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SCTP 2009 National Championships
Posted by Junior Shooters
By: Cathy Williams
Photos courtesy SCTP
Edited By: Andy Fink
Sparta, Illinois (July 30, 2009) – Youth shooting teams from 24 states captured medals and nationals honors at the 2009 Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) National Championships held at the World Shooting and Recreation Complex in Sparta, Illinois on July 23 – 26, 2009. With the support of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) and other major sponsors including Beretta, Browning, Remington and White Flyer, over 1,500 shooters competed in trap, skeet and sporting clays events throughout the weekend.
“We are happy to report that the 2009 SCTP National Championships had the atmosphere and excitement of an Olympic competition and was without a doubt the most successful youth shooting championships held to date. The quality of shooting, added to the quality of the character and perseverance of the shooters at all levels, leaves little doubt that the SCTP is a program that will continue to grow in the years to come,” says Dr. Bill Christy, Executive Director of SSSF, “and we could not have done it without our sponsors, parents, coaches and volunteers that helped organize the National Championships.” Added Christy, “of course all of these combined with a first class shooting complex allowed for the most exciting SCTP Championship ever.”
Browning Day kicked-off the weekend’s festivities which included the Opening Ceremony, an exhibition shoot by Winchester’s Patrick Flanagan and the awarding of the Sporting Clays National Awards. The day’s events also included the Ruger Rimfire Challenge and the Kaskaskia Single Action competitions. These events continued throughout the weekend.
Saturday was slated as Beretta Day which began the trap and skeet competitions, along with the annual Beretta cookout and concluded with a shooting exhibition by Beretta’s shooter Scott Robertson and the Last Competitor Standing competition. Over 225 shooters competed in this hour long event which was won by Travis Wagner of Virginia with Jon Ebbers of Wisconsin as the runner-up.
The National Championships concluded on Sunday with Remington Day and included the final competitions in trap and skeet, along with the closing ceremonies and the award presentations in trap, skeet and high all-around. Award presenters included representatives from Winchester, Remington, White Flyer and Olympic Gold Medal winner Kim Rhode.
The ultimate goal of SCTP is to instill in young participants a commitment to safe firearm handling, teamwork and leadership. This was certainly evident throughout the entire weekend with each and every participant.
In terms of sheer numbers of participants, the eight-year-old SCTP is one of the most successful youth-oriented program ever established. Nearly 30,000 middle and high school students have participated in the program, which includes trap, skeet, sporting clays, Olympic Trap, and ISSF Skeet competitions.
The SSSF is responsible for all aspects of SCTP, including participant registration, coaches, state coordinators, state and national championships, promotion, communications, websites, public relations and growth strategies. To learn more about how your company can become a SSSF donor and to learn more about the SCTP, visit the newly launched website at www.sssfonline.org.
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