RELOAD!

JULY 2000 NEWSLETTER
© Bruce Buck, editor

MIRACLES AND MYSTERY AT MID-HUDSON by Vinny La Scalza...

Well, it finally rained on the day of a Traveler’s Shoot. On June
18, 2000, the skies opened up on 175 Travelers and their guests at
Mike Maglio’s Mid-Hudson Skeet and Trap Range. For over an hour and
a half it alternated between heavy and light rain until settling on a
fine drizzle. Mother nature threw the book at us turning peaceful,
bucolic scenes into treacherous, mud-filled quagmires. And yet, no
one fell and got hurt, all gun handling was safe and judicious, and
Mike Maglio and his small army of workers managed to keep the entire
course running smoothly. Despite the rain, 175 shooters started and
finished the tournament in just over 4 hours! Think about it. And
perhaps even more startling were the final scores with Mike Horodyski
leading the way with an 88, and others filling in nicely with scores
in the low eighties and high 70’s. As we sat in the tent at the end
of the shoot, surely anyone with even a slightly meditative nature
couldn’t help but marvel at the day in June when the Travelers
miraculously turned Father’s Day into Mudder’s Day.

Casually strolling through the parking fields during any Traveler’s
shoot, one is immediately overwhelmed by the sheer size of the
vehicles that are parked there. It seems like a convention of S.U.V.
people meeting with various representatives for the pick-up truck and
van owners of America. Every 4-wheel drive, O.P.E.C. pleasing,
radiator grille in your rear view mirror, metal monster is there. So
here is the mystery. How come so many Travelers don’t have enough
room to carry a change of clothes? Shooting Mid Hudson in a Tee
shirt, cotton shorts, white athletic socks folded neatly over the
ankle and white sneakers during a cold, mud-making rainstorm is like
doing very badly on an intelligence test and then showing everyone
the results! Please, put raingear, underwear, and socks, in a bag
and place that bag and a pair of boots in some part of that rugged,
backcountry vehicle whenever en-route to a shoot. No one should
suffer during his or her day off.

Did you happen to notice that, during what undoubtedly will become
known on those survival tee shirts as "The Wet One", you were in the
middle of a very good sporting clays course? The mixture of close,
fast, far, and slow was helped along by some sly enhancements.
Station #12 was a report pair of rabbits. The first rabbit was a
crosser at about 25 yards while the second rabbit came from a trap 5
yards to the left of the shooters feet and screamed away on a very
slight angle. The only part of the second rabbit that was hittable
was the thick, heavy outer rim. I saw numerous shooters hit this
rabbit, but not break it. Breaking a rabbit edge on requires that
you use #7_ shot and a slightly tighter choke. Light mod or mod left
no remnants and no doubt.

Station #6 was across from the skeet fields facing into the wooded
area. The first bird of a report pair came out of a trap hidden in
the brush 15 yards in front of the shooter and quartered away right
to left. Since the bird was slightly angled in flight, it showed
more dome and appeared larger the farther away it went. The problem
here was when did you pull the trigger? Did you wait to see more
target at the price of more distance or did you jump on it? The
answer is that you could hit it anywhere if you kept the line of the
target uppermost in your mind. The first part of its flight was
moving up and away, the second part of its flight was crossing with
full face, and the last part of its flight was moving from right to
left and curving downward. If you could break the flight path into
these three distinct parts, you had a much better chance of breaking
it. But, if you could not see the changes coming, you were bound to
be high and maybe slightly behind.

The second bird at this station came off a platform 12 feet high off
the shooter’s left shoulder. It quartered slightly to the right and
down at an alarming rate. This bird only presented its orange
edge the whole way down, and since it was traveling at warp speed, it
was always farther than you thought. Hitting rapidly disappearing
orange razor blades is a job for mod. Choke. The holes in an I.C.
choke pattern at 30 yards can allow an edge on target to safely apply
for social security and then collect on it.

I know what you are saying to yourself about now; "If it wasn’t
raining, I would have done a lot better! I could hit all those
stupid targets. No sweat!!" Well my friends, Mike Maglio is calling
your bluff. He has announced that he will be keeping this course up
in its entirety for at least a week. It’s a public course, and it is
open Wednesday through Sunday. So, you have a second chance to show
that in a fair fight you are one helluva competitor!

At the very end of our shoot, happily surrounded by piles of empty
clam shells, and chicken bones picked clean, Al Anglace saw fit to
acknowledge the presence of 5 Canadian sporting clay shooters, who
traveled a long way to participate in our shoot, with small gifts of
appreciation. I am glad that you joined us in our mutual pleasure
and sorry that you had to shoot in the rain. To my fellow Travelers
take note. With the visits of friends from foreign places and the
presence of a vendor at our monthly shoot, you need not travel
anywhere because as a Traveler you have already arrived.

HOA Mike Horodyski 88
I-1 Peter Wicker 87
I-2 Bob Mastroianni 84
I-3 Steve Andiorio 81
II-1 Doug Robare 87
II-2 Jim Kline 77
II-3 Paul Fostini 76
III-1 Kevin Sterk 73
III-2 Craig Hovey 70
III-3 Randy Sandner 69
III-4 Rolland Mineau 69
IV-1 Dave Wister 70
IV-2 Bob Solinski 69
IV-3 Kevin Kruleski 65
V-1 Irene Mineau 59
V-2 Lou Pennell 54*
V-3 Daria Albini 54
VI-1 Sean Nash 39
VI-2 Donna Galotto 39*
VI-3 Eileen Lambert 36
Ldy-1 Anna Maria Collins 66
Ldy-2 Cyndi Dalena 61*
Ldy-3 Patti Wight 61
Vet-1 Zaid Siddig 77*
Vet-2 Bill Tennison 77
Vet-3 Bob Barlow 74
Jr-1 Paul Hughes 51
Jr-2 Paul Lockyer 48
Jr-3 Kieran Farslow 47
Jr-4 Luke Spoviero 45
Jr-5 James Martin 45
Jr Ldy Heather Guay 21
Gst-1 Tony Olivieri 83
* Denotes tie-breaker station

CTSCA FITASC SHOOT… June 2,3,4, Peace Dale, RI (combined report from
Al Anglace and Richie Frisella- two guys who ought to know)

Over 40 Travelers made the trip to Peace Dale to try their luck on
Richie Frisella Jr’s "Travelers Tough" FITASC targets. This was a
first ever FITASC tournament for the Travelers.

Three parcours were used, the Snipe Parcours, located along the edge
of a deep bowl offered high and low on-edge targets, going away and
outgoing chandelles, crossers from each side, incomers, climbing teal
and overhead going away presentations. The third peg, shot from an
elevated embankment allowed for shooting downhill at targets.

The Quail Parcours was located to the right of the Snipe Parcours and
proved to have the highest scores. The only rabbit target thrown was
from Peg # 1 here in both the singles and pairs. This parcours will
be remembered for it’s quick and confusing pairs. The first simo
pair of Peg # 3 had one shooter after another shooting at the wrong
target first because of Richie’s deceitful presentations.

The Bluebills Pond Parcours was located on the North side of the
preserve separated from the other two. This was shot along a ridge
with all three pegs elevated above the target traps.- RF

On Sunday, the third day of shooting, it was as nice a shooting day
as anyone could ask for with light winds, sunny skies and
temperatures in the 70's. But even with Friday and Saturday's winds
of 20+ mph we had winners placing on all three days.

The Traveler's top FITASC shooter for 2000 is Zaid Siddig and the
Ladies crown goes to Paula Moore. The variety of targets presented
by Richie Frisella Jr. was outstanding as always. Even those that
shot low scores expressed their excitement at the presentations. This
was the Traveler's first Club FITASC Championship, which was limited
to 72 shooters. Guests were allowed to fill any empty spots as
non-competitors. All participants shot 3 parcours in rotation on
either of the three days.

In the guests division, Geoff Gaebe of Addieville East Farm outshot
Andy Duffy on the 3rd peg (pairs) on the Quail Parcours and is very
proud of that. Dave Berquist edged out Andy Duffy for "Top Guest"
after a pre-determined tie-breaker station. Both shot outstanding 66
scores. Top "Lady Guest" was Karen Unsworth 47. Many thanks to all
the Travelers that traveled to Peace Dale.-AA

The 2000 CTSCA FITASC champs are:

HOA Zaid Siddig 59
Class 1 Kevin Goodspeed 58
Class 2 John Hunter 57
Class 3 Lyell Williams 50
Class 4 Robert Solinski 49
Class 5 Josh Hutchinson 46
Class 6 Liz Lockyer 32
Vet John Lawlor 58
Lady Paula Moore 45
* The course was 75 targets

Addendum: FITASC has often been called "the caviar of sporting
clays". The main difference between FITASC and the standard English
sporting we are used to is that in FITASC you never get the same bird
twice. In English sporting, pairs repeated three and four times are
the norm. This means that FITASC never gives you the chance to
"learn" a presentation. FITASC also requires an excellent memory. You
are only shown each bird on the stand once, so it can get confusing
if you are the first shooter on the squad.

A typical station consists of four two-shot singles and two pairs.
Often ALL eight the birds come from different traps. At least five of
them will. You really have to think before each shot. There’s nothing
in the rules that says that FITASC has to be harder than sporting,
but it often is.

The name "FITASC" is variously pronounced "FeeTawsch" by the upwardly
mobile, or "FitTask" by the more linguistically secure. It’s a French
organization (privately owned, by the way).

The initials stand for Federation Internacionale de Tir aux Armes
Sportives de Chasse (pardon the lack of accents, both grave and
acute), literally International Federation of Shooting with Hunting
Arms. The delightful Katy Skahill once commented that it really stood
for Frighteningly Intense Tough-Ass Sporting Clays. Right as always,
Katy. -BB

SHOTGUN WEDDING… Travelers Sandy Goff and Dave Morris want to
announce their forthcoming marriage on the trap range at the Nassau
Sportsmans’ Club on August 6, 2000 at high noon.

Sandy and Dave, we here at Reload! speak for all your fellow
Travelers when we extend to you our best wishes.

NATIONAL WILD TURKY SHOOT… To encourage participation in this
Travelers co-sponsored shoot at Tamarack last month, we ran a
concurrent championship adding the scores of our monthly Travelers
May shoot to those of the Turkey shoot.

And the Winners are:

HOA Vinny LaScalza
Class I Mike Horodski
Class II Godfrey Shelton
Class III Martin Schroeder
Class IV Scott Tweedie
Lady Susie Clarke
Vet Butch Tennison
Jr George Kaiser, Jr.

HOA Vinny LaScalza, still blushing from his recent elevation to the
Olympian staff of Reload!, was awarded a beautiful NWTF framed print.
All winners received coveted Travelers gift certificates.

With the Travelers support the shoot had 154 guns this year, up from
83 last time. The shoot offered a generous 150 targets over two
separate courses. The course was extra tough, but the prizes were
munificent. Not a turkey in the lot.

AUGUST 11~13… Tattoo this date upside down on your stomach. This way,
as you daily contemplate your navel in deepest thought, you will be
reminded of the Great Eastern Lobsert Classic Shoot hosted by the
Travelers at Addieville, Rhode Island. Telephone (401) 568-3185 or
click on over to <www.addieville.com> for directions, reservations
and hotel listings.

INTERNET READERS:

THE GREAT EASTERN LOBSTER CLASSIC AT ADDIEVILLE, RHODE ISLAND ON
AUGUST 11-13 IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. YOU ARE ALL HEARTILY INVITED TO
COME SEE WHAT TRAVELERS SHOOTS ARE ALL ABOUT.



Your Connecticut Travelers Proudly Present
The Dick Losee Memorial
CLAMBAKE!
Sunday, July 30th
Mid-County Gun Club

That’s right, Travelers. Spring that teal and lob that lobster. It’s
Clambake time! You’ll spend all day shooting and eating. It just
doesn’t get better. No formal prizes because this is a fun shoot, but
there will be plenty of lucky door prizes. The Clambake always
includes enough seafood to ensure a long life with a big brain and
enough clay target shooting to make both irrelevant. After the
shooting, look for steamed clams, clams on the half shell, roast
chicken, corn on the cob, roast potatoes, lobster, lobster, lobster
and desert. BYOLT: Bring Your Own Lobster Tool- unless you want to
use your gun butt. Actually, that’s not such a bad idea as the
lobsters are so big this year that you might have to defend yourself
and it makes sense to be armed. The price is unchanged at $75. The
events start at 9:00 AM. Reservations are limited to the first 150
members. No Guests, please. Members only. The first 150 members to
reserve can shoot like Rippon and dine like Escoffier. Hint: Clambake
usually sells out. Like our Christmas Party, this is one of those
shoots we put in to say "thank you for being a Traveler". Prepaid
reservations must arrive at the CTSCA mother ship no later than 5:00
PM Friday, July 21st so that we can order the correct number of
langoustes from the briny deep. We have included a snip-off coupon
for your convenience. You can practice detaching it with your lobster
tool. Send your check for $75 made out to "CTSCA" for each Clambaker
to:

CTSCA CLAMBAKE, 91 Park Lane Road, New Milford, CT 06776

Directions to Mid-County Gun Club, Lagrangeville, NY: From
Taconic/Rte 84 intersection, follow Taconic North about 10 miles.
Exit off Taconic at Rte 55 East and take Rte 55 Eastward for about
one mile to Rte 55/Rte 82 junction. Turn Left onto Rte 82 North and
follow Rte 82 North for about one mile to Country Road 89 on your
Right. Turn Right and follow winding Country Road 89 for 3 1/4 miles
to the Mid-County Club entrance on your Right. The Mid-County
telephone number is 914-677-5736. Call if you’re lost and hungry.




*** 2000 CONNECTICUT TRAVELERS SHOOT SCHEDULE ***

JUL 16 ORVIS/SANDANONA-SUMMER TIME, SUMMER TIME
JUL 30 MID-COUNTY-DICK LOSEE MEMORIAL CLAMBAKE
AUG 11-13 ADDIEVILLE-GREAT EASTERN LOBSTER CLASSIC
SEPT 17 FAIRFIELD F&G- SMALL GAUGE CHAMPIONSHIPS
SEPT 30,1* FALL TRIP TO CANADA
OCT 15 MILLBROOK R&G-OKTOBERSCHUTZENFEST
NOV 12 FRIAR TUCK-CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
NOV 26 EAST MOUNTAIN- KOEHLER SOCIETY FUND-RAISER
DEC 17 MID-COUNTY- CHRISTMAS PARTY
* Signifies a proposed date and venue.

*** OTHER SHOOTS OF INTEREST ***
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, CALL AHEAD TO CONFIRM

JUL 22,23 WHALEBACK FARM, NY (716-385-9725) FINGER LAKES CLASSIC
JUL 29,30 PEACE DALE, RI (401-789-3730) NEW ENGLAND FITASC CH
AUG 5,6 SUFFOLK, LI, NY (631-924-4490) NY NSCA STATE CH
AUG 6 PEACE DALE, RI (401-789-3730) SCA SC OPEN
AUG 20 PECONIC, NY (631-727-5248) 100 REGISTERED SPORTING
SEP 10 FRIAR TUCK, NY (800-832-7600) GREEN COUNTY OPEN
SEP 21-24 SANDANONA, NY (413-339-4377 VINTAGE CUP SxS EXPOSITION
OCT 1 PECONIC, NY (631-727-5248) 100 REGISTERED SPORTING
OCT 8,9 FRIAR TUCK, NY (800-832-7600) COLUMBUS DAY 200
NOV 11-12 PECONIC, NY (631-727-5248) SHOOT TO AID WOMEN’S CANCER
NOV 12, 13 PEACE DALE, RI (401-789-3730) FALL FITASC CH
NOV 19 PEACE DALE, RI (401-789-3730) FALL SC OPEN


CONTACTING THE TRAVELERS... CTSCA Home Office: Email
<CTSCA@email.com> (by far the best way) or telephone 860-354-9351 if
you absolutely must. Membership, Address Changes and Shooting Class:
Contact Cyndi Dalena at 860-584-1083, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Leave
message. Or Email <shotguncyndi@prodigy.net> Reload! To place an ad
or post a shoot date, contact Bruce Buck at 203-454-1080 (worst way)
or <bbuck@juno.com> (best way). The current and previous issues of
Reload! are posted on the internet at <www.shotgunreport.com>.



**** THE UPCOMING TRAVELERS MONTHLY SHOOT ****

SUNDAY, JULY 16
SUMMER TIME, SUMMER TIME
ORVIS/SANDANONA
MILLBROOK, NY

"It’s summer time, summer time, sum- sum- summer time." Doo-wah,
doo-wah, doo. Is golf clubbing you to death? Is sailing all wet? Are
the aunts worse than the ants at the family picnic? Well, take it
easy! Too much summer can be stressful. You will be a much happier
person if you come on out and shoot something. Really you will. There
is nothing like snapping a few caps to help you forget the grueling
hours you are forced to spend on the beach while pretending to read
the Sunday Times behind those mirrored sunglasses. Always one of our
biggest shoots of the year, Orvis/Sandanona once again welcomes the
Travelers to their superlative facility. You just know that Brian
Long’s course will be innovative and Peggy Long’s organization will
be flawless. Sandanona doesn’t need any selling. It’s one of
sporting’s crown jewels. The drill should be familiar to all of you
by now. Arrive by 9:00 AM and check off your name at the scorer’s
table. You WILL have pre-registered by Thursday, July 13, so everyone
will be presquadded with the usual Travelers eye-popping efficiency.
We should be ready to roll by 9:45 AM. You can devote the intervening
minutes to ingesting all the coffee and doughnuts that the human body
can tolerate. After all, you have to survive until you are served a
magnificent al fresco luncheon under the Orvis marquee. That
restorative luncheon is also essential so that you have the strength
to walk to the front of the room to accept one of the lavish prizes.
All this for a paltry, piddling pittance of $60 for members, $70 for
guests. That’s a lot less than you tip the cabin boy when you take
your yacht to Newport. Guests ARE welcome at this shoot. The guest
fee is $70. Bring a friend. Just make sure that we have your paid
reservations in our hands no later than Thursday, July 13. No
cancellations after that date. You know the deal. The usual sub-gauge
handicaps will apply just as they always do.

Directions to Orvis/Sandanona, Millbrook, NY: From Taconic parkway
North take the NY Rte 44 (Millbrook) exit. Go Right off exit ramp
onto Rte 44 heading East for 1.5 miles to Rte 44-A. Bear Left onto
Rte 44-4. Go 1.2 miles to Orvis/Sandanona sign and driveway on Left.
If lost, call Sandanona at 914-677-9701.

NOTE: EYE AND EAR PROTECTION ARE MANDATORY AT ALL TRAVELERS’ SHOOTS!