Highland Gun Club (Nova Scotia) - Petitcodiac Sportsman's Club (New Brunswick)
St. John's Rod and Gun Club (Newfoundland and Labrador)
Stephenville Shooting Club (Newfoundland and Labrador)
The 2020 Atlantic Provinces ATA Provincial Shoot was held September 5th and 6th, 2020 in a satellite shoot format. The decision to host a satellite shoot was made to help clubs and shooters deal with COVID-19 restrictions and provincial health guidelines. It wasn’t our preferred shoot format, but it allowed us to hold our annual ATA Provincial Shoot. Travel restrictions and self-isolating requirements also meant that shooters from outside of the Atlantic Provinces were not able to attend this year’s shoot. Many of us missed the social aspect of our annual shoot but despite this, the Highland Gun Club, the Petitcodiac Sportsman’s Club, the Stephenville Shooting Club and the St. John’s Rod and Gun Club managed a very successful Atlantic Provinces ATA Provincial Shoot.
Shoot Highlights:
Doug Blades, who shoots out of the Highland Gun Club, won his second Atlantic Provinces Singles Championship with a 196. Concurrent shoot-offs at 3 clubs were required to settle a number of the remaining awards. Troy Coldwell (25-24-25) claimed Runner-up after a 3 round shoot-off with Rejean d’Entremont (25-24-24). Joe Rosa and Jim Hannah tied with a score of 191 forcing another shoot-off. Rosa claimed AA Class leaving Open Champ to Hannah. Rejean d’Entremont claimed A Class after his shoot-off loss to Coldwell and Terry LeBlanc, Herbie Nickerson and Kevin Healey won Single Classes B, C and D respectively without contest. Janaya Nickerson and Reynold d’Entremont claimed the Lady 1 and Veteran titles for the second consecutive year while Ken d’Eon and Brian Petipas claimed the Sub Veteran and Senior Veteran titles. Cole Nickerson, who competed in his first Atlantic Provinces Shoot and ATA registered shoot, shot his first 25 straight and claimed the Sub Junior title.
In the Singles Open Classes, Andrea Bassan claimed AA Class and Clyde d’Entremont claimed A Class. John Roberts, Brian MacLeod and Davis Atwood shot off for the B title. Roberts prevailed 25-23-23 in the shoot-off to take B Class. John Tucker and Gary Nickerson went 2 extra rounds to settle C Class. John shot 23-24 to Gary’s 23-23 to take the C Class win. Randy d’Entremont shot his way to a D Class victory un-contested.
In the Atlantic Provinces Doubles Championship, St. John’s Rod and Gun Club shooters Troy Coldwell and Joe Rosa claimed the Champion and Runner-up titles. AA through to D Class Champions were; Jim Hannah, Doug Blades, Davis Atwood, John Tucker and Ray Snow. In the Open Classes, Brian MacLeod won Open Champion and Larry Rosa claimed A Class after a shoot-off win against Andrea Bassan. Lloyd Litwin and Rejean d’Entremont claimed B and C Classes outright, while Steve d’Entremont won D Class after a shoot-off with Randy d’Entremont. Janaya Nickerson and Reynold d’Entremont claimed the Lady 1 and Veteran category titles – their second of the tournament. Herbie Nickerson claimed the Sub Veteran title and Dan Pollock claimed the Senior Veteran title.
Highland Gun Club Sub Veteran shooters Ken d’Eon and Shawn d’Entremont shot 93s in the Atlantic Provinces Handicap Championship which forced a shoot-off to settle the Handicap Champion and Sub Veteran titles. Ken edged Shawn 20-19 in the shoot-off and claimed his first Atlantic Provinces Handicap Championship, leaving the Sub Veteran title to Shawn. Fellow Highland Gun Club shooters Aubrey Spinney, Davis Atwood and Rejean d’Entremont claimed Runner-up through 4th Places while Newfoundland shooters Ray Snow and Ed Strickland claimed 5th and 6th Places. Nina Chandler won the Lady 1 title and Cole Nickerson, Brian Macleod and Brian Petitpas claim the Sub Junior, Veteran and Senior Veteran titles respectively.
In the Handicap Open places, St. John’s Rod and Gun Club shooters Larry Rosa and Kevin Healey went to a shoot-off to settle Open Champ and Runner-up. Rosa claimed Open Champion after edging Healey 21 to 20 in the shoot-off. Meanwhile in Nova Scotia, Reynold d’Entremont and Lloyd Litwin settled Open 3rd and 4th with a shoot-off. D’Entremont out shot Litwin 23 to 22 to claim Open 3rd, leaving Litwin with Open 4th.
The 2020 High All Around titles went to Troy Coldwell (Closed) and Reynold d’Entremont (Open). This year’s shoot was a reduced format consisting of the ATA Championship Events only. No preliminary events were held and no High Over All titles were awarded.
The Highland Gun Club won the Atlantic Provinces Club Points Challenge against the St. John’s Rod and Gun Club. Each club is awarded points based on how their shooters place in the Singles Championship – 2 points for the high score in each class and 1 point for the next score. The club with the most points wins, leaving the losing club the honour of displaying the trophy at their club until next year’s championship. Rumor has it that Highland Gun Club shooter Ken d’Eon vowed that the trophy would go to Newfoundland in 2020 after accepting the trophy compliments of the St. John’s Rod and Gun Club in 2019. Congratulations to Ken and the Highland Gun Club shooters. Rest assured Ken, the shooters at the St. John’s Rod and Gun Club will keep the trophy safe until presented back to you in 2021.
Officials for the Atlantic Provinces Trapshooting Association remain unchanged and include President Andrea Bassan, Vice President Troy Coldwell, Treasurer Doug Blades and Secretary Janaya Nickerson. Bassan will also continue to serve as the ATA Delegate. Provincial Delegates include Newfoundland and Labrador’s Kevin Healey, Nova Scotia’s Steven d’Entremont and New Brunswick’s Terry LeBlanc.
The 2021 Atlantic Provinces ATA Provincial Shoot will return to the Highland Gun Club in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, September 2 to September 5, 2021. Visit shootatlantic.com for more information on the Atlantic Provinces Trapshooting Association, complete shoot results, shoot photo galleries and upcoming shoot information.
Photos - St. John's Rod and Gun Club