Trap team members shine at meets

Posted on Monday, June 18, 2012 at 3:54 pm

The Lincoln County Trap Team competed in the 2012 Academics, Integrity, and Marksmanship (AIM) Tennessee State Championship June 12-13 in Nashville, as well as a regional tournament at Big Springs Clay Targets Complex June 9 at Christiana.

At State, in the Junior Division (1st Squad), Evan Buck (Squad Leader), Alex Mann, Liz Faulkner, Lindsey Helums, and Garrett Rutledge came close but just short of placing in the top three team spots. In the Sub-Junior Division (1st Squad), Tony Lee Bradley (Squad Leader), Karston Doud, Erin Wakefield, Jentry Helums and Matt Shelton were in first place the first day but were overtaken the second day.

In the Junior Division (2nd Squad), Brince Bonner (Squad Leader), Gabrielle Reed, Alex Tanner, Tommy Reed and Tyler Webster competed well. Two additional shooters competed individually: Jay Kelly and Travis Webster.

There were a number of individual highlights at State. Tony Lee Bradley tied for Second Place in the Pre Sub-Junior Division with an overall score of 183, after winning a nail-biter shoot off. Erin Wakefield and Karston Doud shot their first 25 straight. Erin also shot the best of the team on a single day and was a personal best, hitting 98 out of 100 clays, while Liz Faulkner had the best overall individual score of 190.

Jentry Helums, Matt Shelton, Karston Doud and Tony Lee Bradley shot their personal best.

At Christiana, Lindsey Helums won Second Runner-Up in the Ladies Division while Tony Lee Bradley took Second Runner-Up in the Pre Sub-Junior Division. Alex Mann was honored for hitting his first 50 straight clay targets.

Trapshooting became a sport at least as early as 1793. Trapshooting is a shooting sport and is one of the competitive events in the Olympics. It is a specific form of shotgun clay target shooting, distinct from other shooting sports such as skeet shooting. Trapshooting is a game of movement, action and split-second timing. It requires the accuracy and skill to repeatedly aim, fire and break the 108 mm clay discs which are hurled through the air at a speed of approximately 42 miles per hour, simulating the flight path of a bird fleeing a hunter.

The shooter is required to shoot at a target after he calls “pull.” To score, the shooter must break the target so that at least one piece of the “bird” visibly separates; otherwise, the target is considered a “lost” bird. Shooters stand a minimum of 16 yards and a maximum of 27 yards from the trap house.

The Lincoln County Trap Team would like to express great appreciation to the following sponsors who helped the team compete at State and the upcoming National Championship:

A&A Tire, American Development Corporation, Bank Of Lincoln County, Bradley Enterprises LLC, C J Construction LLC, Cars Plus, CFW Inc, City Electric Supply, Elora Clay Target Range, Farrar Animal Clinic, Farrar Tire Centers, Fayetteville Elks Lodge #1792,

First National Bank, Kirkland Dragbog, Lincoln Paving LLC, North Alabama Bank, Palatec MFG Inc, PT Electrical & Fabrication, Randall E. Self, Roy & Rogers Western Apparel, Scivally Grain Company,

Spray’s Jewelers, State Farm Insurance Agency – Bill Cunningham, The Body Boutique, The Paint Store, Triple T Farms Gelbvieh, Truette Construction Inc, Whitt’s Barbecue & Yearwood Equipment.

The next big event for the team will be at the National Championship held at the World Shooting & Recreational Complex (WSRC) in Sparta, Ill., on Aug. 6-7. WSRC has the longest trap line in the world with 120 trap fields extending over 3.5 miles. The WSRC is the home grounds for the Amateur Trapshooting Association’s Grand American Trapshooting Championships, which is the largest shooting event in the world.

Follow the local team and see additional photos on Facebook at LC Trap Team.

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