Ohio State Shoot locations

What was its first year in Vandalia and where was it held in years past?

 

George S. McCarty (2nd ATA President) spent months away from home overseeing the construction of the ATA home grounds and had things operational for the Central Ohio Trapshooter's League shoot in July 1924. This allowed time to correct any problems before the 1st Grand American Handicap. Mr. McCarty was honored to fire the first official opening shot at Vandalia.

In 1923, Chicago hosted the Grand American.

At least that's what I recall reading . . . . . but I'm starting to get old and might be corrected by someone younger and smarter.

HB

 

1963 the state shoot was held at Vandalia thru 2005. Except in 1981 when it was held at Middletown I believe it had been held in Vandalia a few times before, but I'm not sure. I shot our state shoot in 57 59 & 61 at Middletown and 58 60 &62 at Fisher Brothers in Findlay. This in later years was Jaquas. The 1947 shoot was held at the Indian Lake Gun Club in Russell Point. Also in earlier years League of Ohio shoots and I believe some Okoboji Indian shoots were held in Vandalia.

Dave Berlet

 

Oooooppps! Sorry for answering a question you didn't ask. I should take a little more time to read and understand.

You would think I'd learn not to comment after a couple Maker's Marks.

Thank you Dave Berlet.

HB

 

As stated above, the Vandalia homegrounds was not ready for shooting until July 1924.

Ohio State tournaments were held on the ATA grounds at Vandalia each June from 1925 - 1934.

In 1935 the Mahoning Valley GC in Youngstown hosted the OSTA state shoot.

Toledo was the site for the OSTA's golden anniversary shoot in 1936.

In 1937 is went to Bucyrus.

The ATA homegrgounds hosted the Ohio state shoot in 1938.

Columbus Gun Club (Columbus) was selected for the state shoot in 1941, 1942 & 1943.

Crystal Lake GC in Medway had the 1944 shoot.

In 1945, the annual tournament was held under the auspices of the Toledo Trap & Skeet Club.

Crystal Lake GC again hosted the State Shoot in 1946.

The shoot moved to Russell's Point in 1947, hosted by the Indian Lake GC.

The ATA homegrounds was the location of the 1948 state shoot.

For the first time, the Ohio State Shoot was held at Middletown in 1949. This gun club was chosen in 1950 & 1951.

The Fisher Brother's club at Findlay had the shoot in 1952.

The shoot went back to Middletown in 1953.

The 1954 tournament was again held at the Fisher Bros.

Middletown was the site in 1955, 57, 59 & 61.

Findlay was the site in 1956, 58, & 60.

The ATA homegrounds at Vandalia was the site in 1962.

In 1924 the Ohio State Shoot was held at the Columbus Gun Club.

Hope this helps.

HB

 

In 1947 the Indian Lake gun added an additional trap making it a 6 trap club. My father George Berlet installed the trap in the new traphouse and he was the trap mechanic during the State Shoot. In both 1957 and 1958 Middletown and Findlay had 8 programs for the State Shoots. If my memory serves me well I believe that the most traps used for the Vandalia State Shoots was 40 program traps. I believe that the Ohio Association voted in 1962 to take the State Shoot to Vandalia and with the agreement in place the shoot returned to Vandalia in 1963.

Dave Berlet

 

Dave, did they use these back then ?

 

Yes they did. I'm not sure but it looks like that may be a Black Diamond trap.The pull rod that would go from the back of the trap house to the trip stand which was located behind the back side of the walk way was run through a larger pipe that was underground and was slightly lower in the middle and it was filled with oil so the pull rod would slide easily and make a little less work for the puller. Then along came the Cline Pull that tripped the trap electrically. Everyone thought that this was the ultimate, but look where we are now with the automatic traps and the voice calls. Not to mention the shorter targets and the narrower angles. Also bringing the plastic wads and cases into the game and we actually have a totally different game than the shooters had up until about the middle 1950's.

When I started shooting the doubles targets were thrown a full 50 yards the same as the single's targets were. Also when you shot 4 different traps for singles, handicap, and doubles with a different puller normally on each trap it often times was an adventure when you went from trap to trap. I guess this is progress' but weather this has actually made the sport better I would say is questionable? 50, 60 years there were so many more variables that our sport is much different than it was then.

What do you think?

Dave Berlet

 

Dave,

This is actually one of the Western White-Flyer "Auto Angle" traps. This particular one was the first trap I set targets on at my old club back in NY state. In 1951 during the NY State shoot, a young Dick Baldwin set targets on this trap while his Dad Cliff cashiered the event. I rescued this, and other traps I set targets on at my old club (through auction) and saved them from the melting pot.

Gone are the days of these gems and the Remington "Wonder Traps" in the skeet houses that came in a variety of colors that we used.

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