2010 WC Ben Avery - Jan 27-31

Arizona Winter Chain Shoot, Ben Avery Shooting Complex North of Phoenix January 27-31, 2010

Ben Avery Shooting Complex North of Phoenix will wrap up the Chain shoot tomorrow with the Championship Handicap with the shoot being one of its best attended Registered Shoots in years. Close to 25 squads have been competing in a number of events according to Paul Doetsch registered shoot manager.

Beautiful weather greeted shooters on Friday and Saturday when I was there. Bob and Annie Munson have been big winners. Bob won Thursday's handicap with a 98, and broke 200 in today's singles which will also settle a singles carryover from yesterday while Annie among other wins won today's ladies with 198. There may have been one other 200 in today's singles, but I left the grounds before the event was completed.

North Dakota Shooters were lead by Gerald Wendel with 196 followed by Stan Petz with 193 both of whom broke 99 in one leg of the singles. Both Carl Anderson and Leonard Raddohl were in the 90's in the first 100, but weren't quick to share their 200 bird event scores with me.

Sunday and Monday shooters on the chain will head for Casa Grande Trap Club for next Weeks Chain Shoot. More shooters are joining the Shoot every weekend with probably the greatest number being down here for the Spring Grand in late February. I hear that Bill Suda is staying at the Tucson Gun Club as Orrin Johnsen is now staying. Orrin apparently has the flu, but don't know why Bill was up, but of course he may drive up for tomorrows handicap.

Among the North Dakotans shooters expected to join the Winter chain by the time of the Spring Grand in Tucson not already here are; Cody Tangsrud, Bob Reis, Louis Kuster, Jason Folvag, Don Ackerson, Brian Knutson, JoMarie Knutson, Dean Rohrich, Mike Kempel, Jim Kempel, Dennis Powell, Jesse Molstre, Ty Hochhalter, Dwight Knutson Tim Kaffar, Blaine Dukart;Dennis Bratlien;Don and Nancy Boehmer among others.

Annie Munson with Gerald Wendel at the seat of the Munson ATV. Gerald was wondering if he drove it for a few days whether it would help him break that 200th bird. Don't know if he and Bob came to an arrangement or not.

Gerald and Bob and Annie Munson

Gerald Wendel, William Peterson, Alan Radway and Trevor Dawe. Alan is the most recently elected ATA Vice President from Alberta with William "Bill" Peterson and Trevor Dawe friends of his from Alberta. Bill Peterson broke 100 to Win Senior Vets yesterday. Alan was delegate when I was years ago and was kind enough to let me use his computer in the delegates room at the Grand the one year I couldn't get my computer to make a connection when I was.

Paul Doetsch, Ben Avery Registered Shoot Manager and one of his pullers discuss plans for the 2nd 100 in Saturday's singles event. The club was almost overwhelmed with yesterdays turnout, but has the flexibility of a number of more traps and was quickly able to adjust for yesterdays handicap although had to carry over the doubles until this morning. Having done that I think another 8 traps were opened up which made it possible to complete today's 200 singles event in good time this afternoon.

Shooters like Ben Avery and would like to see the club's long range plans for perhaps 20 or more traps and an expanded area for motor homes and trailers which would make it possible to bring the Spring Grand back to Phoenix, but with the stress on public funding for anything in Arizona it may take awhile to get the work done. The complex I believe is held in some kind of a trust managed over all by the State of Arizona Game and Fish Department for the sole use as a shooting complex.

North Dakota Shooters ;Leonard Raddohl, Carl Anderson and Stan Petz waiting for lunch.

Leonard, Carl and Stan find a table and shade for lunch

Ben Avery Squadding and sign up trailer at Registered Shoots