Holley Rod and Gun Club hosts Shooting Sports event

The Holley Rod & Gun Club's NRA Family Fun Shooting Sports Event held June 29 was well attended. The club's members wish to express their thanks to the Clarendon Fire Company and their emergency crew for presenting the "ins and outs" of their vehicle to the event attendees. They also wish to thank the two Department of Environmental Conservation officers for their presentations. Special thanks goes to Tops Markets, Zweigle Hots and the N.Y.S. Conservation Officers Association for their contributions of food and supplies for this event. The National Rifle Association's planning guide was instrumental in the success of the event. The NRA also donated tee shirts to all attendees.

The Richmond Christian Aid Society represented Civil War re-enactment of the 4th South Carolina Infantry Co. B. In the Civil War these local volunteers performed minor first aid while tending to both physical and spiritual needs of the soldiers. The re-enactors ranged from 12 to 50 years in age. One member was a foreign exchange student from France who led the bayonet drill demonstration giving the commands in French.

Jesse Berthold, factory rep from the Hoyt USA archery manufacturer in Ravenna, Ohio brought ten compound bows, both youth and adult sizes. Teaching the basics and safety rules for the sport of archery was his purpose in attending. "You don't have to be a hunter to enjoy the sport of archers, Berthold said. "Archery is a sport the whole family can enjoy together."

One of the highlights of the event was the lively demonstration performed by the Holley club's cowboy shooters, Orren VanOrden and Lee Bartlett. Orren VanOrden, dressed in the garb of the era, demonstrated the art of Cowboy Shooting with a pair of ivory handled six shooters. Lee Bartlett broke two balloons by splitting a bullet fired at an axe blade, and he did it on the first try standing unsupported using a .32 - 20 lever action rifle his grandfather had purchased over 90 years ago.

There were about 26 Holley Rod & Gun Club members on hand to present firearm safety instruction to all the attendees and help the visitors enjoy the shooting sports with firearms such as shotguns, .22 rifles, black powder rifles, archery and BB guns using a safe, hands on approach.