By Maxey D. Brantley

Shooters from the four corners of the USA, Canada and Asia gathered to vie for the International Shooting Sports of Oregon (ISSO) Senior Open International Trap Championship title, August 9-11, 2024. The competition was hosted for the second time by Richard Chordash, former USA Shooting team member, and the Binghamton Gun Club, in Binghamton, NY.

Hurricane Debby remnants won out over the 30+ competitors on Friday, but by Saturday more favorable conditions returned. Multiple former USA and Canadian Shooting team members were in attendance, competing for over $3,000 in cash and awards. Daily lunches on the range and an Italian buffet dinner at the club on Saturday night were a hit with the shooters and wives, whose attendance continues to grow. Twelve ladies attended this year and enjoyed the sights and shopping of the local area, tours of the Corning Glass Museum and a glass blowing class. They even found time to cheer-on their husbands in Sunday’s Finals!

Originated in 2007, the ISSO “Senior Open” is an annual USA Shooting sanctioned event designed specifically for Senior Category trap shooters (ages 50+) replicating a World Cup experience. Decades old comraderies are rekindled while new friendships are made. This year marked Senior Open XVIII as it moves around the country to various venues. Modeled after an International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) World Cup clay target trap format, competitors fire 75 targets on Saturday and 50 targets on Sunday with three separate finals to contest the titles. The Euro Class System classifies shooters based on their performances on Saturday’s score, being particularly important since non-USA Shooting members from other countries participate in the event and no common classification system exists.

The 75 target two person blind-draw team event on Friday surrendered to Hurricane Debby’s rainy and windy conditions to become an optional training day. The team match was incorporated into Saturday’s event making for a more enjoyable experience. Fair weather with light winds with changing light conditions provided level playing conditions for both days of 125-target event and all three Finals.

The Team match resulted in a win for Paul Mullen, of Laurel, Maryland, and Robert Pankiewicz, of New Brunswick, Canada, with 125/150. Min Seo, of Columbus, New Jersey, and David Senter, of St. Helens, Oregon, combined for second place with 119/150. Francis Jacobs III, of Reno, Nevada, and Vadim Zevlever, from Ontario, Canada, claimed third with 116/150. Walking Liberty half dollar money clips and additional cash went to each team member.

For the 125-target event, Paul Mullen jumped into the lead Saturday with 68/75. Jeff Gregory, of College Station, Texas, followed with 64/75, while Zevlever and Eugenio Bortone, of Valley View, Texas, followed at 63/75, with Seo and Thomas Mathias, from Lancaster, New York, rounding out the top six scores with 61/75 each.

Day two saw Mullen increase his lead to 111/125 with Bortone posting 109/125 for second. Zevlever scored 104/125 for third while Angelo Toto, of Williamsville, New York, stood forth with 103/125, while Pankiewicz jumped into fifth with 101/125. Three 100/125s shot-off for the sixth-place bib number; Senter, Seo and Steve Loschen, of Wilcox, Nebraska. Seo emerged victorious, setting the stage for the Top 6 Finals.

With sun and clouds presenting ever changing visual conditions, the 50 Target Final saw Bortone, Seo and Zevlever retired in-turn in the challenging conditions. Mullen claimed the bronze medal with 30/40. Toto and Pankiewicz continued to battle with 33/40 and 31/40 respectively. Pankiewicz ran the last 10 targets, overcoming Toto 41/50 to 40/50 emerging victorious!

B and C Class Champions and silver/bronze winners were determined using a modified 25 target Finals with Jim O’Brien, of Buffalo, New York, and Scott Jones, from Harpursville, New York, winning their respective Euro Classes. High Intermediate Senior was Eugenio Bortone; High Veteran was Paul Mullen; High Woman was Marylin Lehrfeld, Commack, NY. High Visitor was Vadim Zevlever. Congratulations to all!

ISSO strives to make the Senior Open a premier event in every sense of the word. This includes setting the best targets possible for our shooters. Since 2011, the ISSO staff has developed and improved a technical process using radar gun speeds and machine vertical angles creating a target setting processes to match the “ropes and distance stake” technique. This process is tailored for each Senior Open host venue as the data changes from range to range. In light of Hurricane Debby and the topography of the Binghamton Gun Club, setting targets via the ropes and distance stake was impractical. Using the radar system, target setting was accomplished each afternoon at the completion of the days competition quickly and efficiently to the satisfaction of everyone in attendance. This radar system is currently under review by the ISSF for use at World Cups and other major championships.

We would like to again thank Richard Chordash and the Binghamton Gun Club, the ISSO staff and all the attendees for another outstanding event! Senior Open XIX’s location and dates for 2025 will be announced when available and listed on the USAS website. Stay tuned!!