Delaware, OH – On July 29-30, 2006 Black Wing Shooting Center (Black Wing), hosted The Spaghetti Open skeet shoot.

The Spaghetti Open presenter, Mike Albanese, provided $400 in added money plus a Beretta 391 shotgun (value over $1,000) which was given away at Saturday night’s spaghetti dinner.  Each shooter received a commemorative hat complete with an Italian flag pin.  Dave Guinn contributed over $350 in additional door prizes awarded during Saturday night’s dinner.  With 43 shooters in attendance, the Open kicked off under hot, humid Texas like weather with a Preliminary 12 GA Event.        

A lone 100 was posted by Wayne Harvey to capture the title.  Following closely behind were class winners: Bruce Poyer, AA1, Mike Harm, AA2, Ann Huff, A-1, Ted Latham, A-2, John Beggs, B-1, Nyle Morgan, B-2, Melinda Angel, C-1, Kyle Cross, C-2, Steve Seggebruch, D-1, and Bob Darragh, E-1.  The 20 GA Event immediately followed the Preliminary Event with two perfect scores.  Mike Harm bested Wayne Harvey in the shoot-off to take the title with Wayne settling for AA-1.  Other class winners were: Bruce Poyer, AA-2, Josh Morgan, A-1, Ron Margello, A2, Melinda Angel, B-1, Nyle Morgan, B-2, Steve Seggebruch, C-1, Tom Gasper, C-2, Bob Darragh, D-1.  

After shooting the Preliminary Event, Mike Albanese and Jean Johnson began preparation of Saturday’s spaghetti dinner.  To provide the proper ambiance in serving their traditional dinner, Mike and Jean wore authentic chef coats and hats.  The tables were covered with red checkered table cloths and empty wine bottles- with a lighted candle in each.  Chef Mike and Chef Jean cooked 12 gallons of meat sauce with 16 pounds of pasta for Saturday’s dinner.  Dinner also included fresh Italian bread, garden fresh salad, red wine, and two famous Bravo cheese cakes.  Over 75 hungry shooters, family members, and Black Wing staff members enjoyed the delicious dinner.  

After dinner, the festivities started with the awarding of the door prizes.  Wayne Harvey won the Dom Perigonon.  But, since he does not drink, he gave the Dom to Jean Johnson in appreciation for her dedication and hard work in making the Spaghetti Open the success it is today.  There were 10 other winners who received prizes ranging from a Lonesome Charlie’s leather shell pouch to a shooter’s towel.

Next, Chef Mike and Chef Jean honored class winners of Saturday’s events with a special medal presentation.  The presentation began with the Olympic fanfare.  Each winner was introduced and came forward for the medal presentation by Jean Johnson.  The medal consisted of a red plastic plate with an attached green ribbon on which were glued a napkin, plastic fork with a small serving of spaghetti with an accent meatball(?).  And as a special remembrance, Jean awarded each medal winner with a kiss on each cheek.  The Star Spangled Banner was played to conclude the medal ceremonies.  Everyone enjoyed the medal ceremonies including the recipients.

Finally, it was time for the Beretta 391 presentation. At random, Jean drew 5 cards from a deck of playing cards.  If the card matched the card given the shooter at registration, the shooter became a finalist for the Beretta 391.  As luck would have it, the Fairfield County youth group dominated (three places) the five finalists.  With Dave Gunn’s assistance, the selected cards were placed in numbered pistol carrying cases.  Now the real action began.  Starting with the last finalist picked, each finalist picked a pistol case.  The pistol case was opened and the holder of the playing card revealed was eliminated until only one finalist remained.  Each finalist eliminated received one through four boxes of shells depending on when eliminated.  The surviving finalist and winner was Porter T. Crum. Better luck next year to our Fairfield County youth group and to our other shooters.  

Sunday kicked off with the 12 GA Event under even hotter Texas weather conditions.  Two perfect scores were posted by Jim Rogers and Wayne Harvey.  Jim won the shoot-off to take the title with Wayne settling for AA-1.  Other class winners were: Mike Harm, AA-2, Ron Margello, A-1, Ted Latham, A-2, John Beggs, B-1, Mike Williams, B-2, Jean Johnson, C-1, Hal Hare, C-2, Steve Seggebruch, D-1, Bill Stein, E-1.

The 28 GA Event concluded the shoot with a sole 100 posted by Charlie Williams to take the title.  Other winners were: Wayne Harvey, AA-1, Sue Huszai, AA-2, Josh Morgan, A-1, Ron Margello, A-2, Ray Tozer, B-1, Melinda Angel B-2, Tom Gasper, C-1, Steve Seggebruch, D-1, Charles Olson, D-1.

Wayne Harvey dominated the Third Annual Spaghetti Open by posting a 299 in the HOA and a perfect score in the 12 GA Preliminary.  Congratulations Wayne.

Once again, Black Wing was nothing short of great in hosting the Spaghetti Open. Cold water was available on each field and at the skeet shack. Shade canopies dotted the landscape and an extra large shade canopy set up by the skeet shack.  And as at the Mid-Ohio, a golf cart was provided to shuttle the shooters to the comfort of the shooting center between events.  Thanks to the Black Wing staff and especially Joe LaCivita for managing the registration process and Rick Knepper for managing the shoot with his staff of great referees consisting of Casey, Chris, Chris, and Logan. You men did a great job!

Our hats are off to Chef Mike Albanese and Chef Jean Johnson for presenting the Spaghetti Open.  A special thanks to Chef Mike for providing the added money and Beretta 391.  See you at the next shoot.