Mike Schmidt HOA RU -	Jonathan Hopper HOA CH	- Allen Winstead HOA 3rd
396 x 400	397 x 400	396 x 400

The 2008 Catfish Open

Capitol Gun Club, Jackson, MS

 

            Windy rainy conditions did little to dampen the spirits of 31 brave soles at Capitol Gun Club on April 18^th for the club’s firs 4 gun event of the year.  Every rotation got to enjoy some of the rainy weather as they made their way through the first event.

 

            Mike Schmidt (CH - 99) and James Braswell (A1 - 98) let it be known they had come to shoot by turning in the top and uncontested scores of the day.  Clark Hartness, Kerry Mire, Nic Young, and Jon Lewis rounded out the AA, B, C and D Class Championships.

 

            Saturday morning greeted sixty-five shooters with much more pleasant weather but the wind didn’t relent too much.  Five shooters posted perfect scores including a 1^st 100 for Steven Sanders (C1).  Local hero Allen Winstead (CH) answered Mike Schmidt’s (RU) attempt at claiming another Championship in the second box of the 12 Gauge shoot offs.  James Braswell claimed AAA, Clark Hartness AA, Reynolds McCain A, Tim Hopper B, Stephen Hindman D, and Lawrence Thompson the E Championships.

 

            The 20 Gauge Championships boasted 6 perfect scores.  Once again Mike Schmidt (CH) held off a hard run from Jonathan Hopper (RU) to claim his second Gun Championship of the weekend.  David Gollott, Bryant Everett, Nathan Boyd, Gordon Benoit, Nic Young and Bill McIntyre rounded out the AAA – D Class Championships.

 

            Jonathan Hopper (CH), James George (RU), and Brennan McNamee (3^rd) proved they can take the shoot off pressure by besting a field of 27 in the 20 Gauge Shoot Out.  Jonathan and James went into the 2^nd box shooting the 410 Bore and the 20 Gauge with the light fading quickly before the Championship was decided.

 

            Sunday morning sixty-two shooters were looking at blue bird skies and some wind as only two shooters held on with perfect scores.  Frank Callahan (CH) this time squelched Allen Winstead’s (RU) hopes for a second Gun Championship.  Mike Schmidt claimed the AAA Championship.  Frank “Over His Head” Randazzo, “Mississippi” Don Snyder, Frank “Arkansas Cajun” Scalia, Trey “Up and Coming” Hawthorne, and John “Glen are you sure I have to leadoff” Stubbendick rounded out the AA – D Class Championships.

 

            Jonathan Hopper held the Skeet God’s off as he posted a lone 99 to capture the 410 Bore Championships out right.  Close on his heals Don Snyder claimed the RU title over Allen Winstead (AA1),  Frank Randazzo (A1), Glen Dawson (A2) in a shoot off of fine 98’s in the event.  Mike Schmidt, Dan Gibbon, Gordon Benoit, and Brennan McNamee claimed the AAA, B, C and D Class Championships.

 

            As most often is the case the “Baby Bore” makes or break’s you.  Jonathan Hopper and Mike Schmidt stepped onto station one of the 410 Bore tied at 299 for the HOA Championship.  Jonathan’s 99 also claimed him the uncontested HOA Championship with a 397.  Mike Schmidt was able to hold off a hungry Allen Winstead (HOA 3^rd) for the HOA Runner-Up title in a shoot off of 396’s.  David Gollott claimed AAA, Jeff Sullivan AA, Frank Randazzo A, Ken Comeaux B, Nic Young C, and John Stubbendick the D Class Championships.

 

            Special Thanks as always to the Capitol Gun Club Membership for pulling off another Successful Catfish Open.  Thanks to Brandon, Tom, Steve, Gale, Carla, Nathan and Howard for refereeing the shoot.

 

            Good Luck and Good Shooting to all the competitors and look forward to seeing everyone at the Rebel Open in June!