We are in a new target year and shooting is picking up in Illinois again. Over the Labor Day weekend, Brittany Shooting Park held the Illini Indian/Silver Dollar shoot. On Saturday, Steven Margherio won Doubles. Logan Hawkins won Singles and Stephen Chen won Handicap. On Sunday, Landon Sievers won Doubles, Leland Hassler won Singles, and Logan Hawkins won Handicap. On Monday, Brandy Cox won Doubles, Randy Miller won Singles and Ty Leach won Handicap.
The following weekend Downers Grove hosted the Illinois Northern Zone shoot. On Saturday, in miserable weather, Chase Horton won the In-Zone Singles and Mike Westjohn won the Out-of-Zone award. In much better weather on Sunday, Frank Bentley Jr. won the In-Zone Doubles and Brad Bomkamp won the Handicap. Randy Miller won the Out-of-Zone Doubles and Steve Carver won the Handicap. Frank Bentley Jr. won the In-Zone HAA and Randy Miller won the Out-of-Zone HAA. Good shooting all of you! Keep it up to show the quality of Illinois shooting.
I want to mention a couple of noteworthy milestones reached by Illinois shooters. Brenda Dennis, wife of All American and ISTA Board member, Mike Dennis, has shot 25,000 Handicap targets. Keep it up, Brenda and kick Mike's butt in the future. Chase Horton achieved his Grand Slam at the Kentucky State Shoot with a 100 in Handicap. Chase never fails to impress any more! Great shooting!
One thing I hate to do is talk about shooters who have passed and sadly Illinois has lost three lately. Karen Vanderveen was a long time trap shooter and was a long time Secretary of the Illini Indians. Alan Portzen was a fixture at the Illinois State shoot for years and a wonderful woodworker. You have a treasure if you have a stock he worked on. I did not know Jim Fish but I'm sorry he has passed. Condolences to the family and friends of these three people. Your passing has diminished us all.
Finally, I want to give a shoutout to two random acts of kindness I have seen lately. Judy Wegner, Illinois ATA Hall of Famer, graciously gave a leather bag she won to a young lady who came in second to her and Landon Sievers gave money he won to the Illinois Hall of Fame. These two acts show the character of both these individuals. Thanks, Judy and Landon. People like you are the reason I enjoy this sport so much.
Let's get out and shoot nice fall weather targets before winter sets in.
Bill Duncan, ATA Delegate