MY Friend was at the Grand American last Wednesday

He took a picture down the walkway on Vendor row at 1:00pm and it was almost Vacant, he could not believe how few people were there

I saw the pictures he took, hardly anyone

GB........................DLS

 

Last Wednesday was the first day. Understandable not many people there yet.

 

Typical for vendor row and a big complaint. You don't have a boardwalk with folks meandering past vendors like Vandalia or over at the Cardinal Center. It is set up like a vacation at the beach at a condo. You go to the beach and walk across the road to the condo or your car.

 

Huh? The ATA told the media there was 30,000 competitors.

30,000 COMPETITORS !!!!! On the 5th!!!!!

 

Keep in mind the ATA per their agent Lynn ( the Talking Head ) Gipson has used numbers that never have nor will they ever be reached ... He has said 20 to 30 million dollars in and around Sparta, and into the local and regional economy so many times even he is starting to believe it ... The local WalMart did do a very brisk business as usual but shell sales were down slightly because of restrictions set by the Politics in the State of Illinois ... Total number in all events : 30, 587 (not verified) so that means each time a person signed up they got counted again kind of like voting in Chicago ... This is not something to be proud of but the most entry's in any one event was event #21 with 1937 , the grand American Championship (event #24) had 1784 shooter turn out ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

Congratulations to all of the big little winners ...

 

WPT...you are getting the story wrong. WSIL said the ATA made it very clear they were talking about competitors. They said that by the 5th tens of thousands had shown up. The story had nothing to do with entries. I called WSIL. Same story from several people.

 

So, You are telling me that at the grand American Trapshooting Championships, less than 2,000 competitors would compete in any one of all of the events ..? If they had 30,000 competitors at the facility I would have to imagine more than 1784 people would shoot the grand American Handicap or at least one of the events ... I'm not buying it and based on what several people who are there saying its not very crowded and there are many open spaces all over the place in the camp grounds I'm not buying into the theory (claim) that there are 30,000 competitors on the grounds of the facility ... The news media has a tendency to dramatize and inflate (grossly) the news to make it more interesting to the viewing public, I feel and sincerely believe this is one of those instances ... When the Governor was at the site the media's camera man surely would of panned the crowd that would of (probably) gathered to show how packed they were ... Sorry, but I am not buying it, nope ain't gonna do it ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

WSIL said they were only quoting exactly what shoot management told them. They implied the grossly wrong numbers were from the ATA. As someone posted WSIL first changed the numbers then pulled the whole story.

 

Read post #5 , posted by me which pretty much tells the story ... Inflated numbers started a long time before Sparta, by the ATA to impress the States and city of Sparta's representatives ... Looking at all of the people in Vandalia would give you the impression there were a lot more than there really was ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

And we all know the media ALWAYS reports things accurately.

 

Just got back from the Grand. It was my first as a competitor. I kept an Open mind and I did learn allot. I have visited the Grand when it wav s still in Vandailia a couple of times when I was home on leave. It's True to a Point Sparta doesn't have the same CLOSE FEEMLING as Vandailia did. But hey that's in the History books now. I will be back next year. I can see room for improvement. But overall we had a Great Time. Weather was Hot and Humid, but ya can't control Mother Nature. Only Your Own Actions. I know Dave Berlet was there and competed, I missed him. I'm sure he can comment with some thoughts. Saturdays Remington Grand American Handicap. I shoot the 25 yd C penalty line with an 80 in the rain and light wind if any. At least I know my mistakes on at least 7 of those lost birds. I was on Squad #356, the last squad was #452. My Normal 19 yd D w/84 avg. Guess you can say I was Sandbagging ?? there were plenty of Trapshooters from All over the States and some from other Country's. Guess not ALL IS LOST for those who want to SUPPORT OUR SPORT of TRAPSHOOTING. For those who sat back on the 50 yard line and can only complain about Sparta and not Support or Participate in the Sport. All I can say is. Just Maybe YOUR PART the Problem. JMHO

 

Since when does supporting Sparta Illinois = Supporting Trapshooting

Supporting a gun hate state doesn't promote shooting. My $$$$ wont go there. Sorry you did.

 

Sorry Brent, but that line of bs your spewing is far from the truth, going to Sparta Illinois and the grand is not supporting our sport of trapshooting.
You are supporting a gun hate state and the ata. I support my local gun club with volunteer time and money, that is the support of trapshooting.

We all need to support our local clubs which is the backbone of OUR SPORT OF TRAPSHOOTING. I read that you had to shoot penalty, did you not
have your targets in from your local club????? Just maybe YOUR PART THE PROBLEM. JMHO

 

Well said Brent!

 

Basfshmn, With Family First and Health issues NO I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TARGETS. But I do my fair share at Both Clubs I belong to. Even helped install two NEW PAT TRAPS this year. Part of my health issues from removing the old Heavy Swedish Machines and installing the New Pats. Herniated discs. Buy the way how's Your Club doing. Both mine have a solid booming membership. But as with All Clubs there are those who pound their chest. But when it comes to volunteering to help, they seem to be able to come up with just about any excuse possible not to be able to help out.

 

There are obviously many people who committed to not support the State of Illinois for a variety of reasons and in doing so also will not support the ATA by attending the grand, this being a free country that does not make them part of any problem that may exist and or continues to grow ... People are free to make choices and do not need anyone attempting to put them on a guilt trip because of a choice they made by saying they are part of the problem ... I am one of many who will not, have not, and will never spend a dime of my money in Illinois and or Sparta unless its for fuel and I have utterly no choice but to do so or I will run out ... This is my choice and no person can instill a guilt trip on me because of my choice ... This is not something new and has existed for over 15 years ... The loss of membership has to tell somebody with 1/2 of an ounce of brains there is a problem and being part of the problem is not it ... The same people who do not and will not support the State of Illinois do still support the ATA with the daily fees they pay every time they shoot at any and all clubs across the USA and other country's so being part of any problems kind of gets washed away and eliminated then and there ... There are many shooters who would of had enough targets to not have to shoot penalty and they still made the choice to not attend ... The ATA was made aware prior to making the move to Sparta, they did not care what the members said or thought so they are still paying the price, if you look at the attendance its got to be obvious to the point a Mental Midget can plainly see there is a problem ... Part of the problem, I do not think so ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Brent, sorry about your health issues I have a few of them myself, getting old sucks. You missed my point or I wasn't very clear in my post, you suggested
because ppl that don't go to the grand that they are not supporting trapshooting and thats just not true. Personally I have no interest in going to the grand I
never did, even when it was 30 min from my house.

The club itself I belong to is doing very well, trapshooting is dropping because alot of trapshooters are shooting sporting clays and 5 stand, but I push hard to try and get them back on the trap line. You said: " But as with All Clubs there are those who pound their chest. But when it comes to volunteering to help, they seem to be able to come up with just about any excuse possible not to be able to help out." that statement is so true.

Shoot well and I hope your health improves.

 

The ATA being located in Sparta, Ill is a self inflicted problem, like a coke freak saying if there was no such thing they would never use it, yet they still die from it ... The ATA, not the members made the choice to relocate to the middle of no place in Illinois and that has cost them dearly even though they (ATA) turn a profit, the State of Illinois loses and adds to their deficit on an annual basis unless its being covered by the ATA or an outside source ... This last grand had a total of 30,587 (30,587 X $3.00 = _______ to the State IDNR) entries and there were 153 camping spots not in use, (these numbers are not verified, but probably close) which is what I was told by a friend who was there ... The ATA or someone has to pick up and cover the slack so the State does not shutter the WSRC permanently or it will go down in history as another blunder by the State and its elected officials ... If the ATA moved the grand to any other location or to one of several Clubs that could handle probably twice the amount of shooters that attend in Sparta, they would be much better of in the long run ... Granted, they will lose all of the local (Sparta) shooters but 4 or 5 shooters would be more than made up by making a move ... The ATA claimed to have 30,000 shooters in attendance, stating that 15,000 were staying on site, so that means each camping spot had 15 people staying on them (this would also include the ones not accounted for ) being as there are 1,000 camping spots on site ... The number (30,000 or even 15,000) would also make one think that there would of been at least one event that would of had more than 2,000 shooters, yet there was not one event that did ... If anyone really thinks and or feels that the members are the problem they have been hitting the kool aid to hard and should not be given a sharp knife so they can cut their steak and more than likely hurt them self ... Do not blame the members for what was done to them, blame those who did it ... WPT ... (YAC) ...