A.B.A. HOSTS WESTERN STATES TRIPLE-CROWN

Todd Hulm

Archery Editor Team AZOD

The Arizona Bowhunter Association hosted the first leg of the Western States Triple Crown at Usery Park. The event was well attended with nearly 250 archers participating over the weekend. The weather Gods blessed the event with moderate temperatures and little wind and these factors were well appreciated by the archers.

Rinehart Targets was a sponsor of the event and provided the targets for the shoot. All of the targets were new and were very well received at the shoot. In addition, Rinehart will also sponsor the next two legs of the event at Laughlin and Williams and will continue to provide all of the targets for the events. The Rinehart targets feature a patented form that allows for extremely easy arrow removal and also feature outstanding detail within the targets making it easier for archers to identify critical areas within the targets.

The Western States Triple crown is comprised of three events as mentioned earlier and will culminate at the Bowhunter Happening later this year. A champion will emerge from each classification for the triple-crown based upon performance at all three events. However, archers are welcome to participate in individual events as well, and a non-competitive course will be available at all shoots.

Many outstanding scores were recorded at the first event which was characterized by two distinctively different courses. Course two proved to be more difficult as many of the targets involved uneven terrain. Estimating yardage across canyons and form adjustments for severe uphill and downhill targets attributed to lower scores on the more difficult course.

The future of the sport was well represented at the shoot with many participants in the Youth Division. In Youth Traditional, Jacob Jauregui and Justin Rauling scored 165 and 119. Three archers were able to post scored of 400+ in the Youth Male shoot with John Powers at 432, Bryan Darnell at 411 and Brady Ellison at 411 as well. In Youth Female, Margaret Hargett scored 319, Tara Hicks shot 312, and Chelsea Kershen scored 294.

In the Money division, Walt Donaldson and Anthony Marques posted scores of 407 and 406 respectively for the 40 target total in the Male Bowhunter Open. In Male Bowhunter Release Otis Barnett scored 391 with Bret Moran at 390. Randy Dick and Calvin Draper paced the Male Hunter Class with 408 and 404. Ray Conway posted a score of 390 in Male Bowhunter Fingers. Lois Younker recorded 316 for Female Hunter Class. Steve Gasca shot 398 for Master Class Bowhunter. Barb Blumenthal recorded 289 in Female Senior and Michal miller recorded 411 in Male Senior. Elizabeth Brown shot a 328 for Female Bowhunter Open and Margaret Mannygoats recorded 366 in Female Bowhunter Release.

In the Trophy division, Johnny Velasquez recorded an outstanding 410 for Male Bowhunter Open and Ken Patrick recorded a 396 for Male Bowhunter Class. Troy Turner recorded a 383 for Male Bowhunter Release and Bob Carroll recorded 363 for Male Bowhunter Fingers. In Male Compound Unaided, Walter Gorman shot a 304 and in Male Senior Paul Edwards scored 393. In Male Recurve, Eddy Byron shot 336 and in Female Recurve Jane Eddy scored 254. John Powers Sr. recorded 265 in Male Traditional and Eduardo Jauregui scored 273 in Male Traditional HC.

In the Female Trophy division Kristi Pacheco scorer 378 in Bowhunter Open and Cheri Bowden scored 371 in Bowhunter Release. Susan Savage posted 337 in Hunter Class and Marie Robinson scored 313 in the Senior.

In the Professional ranks, Toby McMains and John Millins paced the field with scores of 419 and Scott Darnell finished third with 402. Page English paced the female shooters with a score of 396 and was followed by Krissy Wright at 370 and Mary McMains at 338.

For a complete, detailed scoring, visit the Arizona Bowhunter Association homepage. And please check back at this site for pictures of the event coming soon.

Congratulation to all of the shooters from TEAM AZOD.