Nevada State Shoot

By Joe Winnicki, Photos by Dan Dupree

Vance De Mars wins two Nevada State championships, taking home the top prizes in both the main sporting and the main 5 stand.

Sage Hill's target setter Rodney Bullard put up 750 challenging targets, shooters had better brought their "A" game and their tight choke tubes.

Under clear and warm Nevada skies 168 shooters took to the field at this years Nevada State shoot. After the last target was broken and the scores were tallied, Reno shooter Vance De Mars was crowned the 2008 Nevada State champion. Vance posted a very respectable 160x200 on truly a championship course. Vance also won the State 5 stand championship, 94x100 followed closely by All American Nevada Junior shooter Greg Mackintosh, 93x100. Out of state shooters Curtis Lessel and Zachhary Kienbaum captured the out of State championship titles in main and 5 stand events respectively. Curtis was HOA in the 200 bird championship 162x200 and Zach was out of State 5 stand champion, 91x100.

In partnership with Sage Hill Clays Sports, Dave Fiedler manager of near-by Capitol City Gun Club and well known FITASC target setter held the FITASC leg of the Nevada State Championships at the Capitol City Gun Club. Dave hosted 66 shooters at this years Nevada State FITASC championship.  Clyde Carmack won the Nevada State 2008 FITASC championship with  85x100, Zach Kienbaum took home the out of State championship honors, 91x100.

Everyone that attended Saturday night's dinner hosted by Sage Hill's owner Darlene Vopat had a chance to win a gun donated by Tom Forbes Sage Hill's pro shop manager and more than $1500.00 in cash and prizes thanks in part to the Nevada Sporting Clays Association.     

Other notable accomplishments in this year's open events had Zach Kienbaum taking the top spot in the Clark Knauss memorial preliminary event posting a 94x100. California's top Junior Lady and Master Class shooter Michelle Wampler shot the high scores in both the 50 target super sporting and the 50 target preliminary 5 stand with matching scores of 47x50. Top scores in the small gauge events were as follows. Reno's Terry Picard lead all 20 gauge shooters with 42x50, Vance De Mars and soon to be Nevada State champ lead all competitors in the 28 gauge event and former Zone 7 champion Skip Zink shot the top score in the .410 event, 38x50. The side x side event found Gary Lapp in the top spot with a 42x50 and California pump gunner Darrin Ros Graviet was high in the pump gun event with a 44x50. Honorable mention needs to go to Lady First Team All American Maureen "Mo" Daane for winning her fourth Lady State championship.

Special thanks to all those who attended this years Nevada's State sporting clays championships from the Nevada State Sporting Clays Association and owner of Sage Hill Clay Sports Owner Darlene Vopat. Hope to see everyone at next years 2009 Nevada State Championships to be held at the Capitol City Gun Club in Carson City, Nevada.