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MAY 2001 NEWSLETTER
© Bruce Buck, editor

In Memoriam PETER GURNEY

The Travelers mourn the loss of our good friend and fellow Traveler
Peter Gurney. Peter succumbed after a long illness on April 1, 2001.
He was one of our earliest Travelers and will be sorely missed by all
who were privileged to know him.

TAX TIME REVOLT by Lans Christensen

For the 85 Travelers who were able to sit up and take nourishment
after April 15, the day at The Newgate Coon Club was a healing and
positive experience. The Coon Club is in Norfolk, CT, the tiny part
of our state that does, in fact, extend above the Arctic Circle. I’m
surprised to find that some atlases have also missed this
distinction. Ask a Norfolkian. Summer came early though and blessed
us with a glorious day of sun and near 80 degrees. Even the odd knee
poked out between high boots and long shorts.

Some background on the Coon Club is in order. In November of 1999,
Bob invited a handful of shooting friends to the Coon Club to try the
"7 stand" which he had carved out by himself (and some very helpful
young friends and relations). Traps and stations were in the cleared
area (where we shot #11-#14 on Sunday). We enjoyed the shooting,
later rolling rocks into a circle for a fire and speculating that
there was great potential there. On every visit since that
inauguration, we were knocked out by his progress and efforts. He cut
new stations almost weekly, found new traps, and created a formidable
shooting ground.

There is some serious terrain on the property: rocky bluffs, dense
forest and the usual New England jungle brush. He has used every
facet to provide a wonderful variety of target presentations. But if
you’d asked him back in Nov 1999, could the Travelers have a shoot
there in 16 months?

Ten days prior to our shoot, they had a Good Friday event. Bob and
helpers spent 14 hours in back of snow blowers just to access a
handful of stations. There were still a few traces of s–w left when
we shot on Sunday. Where did it all go? It became water, so they
spent the remaining few days digging drainage and building walkways.
Bottom line: a monumental effort, appreciated by each and every lucky
Traveler who made the trip.

Our 14-station course had it all. Didn’t you like that floater that
wobbled down off the cliff on #2? Barely thrown hard enough to get it
going, the target had almost no spin and literally "wafted" down
towards you. Many shooters got a wake up call when they booted the
first one. Taking it earlier before the hypnosis took over also gave
time to set up for the following overhead bird.

#6 deserves mention: Bob’s trademark is an off-the-chart wacko rabbit
and he outdid himself again. These hop n’ stop bunnies challenged
every technique we could employ. My only thought is that skill was
not rewarded more than luck here. When woodsy stations finally opened
up on #12, they took advantage of the room and threw a beautiful long
crosser, preceded by a target thrown from behind the box and going
away and dropping.

Compliments were abundant: Lavert Cypher said he got some new ideas
for his Millbrook R & G targets. Bruce Galotto appreciated the
subtleties that forced the shooter to plan where to take that first
target, so that the second would be more easily hit.

We all returned to the charming clubhouse to find good cheer aplenty.
The bar has been raised again for our dining standards. This time
Therese Kelley prepared a grand feast that had us all applauding. The
variety of entrees satisfied carnivores, omnivores, and even those of
the veggie persuasion. Therese’s husband Ed managed the lively
traffic at the bar and uniformed waitresses managed the dining room,
linen napery and all.

At the awards, HOA Mike Horodyski graciously shared some kind words
about the day and about the Travelers. A few of the die-hards
finished the day on the front porch, unwilling to let any sunshine
get away. It re-affirmed the good things about the CTSCA: Hard,
unselfish workers (I.E. Dean Anglace had his gun ready and his vest
on, but when a trapper didn’t show, he put his gear back in the car
and trapped for the day..Thanks!) Most of all…good people, good
friends, sharing a warm day. As Howdy used to say: Next time they may
all break!


HOA Mike Horodyski 85
I-1 Paul Elia 81
I-2 Bill Bretschager 79
I-3 Godfrey Shelton 78
II-1 Vincent Salvo 74
II-2 John Hyrncewich 71
II-3 Dave Wister 70
III-1 Martin Schroeder 78
III-2 Kurt Willinger 69*
III-3 Joe Lachick 69
IV-1 Fran Gallogly 65
IV-2 Paul Cahan 64
IV-3 Chris Harvey 63
V-1 Kathy Knapp 60
V-2 Lewis Pennell 59*
V-3 Emile Dorizzi 59
VI-1 Peter Hoffman 49
VI-2 Simone Renzuella 36
VI-3 Jack Buchmiller 33
Ldy-1 Ginny Tennison 65*
Ldy-2 Anna Maria Collins 65
Ldy-3 Sue Foster 61
Vet-1 Peter McCree 72
Vet-2 Al Anglace 71
Vet-3 Alex Jesudowich 69
Jr-1 Sal Renzuella 55
Jr-2 Luke Sproviero 46
Jr-3 Tristan Pennell 25
Guest Doug Moore 69
*Ties decided by tie-breaker station


EAST MEETS WEST MEETS SOUTH

by Danni Jesudowich

Over 50 tenacious Travelers, gung-ho Georgians, and persistent
Pennsylvanians drove to the Eastern Shore through torrents of rain to
spend March 30~April 1 shooting sporting clays!

What did they find when they got there? No rain! Other than a few
sprinkles on Saturday morning, the weekend was the first dry Maryland
excursion we’ve had in three years!

Sporting, Five-stand, food, drink, and friendships were the order of
the weekend and the crowd had a ball!

First, Hopkins. A bit windy, therefore cold, but everyone made it
through the rain and saw some wonderful targets. With the background
sounds from the Aberdeen Proving Ground serenading us, we were
smashing and banging targets all over the place!

Dinner that evening was the first chance the folks from the Georgia
Social Shooting Club and the Travelers got to chat. The lovely
cocktail party the Traveler’s sponsored was just the ticket for all
of us to meet, greet, and have a terrific time. Though the
Traveler’s aren’t called the Connecticut Traveler’s Social Shooting
club, we proved that we are VERY social. So much so, that during the
evening, we put all the shooter’s names in a bowl and drew names for
squads for the next morning at J&P!

With everyone shooting with someone they had never met before,
friendships were not only made, but also cemented! Again, proving
what a wonderful group of people shoot Sporting.

After a fabulous luncheon buffet and a few rounds of 5-stand, we all
headed for Alexander’s.

To be consistent with every previous trip to Maryland, the directions
from J&P to Alexander’s were, uh, suspect. However, motivated by the
promise of even more shooting, most found their way. Alexander’s was
a wonderful surprise! The targets were interesting, challenging and
their 5-stand was great fun.

After shooting we all met for dinner and the party continued. Al
made a touching presentation to Bert & Jane Schmitz in recognition
for all their hard work and dedication to the Georgia Social Shooting
Club. The group recognized a milestone birthday for Traveler Dick
Orenstein (he can divulge the milestone!) and recognized Bill Drake’s
retirement from United Airlines. There was singing and great
laughter. Does it get any better? Oh yes, there were door prizes to
boot!

Sunday morning, after losing an hour of sleep the night before, we
all arrived at Chesapeake Clays. Now, lesser shooters would have
been too tired. Not this group! By 10:00 am, we were all on the
course and crushing birds!

The soul of the weekend is best described in the following comment by
Vinny La Scalza:

"One of the most extraordinary things about this past weekend in
Maryland was the quick and effortless friendship and camaraderie
established between groups of people that had never met each other.
Over three sporting clay courses and during two fine dinners,
shooters from Pittsburgh, Atlanta, and the Connecticut Travelers met
and became fast friends. Clays, grits, and steel turned out to mix
very well.

Why do people who shoot sporting clays get along so well? Is there a
lesson to be learned here for everyone else who does not shoot clay
targets? Maybe everyone should be introduced into our sport like
mandatory military service for the good of the country.

The whole weekend was a celebration of challenging tower shots, and
making new friends. Long after the towers disappear from our
memories, though, the friendships will remain. Eloise breaking
targets with a new Beretta, while Mark 1 and Mark 2 from Pittsburgh
were busy bringing Alexander’s to its knees. Ted and Sue mastering
the 5 stand at J & P, while Dom, Bill, and Joe were being led around
the Chesapeake course by a psycho who demanded "nightmare"
presentations from the trapper. These are some of the memories that
I will never forget. "

[And here's a note from Bert Schmitz, President of Georgia's SSC]

Mr. Al,

The SSC shooters were impressed! All will be back next year plus
some others I am sure.

Your personal hospitality was especially noted by all of the SSC
shooters. Jane & I are particularly appreciative of the very special
treatment we received Saturday night. The sculpture owns the place
of honor in our living room.

The SSC newsletter will contain a trip report.

Thanks again for everything and please promote the idea of the CTSC
shooters taking advantage of the SSC's hospitality offer. If they
come to Georgia, they will be our honored guests.

Bert & Jane Schmitz

HAND-HELD HOWITZER SYMPOSIUM

by Der Howitzer Meister

February 25th the morning dawned steel gray and sleeting. Perfect for
a waterfowler and his trusty 10 bore. Seven hearty shooters braved
the weather for the Second Annual Ten Gauge Shoot. Camo clad in mossy
oak, and WWII marsh camo they trundled their 11 1/2 lb. 30" autos to
the first stand and produced 2 1/2 lb boxes of 3 1/2" magnum steel
that closely resembled Al’s #53 ring Macanudos.

The shooters seated themselves in the goose chair and shot the
mergansers in the pilings, a downhill right to left crossing shot
between the birch trees at about 10 yards. The second stand was a
pair of targets coming in from behind and settling in about 50 yards
in front of the gunners, also shot from the goose chair.

By the time the shooters had finished the third stand, a pair of 50
yard incoming crossers, they had figured out that 1450 fps magnum
steel only required about 12"-14" of lead at 50 yards or so. Station
# 4 was the 10 gauge teal. A team shot from the duck blind stand
where 2 shooters shot 4 crossing targets - 2 from the left and 2 from
the right. The kind of concussion coming out of this blind usually
only comes airmail from B-52’s or Ted Kazinski. The whole shoot was
shot with full use of the gun on all targets. Some of the lads
thought that the third shell was for dispatching the errant cripple
target that landed on the snow with much raucous encouragement from
the gallery.

Station # 6 was "broadbill crossing the point". A pair of separated
driven targets about 10’ over the shooters head thrown from an
over-stressed red spring. About this time the shooters were asking
the Howitzer meister and the host George Holomakoff where the
‘feel-good" station was. Regrettably we were forced to inform them
that the course was set to replicate all of the truly memorable moves
that our feathered friends had put on us over the years. This was
followed by a chorus of disharmonic groaning and giggling which was
music to our ears. The seventh stand was the snow goose and true to
form they never wanted to get inside of 70 yards or so.

Station #8 was the infamous "outhouse goose" but the wind and sleet
kept the targets settling in about 45-50 yards out. Nearing the end,
stations #9 and #10 were East Mountain specials of knuckle balls and
trappers’ revenge.

The shoot average was a 38 out of 75. The high score of the day
belonged to Dean Anglace with a 47.

If you think you are up to the challenge and want to be considered
for the 3rd Annual Hand-Held Howitzer Invitational Shoot next year,
talk to Ted Knapp after the first snow flies.



**** THE UPCOMING TRAVELERS FITASC SHOOT ****

FRIDAY, JUNE 1~SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2001
TRAVELERS FITASC CHAMPIONSHIP
PEACE DALE SHOOTING PRESERVE
PEACE DALE, RI

FITASC is the caviar of sporting clays and no one dishes out bigger
or better portions of it than Richie Frisella at Peace Dale Shooting
Preserve in Rhode Island.

Peace Dale is hosting the Connecticut Travelers Club FITASC
Championship. It’s a 75 bird event. Obviously, space is extremely
limited. It always is with FITASC. You can shoot at any ONE of the
following four times:

Friday June 1st, 1:30 PM- 18 guns
Saturday, June 2nd 9:30 AM- 18 guns
Saturday, June 2nd 1:30 PM-18 guns
Sunday, June 3rd 9:30 AM-18 guns

Cost: $70 (Juniors are $35) includes coffee, donuts, luncheon and
awards. Reservation and prepayment is required and must be received
by Tuesday, May 29. Make your check out to "Peace Dale Shooting
Preserve".

Mail prepaid reservations to: [NOTE DIFFERENT ADDRESS]

CTSCA FITASC
c/o Peace Dale Shooting Preserve
441 Rose Hill Road
Peace Dale, RI 02879

When you reserve, please indicate 1st and 2nd time preference.
Squadding with your buddies is OK if you all reserve together.

Please include your mailing address, telephone number and email
address. Peace Dale will get back to you to confirm your time and
date.

Guests are welcome, but only if there are openings after all members
have been accommodated. Call on Wednesday, May 30 to inquire for
guests.

Open shooting will be available all three days so you will have
plenty to do both before and after your FITASC. Club prices for
Sporting will be $15/50 and a practice FITASC parcours for $8.00.

DIRECTIONS: I-95 to Rhode Island Exit 3A (Rte 138 East). Take 138
East towards Kingston for 11.7 miles. Turn Right onto Rose Hill Road.
Go 3/4 mile on Rose Hill to Peace Dale Shooting Preserve entrance on
Left. Club telephone is 401-789-3730 if you stray.

EYE AND EAR PROTECTION ARE MANDATORY AT TRAVELERS’ SHOOTS!



*** 2001 CONNECTICUT TRAVELERS SHOOT SCHEDULE ***

MAY 6 EAST MOUNTAIN- COURTING CLAYS
MAY 20 TAMARACK-MAY MINUET
JUN 2-3 PEACE DALE- CLUB FITASC CHAMPIONSHIPS
JUN 23 TAMARACK-NATIONAL TURKEY FEDERATION
JUL 15* ORVIS SANDANONA-SUMMER TIME, SUMMER TIME
JUL 28* MID-COUNTY-DICK LOSEE MEMORIAL CLAMBAKE
* date pending

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

MAY 5~6 ADDIEVILLE, RI (401-568-3185) RUGER ALL AROUND
MAY 19 FRIAR TUCK, NY (800-832-7600) COUPLES FUN SHOOT
MAY 16~20 M&M SPORTING (856-935-1230) US OPEN
MAY 25~27 HOMESTEAD, VA (800-838-1766) HOMESTEAD CUP
JUN 6 PAWLING MTN, NY (203-452-1639) DU SHOOT
JUN 16 FIN, FUR, FEATHER, CT (860-429-6566) DU SC SHOOT
JUN 16,17 OMMELANDEN, DE (856-299-1820) WOMEN ON TARGET
JUN 22~24 HOPKINS, MD (410-348-5287) GREAT AMERICAN
JUN 30~JUL 1 ADDIEVILLE, RI (401-568-3185) NESCA/WORLD SENIORS SC CH
JUL 5~8 CARIBOU GC, MN (800-672-3936) PAN-AM FITASC WORLD CUP
JUL 22 ADDIEVILLE, RI (401-568-3185) NORTHEAST DU SC OPEN
JUL 27~29 PEACE DALE, RI (401-789-3730) NEW ENGLAND FITASC CH
JUL 28~29 J&P, MD (410-438-3832) BLUE CRAB CLASSIC

CONTACTING THE TRAVELERS...

CTSCA Home Office: Email <CTSCA@email.com> or telephone 860-354-9351.
Membership, Address Changes and Shooting Class status: Email Cyndi
Dalena at <shotguncyndi@prodigy.net> or call 860-584-1083 between
9:00 AM and 5:00 PM..

Reload! To place an ad or post a shoot date, contact Bruce Buck at
tel: 203-454-1080 (worst way), fax 707-215-0668 (second worst way) or
<bcb23@columbia.edu>(da winnah!).



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

SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2001
MAY MINUET
TAMARACK PRESERVE
MILLBROOK, NY

Ta dah! We have May’d it through the winter. It is time for our
annual May Minuet. This signals the beginning of the Good Times, so
let ‘em roll. Rollez les bonnes temps to you Cajuns out there.
There is gunning along with the gavottes, grins and garlands as we
turn that May pole into a smoke pole. Sweet spring air will be
redolent with the attar of progressive burning flake powders. The
happy chirps of fledgling robins will mingle with the majestic thumps
of the first really serious clay target shooting of the year. Be
there or be square.

In June our shoot is also at Tamarack, honoring the National Wild
Turkey Federation. In addition to the usual awards, there will be
prizes for the best combined scores at these two Tamarack shoots.
Make sure to shoot both. Minuet and turkey together? It's the Turkey
Trot!

The cost of your dance card will be $65. This will not only include
Bob Vanacek’s fiendishly delightful targets guaranteed to get you
spinning about with or without music. It also includes the usual
upper-middle class eats that Tamarack is so justly famous for. The
band cranks up at 9:00 AM. MEMBERS ONLY PLEASE. NO GUESTS AT THIS
SHOOT.

Directions to Tamarack Preserve, Millbrook, NY:

From the junction of US 84/US 684/NY 22 take NY 22 North to the
traffic light in Amenia. Go West on NY 44 for 2.9 miles to Turkey
Hollow Road on Left. Look for Tamarack sign.

From the Taconic Parkway, take the NY 44 exit. Go East on NY 44 for
1.7 miles. go Left onto NY 44-A heading East for 3.2 miles and then
back onto NY 44 East. Continue on NY 44 East for 6.7 miles to Turkey
Hollow Road on Right. Look for Tamarack sign.

If lost, strayed or stolen, the Tamarack Preserve number is
914-373-7084.

EYE AND EAR PROTECTION ARE MANDATORY AT TRAVELERS’ SHOOTS!