wing.  Thanks from all the shooters who had the opportunity to attend a Black Wing shoot!        

To all the shooters who participated in Black Wing’s 2009 registered programs, thank you and we look forward to seeing you next year. Black Wing’s 2010 registered skeet schedule will be posted on the internet at www.blackwingsc.com as soon as it is finalized.