Reloading Ammo

[Colt1861Navy]

Gun club's Silver Shoot hits the mark

Monday, July 28, 2003

By Chris Vogtman DAILY GLOBE
[e-mail]

WORTHINGTON — The smell of gun powder and the crack of guns was in the air, which is not how many people would describe the sights and sounds around them on a Sunday afternoon.

But to the 65 men, women and children participating in the 12th Annual Worthington Gun Club Silver Shoot it was more than that.

It’s a chance to perform a sport they enjoy and mingle with friends they rarely see.

“It is a really good way to practice under pressure,” said Glen Lonneman, the president of the Worthington Gun Club (WGC). “It’s a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

“I enjoy seeing the different people and meeting my friends so I can give them a bad time.”

His duties during the Silver Shoot include watching shooters at the line, keeping score and making sure they are properly and safely handling their guns.

“The sport really takes a lot of hand-eye coordination and is fairly physical,” Lonneman said.

Many people participating in the event are not currently members of the WGC, but hardly ever miss a Silver Shoot.

Doug and Renee Vrana, from Westfield, Iowa, have been enjoying the sport ever since they were married and have shot in several Silver Shoots.

“This is a really good family sport,” Renee said. “We like traveling around together and shooting at different gun clubs because each club has different backgrounds and targets are thrown different.

“There are a bunch of good people here and we have a lot of good friends at this club.”

Renee pheasant hunted with her brothers before she met Doug, but Doug really got her into target shooting, she said.

“I saw all of the trophies and thought it would be fun,” Renee said.

Doug’s uncle taught him how to shoot and hunt at a very young age.

“I’ve been turkey hunting since I was knee high to a grasshopper,” he said.

Although many shooters come from all around the area, the WGC members still are the favorites to win.

“We have a home team advantage,” said Jason Collin, a WGC member and six-time Silver Shoot participant. “It’s really fun to see a lot of good shooters.”

The shooters that beat out the rest of the competition were Dave Stearns, the high overall champion, Giles Jones, the 16-yard champion, Scott Lanters, handicap winner and Scott Oberloh won the doubles.

“It’s a lot tougher shooting under pressure. When it all clicks you can’t miss and some days you just can’t hit anything,” Lonneman said.

http://www.dglobe.com/main.asp?SectionID=30&ArticleID=6316&SubSectionID=87