By Maxey Brantley
Redlands Gun Club, Redlands CA 10 – 11 August 2019
Shooters from the four corners of the U.S.A. and Canada gathered once again at the 2019 Senior Open for International Trap to renew old friendships, make new ones and test their international trap prowess against each other, vying for bragging rights within the growing ranks of senior international trap shooters. This competition was hosted by the California International Clay Target Shooters Association (CICTSA) at the Redlands Gun Club in Redlands, CA.
Originated in 2007, the “Senior Open” is an annual USA Shooting sanctioned international trap event designed specifically for Senior Category trap shooters (ages 50+), replicating a World Cup experience. This year marked Senior Open XIII as it moves around the country to various venues, promoting the USA Shooting motto “Sport for Life”. Designed around the International Shooting Sports Federation World Cup clay target trap format, shooters fire 75 targets on Saturday and 50 targets and three Class Finals on Sunday. The Euro Class System classifies shooters based on their performances on Saturday’s score, being particularly important since non-USAS members from other countries participate in the event, who hold no USAS classification. White Flyer provided complementary Orange Crusher flash targets greatly enhancing the Class Finals.
Challenging light and weather conditions prevailed over both days; however flawless equipment, range conditions and competition management by CICTSA made for a superb event for the record turnout of senior shooters on the two bunker layout. Redlands gave home field advantage to the local shooters as the competition unfolded, but was quickly overcome by the experienced competitive field.
David Senter, St. Helen’s OR, posted 68/75, Steve Loschen, Wilcox NE came in at 66/75. With Ricardo Chaparro, Redondo Beach, CA stayed on their heels at 65/75. Multiple competitors remained within striking distance, setting Day 2 squads for head-to-head competition among the leaders.
Day 2 saw Senter with a strong 115/125 maintain his lead over the field. The stage was set for the Top 6 Final adding Loschen 108/125, Richard White, Yakima, WA, 106/125, Robert Pankiewicz, Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada, 104/125, Charles Dietl, Torrance CA, 104/125 with Chaparro sitting at 103/125 to round out the squad. Using the current ISSF Finals, Dietl, Senter and Pankiewicz were eliminated in turn, with Chaparro claiming the Bronze with 27/40. Loschen and White both posted 40/50 setting up sudden death miss and out, with Loschen coming out on top, claiming his first Senior Open Championship.
B and C Class winners were determined using a modified Finals process, were Jane ‘Ping Ping’ Ye, Fallbrook, CA and Johnny Weger, Saint Jo, TX, respectively. High Intermediate Senior was Senter and Dietl was High Veteran, both proving that age is not a limiting factor for making the Top 6 Finals!
The Senior Open XIV is scheduled for September 2020 hosted by Willawalla Shooting Center in Saint Jo, TX. Announcements will be made when the details are finalized and the event will be listed on the USAS website.
