The NC State Closed Skeet Championship was held 13-15 September at the Fort Bragg Clay Target Center. A total of 88 shooters, including 15 youth, participated. Despite the heat, shooters posted some great scores and had a great time on the skeet fields!
Friday started with 62 of the 88 shooters entering the doubles event. Chris Bates was Champion with the lone 99. Four scores of 98 shot-off with Stuart Brown Runner-Up and Randy Browning Third.
Saturday evening events started with the induction of Henry Grubb and Jim & Belinda Tiner in the NC State Skeet Association Hall of Fame. They were each awarded the Albert S. Tufts Service Award.
- Henry Grubb was a member of the NSSA and an avid skeet shooter for many years, until his passing in December 2018. He loved working with youth, teaching them the basics of skeet and encouraging several to shoot competitive skeet. He also devoted 30 years working with the West Davidson Hunter Safety Education Team. His wife, Cheryl, accepted the award.
- Jim and Belinda Tiner are known for hosting shoots at the Fort Bragg Clay Target Center for 15 years and big supporters of the youth shooters. Fort Bragg has been the site for major shoots including two Junior World Skeet Championships, the Krieghoff Masters, U.S. Open, Armed Services Skeet Championships, Zone Championships, and State Championships. Also, Jim has served in various positions to further skeet shooting within the State, Zone and National level.
Saturday evening continued with 12 gauge and 20 gauge shoot-offs. There were 4 scores of 100 in the 12 gauge event. Shane Self shot his first 100 straight in 12 gauge and went on to win Gun Champion in a shoot-off with 3 other shooters. Jack Ross was Runner-Up and Mason Watkins was Third. The 20 gauge event was exciting with a shoot-off of 9 scores of 100 straight. Trace Davis was Champion, Donnie Parks Runner-up, and Victoria Stellato Third.
The 28 Gauge Champion was Kevin Hostinsky with the only 100 straight. There were 11 scores of 99—with Robert Pope taking Runner-Up and Wally Merritt Third. The shoot-off for 410 Champion was won by Stuart Brown and Noah Dove was Runner-Up. Riley Dellinger won a shoot-off for Third.
It was an exciting event for Addison Wallace, a sub-junior who shot her first 25 straight in 28 gauge. She just started shooting in March; her home club is Gastoina Skeet and Trap Range.
Sunday concluded with Grayson Williams, a junior shooter, posting a 395 to win the HOA title out-right. Runner up was Victoria Stellato (394), and Donnie Parks was Third (393).
Other HOA winners were Riley Dellinger AAA, Kevin Hostinsky AA, Trace Davis A, Wally Merritt B, Russell Bingham C, Doug Brown D, Trace Davis Sub-Junior, Grayson Williams Junior, Riley Dellinger Collegiate, and Victoria Stellato Lady.
Military Champion