When men shot trap there was the Tristate!

Who shot there? Big money. Bad targets. Oh my!

Best Labor Day weekends ever!

 

The most memorable thing about the Tri State? The Doubles Championship one year.

Fellow member Shamus and I had been running together since the spring, we spent the entire week at VANDALIA, and we kind of pushed one another. Well, since he was one of the best in the state he pushed me not the other way around.

When we left the day before we decided not to shoot doubles, just caps. I show up and he has his 3200 with him. I ask what's up and he says he decided to shoot doubles just before he left the house and figured I was already on the road (no cell phones back then) so there was no way to tell me.

Damn, if I would have known I would have brought my 3200.

We can borrow a 3200, there's a bunch of guys that shoot them.

We knew just who to ask and he said sure

I didn't bring shells for doubles

That's no problem, we'll find you some reloads.( First guy we asked said sure, got all you need)

UH, I didn't bring enough money to shoot both Doubles and Caps

Oh Man, are you kidding me? I'll loan you the money for doubles.

So, he finds me a gun, shells, AND loans me the money to enter and play the options.

There were two 98's for high that day.

Yep!

Silver belt buckles with gold Peso's in the middle for Champion and Runner Up

He missed two in the shoot off. I had him beat for two stations but couldn't stand prosperity and dumped three. Always a bridesmaid!

He probably still has the Champion buckle, I sold my runnerup when gold was over $1,900
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The walkways were so narrow and deep that sometimes you made a decision as to which foot was on the walkway or straddle. Water depth came into play.

 

I liked that when you were playing the roulette wheel the County Sheriff was standing right beside you and betting away. I liked the $30,000 Calcutta's, the gold coin trophies, that on one trap when you were shooting 27 yards you were close enough to the club house that someone could hand you a beer right out the window, that they shot the Westy Hogans' system, that on trap one when you shot at straight away from post one you were shooting right at a camper, that the singles was 150 targets, that the background was really really bad on every field, and most of all the old timers didn't bitch and moan but had one hell of a time.

 

"all the old timers didn't bitch and moan but had one hell of a time."

Amen Brother

 

Where a 97 earned you more than a 100 at the grand. A 93 could be worth a lot of money at that place.

 

Name of the club?

 

Jefferson Sportsman Club,,,,,,,,,Bloomingdale, OH

Oh, the good times we had there.

 

Brad and company,

I am fascinated with the stories you tell of the old days.

Please, for this History Seeker, will you keep those stories coming.

I for one love hearing you guys reminisce, and if he would, I would like to hear some of Dave Berlet's stories too.