Steve Merlo: Exhibition shooting sports on the rise
| Thursday, May 28 2009 06:44 PM
Last Updated Thursday, May 28 2009 06:44 PM
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Today's kids are too young to remember Annie Oakley and the shooting exhibitions she put on for the general public at fairs and rodeos across the US . The same holds true for William "Buffalo Bill" Cody and his traveling entourage of cowboy and Indian shoot-'em-ups. Both stars were incredible rifle and pistol shots, often defying the odds to hit bullseyes or card spots while riding or standing atop a running steed. Wouldn't it be great if we could relive and witness some of those incredible feats in person?
Fortunately, there are still a handful of performers touring the U.S. and doing just that -- showing off their amazing shooting skills. Probably the most famous of these people, Tom Knapp, once tossed 10 clay pigeons into the air and broke all 10 with single shots each before any could hit the ground, setting a still-existing world record. Tom's shoots all over the world, congenially meeting folks and showing off his Beretta-sponsored shotgun skills with his line of Benelli shotguns. He is truly an amazing shooter and a wonderful man.
Last weekend, I got to meet another of the greatest shotgunners in the world, close friend and protege of Mr. Knapp, Tim Bradley. Tim is also sponsored by Benelli, and the two shows he put on at the Kern County Gun Club were something else, indeed. Even though the wind played havoc with his hand-thrown targets, he still managed to impress the several hundred people in attendance by his uncanny natural shooting ability.
Using a 20-gauge pump-gun, he broke five hand-thrown targets with as many shots before they hit the ground, an incredible feat. He also broke seven targets out of seven and seven out of nine, all hand-thrown. (My friend Ken Barnes, former world record skeet shooter, told me that the best he could ever do was five out of five.)
One feat that will forever remain etched in my tiny brain was when he tossed a chunk of chalk into the air and shot five individual pieces off the chunk rather than totally obliterate it. He did this with an open choke and his 12-gauge, and there was no deceit involved.
Bradley ends all his shows by making a salad out of whatever fruits and veggies he has on hand, completely obliterating each piece into nothing more than spray. He also concludes with a salute to the military, finishing his show by turning red, white and blue chunks of chalk into patriotic powder and then exploding a huge pyrotechnic device with is gun.
Bradley, 49, hails from northeast Arkansas, has never shot competitively, has been a trick shot for seven years and worked for Benelli for the last four. His primary weapon for his shows is a Benelli M-2 semi-auto or a Super Black Eagle, both with an open choke. If anyone ever has the chance to see either Knapp or Bradley, don't miss out on their very entertaining shows.
Two local teenagers from Ridgeview High School have been honored with scholarships to Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo., for their academia and shooting skills.
Local skeet shooter Elizabeth Key, 18, began her career as a target puller out at Five Dogs Shooting Range before graduating to skeet almost three years ago. An expert shot, Elizabeth enjoys the competition and once broke 97 of 100 targets with her 20-gauge. In a recent interview, she said, "Shooting has given me so many opportunities; I've traveled so many places and met so many interesting people. The shooting sports are great for people of all ages."
Elizabeth 's friend, Brian Foley, 18, a Ridgeview grad, too, has also been honored with a full scholarship to Lindenwood for both his shooting and academic skills. Brian has already turned a lot of heads in the shooting world by winning the 2009 World Skeet Shooting championship with a perfect 250/250 score, then going another 75 rounds in a shoot-off to claim his victory over all other adult professionals. He is the youngest person to win the coveted world crown.
Brian, no stranger to the winner's circle with numerous other championships, had already won the coveted 2008 California State Championship with a 399/400 score before winning the prestigious and exclusive San Antonio, Texas, meet.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Brian, and like a true champion, he offered this great line for potential youth shooters. "Shooting can open so many doors for the youth of today because the shooting community goes above and beyond for the kids of tomorrow. They'll work with you like they did with me, so get out here!"
