Hollum wins coveted belt buckle at Con Delateur Trap Championship

The Holmes Harbor Rod & Gun Club in Langley held their 20th Con Delateur Trap Championship Saturday with a record 24 shooters on hand to test their skills firing at orange or white clay pigeons.

A total of 14 shooters won 22 prizes, but the coveted silver engraved belt buckle went to Tom Hollum for the highest overall score -- 131 out of 150. Harvey Friesen (128) and Kent Starkenburg (124) came in second and third.

Don Goodfellow won the 16-yard singles, Larry Page the Class A doubles and Hollum the 25-yard handicap event.

Targets were discharged from a special shooting blind over a small canyon; each shooter had seconds to lock his or her weapon, take aim and fire. The floor was littered with the detritus of biodegradable clay shards blasted to smithereens -- the largest pieces are picked up once a year.

Everyone appeared to have a good time, said Michael McInerney, chairman of the range committee.

Rick Schwehm of Oak Harbor (with his Browning over-and-under shotgun) quit hunting a while back. But he anxiously set his sights on Saturday's contest.

"I needed to find a way to put my guns to use. This is a lot better than just dusting them off every week," Schwehm said.

The sole woman shooter, Donna Moch from Langley, brought her Beretta semi-automatic.

"I started out pistol shooting. But the guys convinced me I could fire shotguns as well," she said. "I took to it for recreation and found it both fun and challenging."

And at the range, only her shooting skills have stood out.

"I've been very accepted by everyone and would like to see more women try the sport," Moch said.

Lloyd Heggenes of Clinton has been shooting his Browning automatic for more than three years.

"I like to hunt, but this is a fun sport," he said. "Hunting is a lot of work and not much shooting."

McInerney said the club's final event of the year is the Fall Skeet shoot Nov. 12. Anyone wanting to participate can call McInerney at 221-7574.

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