Dec. 16, 1911.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
883 
Wilmington. Twenty-one big touring cars containing 
happy visitors and happier hosts whirled over the high¬ 
ways, concluding with a dinner at the Wilmington Coun¬ 
try Club. Another evening was given over to an un¬ 
expected treat, namely, a glimpse of the moving pic¬ 
tures of the Grand American Handicap. Flashing of 
the views evoked pleasant recollections of stirring hours 
on the Columbus Gun Club grounds in the month of 
roses. One joyous visitor voiced the sentiment of every 
guest when he ejaculated: “The Du Pont Gun Club is not 
trying to see how much they can make of us, but is 
endeavoring to see how much money it can spend to 
make our stay an enjoyablel one.” Other clubs could 
follow a splendid example in the way of entertainment 
by emulation of the Du Pont Gun Club’s methods. 
THE WESTERN HANDICAP. 
The Western Handicap was held at Omaha, Neb., 
Aug. 8-10, under the direction of the Omaha Gun Club. 
Now, for our second record-breaker of the season.' Mem¬ 
bers of the Omaha Gun Club must have been in wireless 
or some other form of communication with the Du 
Pont Gun Club, for they lined up and also created a new 
mark for the Western Handicap. They sailed far above 
the former record, which was held by St. Paul, Minn., 
more than 200 shooters taking part in the tournament. 
They came from all parts of the compass, even Cali¬ 
fornia being represented. Especial credit is due to the 
Omaha Gun Club for its conduct of such a successful 
tournament in the face of an unusual hot wave, and the 
illness of the compiler of scores, who was compelled to 
retire at the close of the first day. Friends rallied to 
the management’s aid, however, and the tournament was 
conducted to a successful finish with but slight delay. 
With the mercury 103 in the shade, the scores made at 
Omaha were certainly remarkable. I cannot recall a 
competition where so many averages of 90 per cent, or 
better were made. The Omaha Gun Club had possibly 
heard of the shooters’ entertainment at Wilmington, 
Del. “Shooters’ Night” at the Aksar-ben Club, a re¬ 
nowned organization similar to the Gridiron Club, of 
Washington, D. C., will long be remembered by those 
fortunate enough to attend the Omaha tournament. 
Unique stunts were the order of the night, winding up 
with an elegant buffet lunch. I would again call at¬ 
tention to the fact that social features add to the enjoy¬ 
ment of a tournament, and it would be well for some gun 
clubs to depart from the beaten path, and not make their 
tournaments business propositions solely. 
THE POST SEASON TOURNAMENT. 
The second annual Post-Season tournament was held 
at St. Louis, Mo., Oct. 17-20, inclusive, under the aus¬ 
pices of the Sunset Hill Country Club. Started last 
year as an experiment, this tournament became a classic 
in one season. Occurring this year at the same time 
as the world’s series in the great diamond game, it was 
certainly edifying to note press accounts classing our 
event with the baseball treat. When the diamond war¬ 
riors were engaged in combat at New York and Phila¬ 
delphia, the cream of the trapshooting world were hav¬ 
ing a battle royal at St. Louis. As was to be expected 
from such an array of talent, the shooting was of the 
highest type, and the competition was sharp and in¬ 
spiring. Conditions governing the tournament were of 
such a nature that the element of chance was entirely 
eliminated, merit alone winning. Trophy winners may 
well be proud of victory in such strong company. The 
restrictions governing qualification not being so severe 
as in 1910, the change being made on account of the 
reduced number of registered tournaments scheduled, the 
number of shooters that qualified was more than double 
that of last year. This opened up a larger field, and 
developed early enthusiasm. You could hear the Post- 
Season tournament discussed in trapshooting circles for 
weeks before the program was issued. One little feature 
that may have militated against a larger entry was the 
fact that the open season for game prevailed during the 
tournament. Many men, though eligible to compete, 
were in the field pursuing fur and feather, and endeavor- 
ir.g_ to secure all the enjoyment possible out of the short 
period allotted them for gunning in timber and meadow. 
It might be well to take this fact into consideration 
when selecting the time and place for the event of 1912. 
Just, another point in connection with this tournament. 
It was the first time we ever gave an event under the 
auspices of a country club, and I predict that it will 
not be the last by any means. With perfect arrange¬ 
ments the tournament was ceriainly decided among un¬ 
surpassed surroundings. 
RECOMMENDATIONS. 
At one time it was my custom to make numerous sug¬ 
gestions in my annual report, which, in my opinion, 
would tend toward the advancement of trapshooting, as 
well as the betterment of our Association, but in late, 
years I have advanced very few ideas. Previous sug¬ 
gestions being passed by without official recognition, 
I naturally construed this state of affairs as a gentle.hint 
to confine my report to routine matters. This year, 
however, at the risk of it being considered tedious, and 
probably opening up avenues for censure, I take the 
liberty of making a few suggestions and recommenda¬ 
tions. I trust that these will be accepted in the same 
spirit in which they are made, namely, for the best in¬ 
terests and good will of our organization. 
I would strongly urge the continuance of the regis¬ 
tered tournament plan on practically the same lines as 
those governing this year. 
I would also advocate the permanency of the guarantee 
of $1,000 to the winner of first money in the Grand 
American Handicap, and of $250 to the winner of first 
money in each of the subsidiary handicaps. 
I would further recommend the continuance of the 
Pacific Coast Handicap, making it an annual fixture. 
I would suggest that the Post-Season tournament be 
also made a fixture, that it be assigned to the month of 
September, and that the place for holding it and con¬ 
ditions governing it, be announced early in the year, in 
order that the trapshooting fraternity can be governed 
accordingly. 
Rifle and Pistol Cartridges 
To do justice to your skill, you should 
use good ammunition no less than an 
accurate rifle or pistol. The arm is 
often blamed when the ammunition is 
at fault. To insure your getting cart¬ 
ridges that are uniform in size and 
shooting strength, and sure-fire and ac¬ 
curate, ask for Winchester cartridges— 
the Red W Brand. These cartridges 
are made and loaded in the most com¬ 
plete plant in the world by automatic 
machinery and are always just the same. 
SOLD BY DEALERS EVERYWHERE 
ASK FOR THE 
Red W Brand 
r i\ 
THE OUTLOOK. 
Ere I bring my report to a close, let me add a few lines 
as to the future. So far as is within my observation, 
no clouds appear on the horizon. There is no reason why 
1912 should not be a banner year. Although the industrial 
world may be in slight turmoil, owing to the election of 
a chief magistrate of our land, sport-loving Americans 
will not give up their favorite pastime. 
IN CONCLUSION. 
I cannot close without a renewal of my thanks to our 
members for the urbanity with which they have treated 
me in all our relations, public and private. While it has 
been the most strenuous season in my nineteen years’ 
connection with the Association, due to the multitude 
of detail developing as the result of the change of policy, 
1 have, with few exceptions, been given every assistance 
by all interested parties. The courtesy I have experi¬ 
enced has made it a pleasure which lessened the labor. 
I also wish to. extend my kind regards to our honorary 
press members for the interest they continue to exhibit 
in our welfare, and to acknowledge the aid they have 
given the Association. 
Very respectfully submitted. 
Elmer E. Shaner, Sec’y-Treas. 
Registered Tournament Report for 1911. 
Name of Club, 
Place where held, 
and Date. 
xs 
O SI 
^ <s> 
<u 
2, a 
c a 
O c 
Indianapolis G. C., Indian¬ 
apolis, Ind., April 7-8.$100.00 
Lehigh R. & G. C., Bethle¬ 
hem, Pa., April 8. 50.00 
City Park G.C., New Orleans, 
La. (State tmt.), April 10-12. 260.00 
Beaver Crossing G. C., Beaver 
Crossing, Neb., April 11-12.. 100.00 
Keystone S. L., Holmesburg 
Jet.. Pa., April 11-12. 100.00 
Mt. Airy G.C., Mt. Airy, Md., 
April 17 . 50.00 
Atlantic City G. C., Atlantic 
City, N. J., April 17. 50.90 
■a v, 
? 2 
M 3 
CL £! 
ir. ^ 
<L> £ 
Surplus divii 
among Antal 
after Losses 
were Paid. 
J2 
$61.65 
$170.35 
54.10 
54.95 
225.65 
323.85 
104.40 
151.10 
156.25 
131.05 
58.15 
34.27 
75'. 30 
51.79 
