1931 at Bradford Gun Club, Bradford, PA
June 23-26, 1931

Crothers wins Singles, Doubles, HAA and HOA
Ben Northrop of Tioga County wins Handicap title

The Bradford Gun Club hosted their 3rd Pennsylvania State Championship from June 23-26, 1931. The last time the shoot was held in Bradford was 1917. The club would host 6 remarkable State Shoots. Steve Crothers won 4 of the 5 major State Championships as well as the Class A title in the Class Championships.

Breaking the only 150x150, Crothers won the Class A title in the Pennsylvania Class Championships. Beaver was runner-up with 147. In the afternoon, Crothers broke 93 twin targets to beat Charles Newcomb, the defending titleholder, by 3 targets. The following day, Crothers went out and broke 200 straight to win the Pennsylvania Singles Championship for the 7th time in 11 years. He won the title last year with a 200 straight also. Walter Beaver broke a 198, and for the fourth straight year, finished runner-up. Alice Crothers, like her dad, successfully defended her women’s title. The West Chester Gun Club won the Lindsley Cup (2 man team) and the Harrisburg Cup (3 man team). The team of Beaver, Morley McBrayne and George Baldwin (representing West Chester) won the three man title for the fourth straight year. The Reading Cup (five man team) was won by the Chester County Rod & Gun Club for the fifth time.

On the final day of the tournament, Ben Northrop, out of Asaph, Tioga County, won the State Handicap title. He broke a 95 from the 18 yard line, beating F. S. Korner and McBrayne by two targets. In the Oil Field Special, a final singles event, Crothers broke a 99 to win the event. He shattered 499x500 of the tournaments singles targets. He duplicated the same score on singles as he did last year, bringing his two shoot total to 998x1000. The "ironman" also claimed the HAA and HOA awards.

1930 at Harrisburg Sportsmen’s Association, Harrisburg, PA
June 18-21, 1930

NEWCOMB WINS DOUBLES TITLE, HARTSOCK WINS HANDICAP
CROTHERS WINS THREE MAJOR SINGLES TITLES

The 40th annual Pennsylvania State Championships were held in Harrisburg at the Harrisburg Sportsmen’s Association. The shoot was stationed right along the river front, facing directly east. They last hosted the June Classic back in 1920. Steve Crothers broke 499x500 of the program targets. The Quaker City "gentleman farmer" also completed the tournament in the midst of what officials said was a new all-time shooting record. He had lost only 5 of his last 1410 singles targets. The man is simply that good. George Baldwin was elected President of the PSSA while John Eshelman was elected Vice President. Claude Henline was elected ATA delegate.

In the Pennsylvania Class Championships, Crothers broke a 199 to win the Class A title. He lost his 185th target. Walter Beaver was second, John Rigg was third. Crothers and John Eshelman tied Beaver and Rigg for the Lindsley Cup (two man team), Beaver, Rigg and Al Meiss won the Harrisburg Cup (three man team), while the Chester County Rod & Gun Club won the historic Reading Cup (five man team). Charles Newcomb, former National Clay Target Champion, won the Doubles title, breaking 90 out of the 100 twin birds.

Crothers won the State Amateur Singles Championship, breaking 200 straight. It was the first 200 straight to win the State Championship. Beaver finished second with 198. It was the third time in four years that Beaver lost to Crothers. Alice Crothers nailed down her first ladies’ title. She would go on to win the ladies’ title four years in a row. W. H. Hartsock of Harrisburg took the Handicap title on the final day of the tournament when he broke 94 out of the 100 clay targets. Crothers also won the HAA Championship with 380x400, defeating Beaver by three targets.

1929 Under the Auspices of the Inter-City Gun Club, Franklin, PA
(Held at Conneaut Lake, PA)
June 5-8, 1929

William Cochran wins State Single Championship with 199
Al Meiss wins Doubles, Crothers takes Handicap, HOA

The 1929 State shoot, held under the auspices of the Inter-City Gun Club of Franklin, PA was held at Conneaut Lake, PA, about 50 miles north of Franklin, PA, which is south of Erie. About 140 shooters took part in the four day program.

William Cochran of Kennett Square, PA took the State Singles Championship with a 199. Bud Meiss of Hazelton was runner-up with 197. Miss Joan Zerbe, a 15 year rookie from Franklin, PA won the ladies’ title. Meiss also won the State Doubles Championship with 95x100. Steve Crothers won the Handicap title with a 95 from the 23 yard line. The HAA title went to George Baldwin of West Chester, PA. He broke 379 of the 400 championship targets. Meiss trailed him by 2 targets. Crothers also won the HOA with 676x700.

1928 at Ashland Gun & Country Club, Ashland, PA
June 6-9, 1928

Steve Crothers wins 5th State Singles Championship
Andy Long wins first State Tournament trophy

With weather conditions far from perfect, a financial depression, the 1938 State Shoot at Ashland was rendered a huge success. The shoot proved Pennsylvania’s banner shoot in almost 20 years of prominence before the trapshooting world. It would be the only time this club would host the state tournament.

The Singles Championship saw Steve Crothers, the Philadelphia "ironman", Daniel Kessler of Mt. Carmel and Walter Beaver break 198’s. The three way tie was broken on a 20 shot shoot-off with Crothers winning and Kessler and Beaver still tied. They continued their shootoff, which was not settled until Kessler won the runner-up award 178x180 to 177x180. It would go down in state history as one of the great shootoffs. Years later, Crothers and Beaver would wage a 175 target shootoff for the State Championship. A. C. Schwarz of Philadelphia won the Doubles title with 45x50, the last time that title would be contested at 50 targets. Crothers and Gilbert Eccles tied for the title, but lost a one round shoot-off to Schwarz. Eccles finished as runner-up

Bud Meiss of Hazelton took the Handicap Championship with a 95 from the 18 yard line, defeating E. F. Hill in a one round shootoff. Crothers finished one target ahead of John Rigg in the HAA when he broke 331x350. The Lindsley Cup, emblematic two man team championship of Pennsylvania, was won by Beaver and Rigg of the Penn Gun Club of Norristown, PA. The three man Harrisburg Cup was won by Beaver, Rigg , and George Baldwin of the Penn Gun Club. The five man Reading Cup was won by the Chester County Gun Club shooters of Baldwin, Rigg, Beaver, William Cochran and Clyde John.

1927 at Quaker City Gun Club, Philadelphia, PA
June 8-11, 1927

Allen Heil wins third Pennsylvania Singles Title
"Big" Bob Johnson wins Doubles and HAA

The Quaker City Gun Club, only four years old, hosted their first State Shoot. They would host another in 1935. C.D. Henline was elected President of the PSSA for the third straight year. In all, Henline would serve the PSSA as President for 10 years. He was also elected ATA delegate.

Steve Crothers won the Class A title in the Pennsylvania Class Championship with 200 straight. George Baldwin finished runner-up with 196. Bob Johnson, a game warden from Lycoming County, won the Doubles title after a tie with Johnny Hoffman of Reading and the legendary Charles Newcomb with 43x50. Johnson took the title in a one round shootoff over Hoffman as Newcomb forfeited the title. The Singles Championship went to Allen Heil of Allentown with 197x200. He won the same title eleven years ago at Lansdale, PA with a score of 100, and in 1920 at Harrisburg with a score of 294x300. He also is a former national Doubles Champion, winning in St. Louis in 1916.

Harry Schroeder, a 19 yarder from Coatsville, won the State Handicap title with a 94 and a one round shoot-off over Mike Brennan of Tullytown, PA. The HAA title was won by the State Handicap Champion, Bob Johnson, with a 323x350. Baldwin led the 200 plus shooters in the HOA with 609x650.

1926 at Gettysburg Gun Club, Gettysburg, PA
June 8-11, 1926

Crothers wins Singles, HAA and HOA titles
Dr. Edwin Boyer wins Handicap, Betz takes Doubles

The June Classic this year was held in Gettysburg for the only time in the history of the Pennsylvania State Shoot. C.D. Henline was elected President of the PSSA at the annual meeting held during the shoot. About 190 shooters took part in the program.

Thirty Nine year old Stevenson Morris Crothers won his fourth State Singles title when he broke a 197. Bob Bell of the host club finished runner-up to Crothers with 196. On opening day, Bell surprised everybody by winning the Class A award in the Pennsylvania Class Championships with a 198 while Crothers had a 192. The Ashland Gun Club took the two man Lindsley Cup, West Chester shooters John Rigg, William Cochran and George Baldwin won the three man Harrisburg Cup and Quaker City won the five man Reading Cup.

Fred Betz III of Philadelphia won the Doubles title with 45x50. Betz tied for the title last year but lost the shoot-off to William Berlin. The Handicap Championship was won by Dr. Edwin Boyer of Johnstown with a 97 from the 18 yard line. Cochran, shooting in a late squad, went down the line and finished with 100 straight to win the Gettysburg Century on the final day of the shoot. Crothers won the HAA with 331x350 and the HOA with 622x650. This was Crothers 5th HAA title. He would win ten in his career.

1925 at Greensburg Gun Club, Greensburg, PA
June 16-19, 1925

Mt. Carmel’s Danny Kessler breaks 98 for Handicap title
Crothers wins 3rd State Singles Title, also wins the  HAA and HOA

The Greensburg Gun Club of Greensburg, PA hosted the 1925 Pennsylvania State Shoot for the second time in three years. On June 17th, William Berlin of the local club won the Amateur Doubles Championship of Pennsylvania with a 45x50, defeating a classy field after being forced to shoot-off with Fred Betz of Philadelphia and C.A. Rice of Erie. Steve Crothers of Philadelphia, twice the winner of the State Amateur Singles title, again won the big event with a 198. Mrs. C. B. Pike won the ladies title with 178. The Lindsley Cup went to Baldwin and Crothers of the Quaker City Gun Club, each breaking a 99 for a 198. The Harrisburg Cup was won by Baldwin, Crothers and Betz of the Quaker City Gun Club with a 294. The five man team Reading Cup was won by Quaker City also.

On June 18th, Crothers won the Class A trophy in the Pennsylvania State Class Championships with a 198. Baldwin broke 193 for second in Class A while Danny Kessler of Mt. Carmel broke a 192 for third place. State Doubles Champion William Berlin of Greensburg won the Class B title with a 195. Crothers broke a 99 on the final day of the tournament in a final singles event, and Kessler won his Handicap Championship when he smashed 98 from the 20 yard line. John Fontaine was second with 97. Crothers won the HAA with 337x350 and the HOA with 632x650.

1924 at North End Gun Club, Allentown, PA
June 17-20, 1924

Ed Hellyer wins State Singles title in shootoff
W. C. Roach takes Handicap Championship with 94x100

The 1924 Pennsylvania State Shoot was awarded to North End Gun Club in Allentown, PA. It was the first of two state shoots at the club. The shoot was held under good weather conditions, not too warm, no wind or storms. A fine line of trophies, medals and cash, approximating $2,500, was distributed to the winners. George S, McCarty, President of the ATA, was one of the guests at the shoot. Dr. A. W. Vernon of Bradford was elected President of the PSSA for a fourth term.

Steve Crothers won the first event of the tournament, the Class AA title in the Pennsylvania Class Championships. Crothers and Allen Heil tied with a 196. Crothers won the shootoff 25-24. A concurrent race saw the Eastern Pennsylvania Team outshoot the Western Pennsylvania Team 974-957. Shooting for the East were Crothers, 196; Heil, 196; F. Livingood, 195; L. G. Sefing, 194 and W. B. Cochran, 193.

On June 19th, Ed Hellyer of Alexandria, PA won the Amateur Singles Championship with a score of 197. However, Hellyer, a veteran of many tournaments, had to beat a newcomer, V. L. Foster of McKeesport, PA. In a one round shoot-off, Hellyer won 25-24, thus giving him his second state title. J. J. Broderick and R. E. Broderick won the Lindsley Cup with 196 while Crothers, George Baldwin and William Cochran won the Harrisburg Cup with 291 and the Lancaster five man team took the Reading Cup with 960. On the final day of the June Classic, Foster did get a state championship, only this was the Doubles title. He finished two targets ahead of the field with a 47. Fifteen squads took the line for the event. In the final event of the shoot, Bill Roach of Windber, PA won the title with a 94 and a one round shoot-off against J. J. Broderick. Roach also took the HAA with 335x350 and the HOA with 526x550.

1923 at Greensburg Gun Club, Greensburg, PA
June 19-22, 1923

W. C. Letterman wins Singles, J. L. Shaffer takes Doubles
Allen Heil wins State Handicap Title with 195

A galaxy of the Keystone State’s most brilliant shots have added new laurels to their crowns as a result of the largest state tournament ever held. The shoot was at the Greensburg Gun Club in Greensburg, PA from June 19-22, 1923.

The first day of the tournament saw W. C. Letterman of Lewistown smash 198 out of 200 to win the Amateur Clay Target Championship of Pennsylvania. One target behind was the defending champion, Steve Crothers of Philadelphia with a 197. Mrs. W. C. Roach, whose husband would win the Handicap Championship in 1924, was the high lady. The Western Pennsylvania team won the East vs West Team Race. The Wilkinsburg Gun Club won the Reading Cup and the Harrisburg Cup while Letterman and Ed Hellyer won the Lindsley Cup. The second day of the tournament saw J. L. Shaffer of Harrisburg win the Doubles title with 48. He missed his 47th and 50th target. The doubles race attracted 5 squads of shooters as did the Handicap Championship, which was won by Allen Heil with a 95. Heil set a record, as it was the first time the title was won from the maximum distance of 23 yards.

The HAA title went to Crothers with 333x350. It was his third straight HAA victory. He also broke 529x550 to win the HOA. Mrs. C.D. Pike won the women’s HOA with 485.

1922 at Lancaster Athletic Association, Lancaster, PA
June 6-9, 1922

Crothers wins second straight Pennsylvania Singles title
Daniel Baker wins Distance Handicap title with 94

The Lancaster Athletic Association hosted their second Pennsylvania State Championship from June 6-9 in the Red Rose City. The tournament was held over the ideal grounds athletic grounds in the suburbs of Lancaster. Eight traps was installed for the tournament that saw 216 entries in the State Singles Championship.

The second day of the tournament, the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce event led off the day’s shooting, which was won by Frank Troeh, the Pacific Coast wizard. Troeh broke 158x160 for the title. The Lindsley Cup was won by Wilkinsburg Gun Club. The Harrisburg Cup was won by the Lancaster Athletic Club team of William Wolstencroft, Walter Posey and George Baldwin. The Reading Elks Club won the four man team championship.

Steve Crothers won the State Singles title for the second year in a row, breaking 197. Turning in the same score were William Cochran and Ed Hellyer. Crothers had to brake 100 straight in a four round shoot-off to defeat Hellyer while Cochran went out in the first round. Hellyer broke 99 in the shoot-off. This was one of the first great Pennsylvania shoot-offs. Crothers would be involved in several more. Seventy gunners answered the call for the Doubles Championship. James Napier of McKeesport finished with 49, and it was a 50-1 bet that he had sewed up the title. Crothers, in a late squad, went down the line "bang-bang", turning 49 targets into dust. Quite a few wagers were laid down on the 2 man shoot-off with the Philadelphia crowd covering every nickel in sight. When the smoke cleared, Crothers had won 20-18. The legend of Steve Crothers had just begun. "Farmer" Crothers also won the HAA with 337x350 and the HOA with 736x750. Daniel Baker of Pittsburgh, won the Handicap title on the last day breaking a 94 from the 20 yard line. John E. Schroll of Mt Joy, PA was runner-up with 93x100. In 1924, Schroll became Treasurer of the PSSA until 1938.

1921 at Allird Gun Club, Pittsburgh, PA
June 6-10, 1921

Steve Crothers wins first State Singles Championship
Gib Marsh wins Handicap, George Howell wins Doubles

The annual Pennsylvania State Shoot was held in Pittsburgh at the Allird Gun Club. The shoot saw Steve Crothers win his first of 14 State Singles Championships with a 196. H. G. Gillespie of Butler finished runner-up, after he lost a shoot-off for the state crown. Mrs. S. H. Bruff won her third straight women’s title with a 169, The State Doubles award went to George M. Howell of Northumberland, breaking 45x50. Allen Heil of Allentown and W. M. Berlin of Greensburg finished runner-up, each breaking 44x40. Heil won the State Doubles title in 1911 and 1914 and Berlin took the twin bird title in 1925.

Gib Marsh of Pittsburgh took the Handicap title when he turned in a score of 97 from the 18 yard line. W. S. Lang of Pittsburgh finished one behind, shooting from 20 yards. The HAA trophy was claimed by Crothers with a score of 332x350. He also broke 768x800 to win the HOA.

1920 at Harrisburg Sportsmen’s Association, Harrisburg, PA
June 8-11, 1920

Allen Heil State Singles Champion with 294X300
W. C. Wolstencroft takes Doubles, HAA and HOA titles

The 1920 State Shoot was held in Harrisburg under the auspices of the Harrisburg Sportsmen’s Association. Harrisburg Mayor Hoovertor gave the opening address and the huge 1920 shoot was under way. The first event, an introductory singles affair, was won by W. C. Letterman, the 1923 State Singles Champion, when he broke 159x160. George Baldwin of West Chester finished second with 157. Letterman won $65.40 for his work. The State Singles Championship was run over two days, 140 targets on June 8th and 160 targets on June 9th. Allen Heil broke 138 and 156 for a two day total of 294. W. C. Wolstencroft broke 135 and 159 for a 294. The shootoff for the title went four rounds with Heil winning 98-97. Mrs. Judd Bruff won her second straight ladies title, breaking 134 of the first 140 targets. The high score on Thursday, including the second half of the State Singles Championship and a added handicap event was won by Steve Crothers. He won a No. 11 Winchester trap grade pump gun. Early records show this be Steve Crothers first state shoot.

Wolstencroft won the State Doubles title with 46x50 and J. H. Allerman finished second with 45. In the State Handicap Championship, Elias Hall of Philadelphia won the title with 96 from 20 yards. Claude Henline of Bradford finished second after a shootoff with Hall for the title. Wolstencroft won the HOA with 591x630.

1919 at Butler Rod & Gun Club, Butler, PA
June 17-20, 1919

Ed "the Village Miller" Hellyer wins State Singles Championship
J. R. Johnson wins Doubles title, no Handicap event held

The Butler Gun Club held their first and only Pennsylvania State Shoot from June 17-20, 1919. The star of the big show was Ed "The Village Miller" Hellyer of Alexandria, Huntingdon County, PA. Hellyer, winner of the Singles title in 1924 in Allentown, won the title this year with a score of 295x300. The first regular day of the tournament, June 18th, saw George Baldwin won the trophy for the first half of the Pennsylvania State Singles Championship, breaking 147, than defeating W. C. Wolstencroft and Dr. Aber in a shootoff. The Interstate Association ordered all state shoots to be at 300 targets for 1919 and 1920. The state ladies’ title was decided on the 150 targets shot on the first day of the tournament when she broke 130 for the award. It was her first of three straight ladies’ State Singles Championship’s.

On June 19th, the second half of the Singles Championship was contested and the finish brought thrills and more thrills to the large crowd. Hellyer, trailing the three leaders by one target after the first day, broke a 149 to defeat Baldwin by a single target, 295-294. He finished on a late squad knowing he would have to break the 149 to win. J. R. Johnson of Pittsburgh broke 47 twin birds to claim the Pennsylvania Doubles title. J. E. Penrod of Conemaugh, PA finished second. No handicap event was held.

1918 at Lancaster Athletic Association, Lancaster, PA
June 11-14, 1918

Charles Newcomb is Pennsylvania Singles Champion
H. W. Jeffrey wins Handicap, H. B. Shoop takes Twin Bird title

The 1918 State Shoot was held at the Lancaster Athletic Association grounds located on the north side of the city. Five Ideal Leggett traps were used for the tournament, which broke all state records. 157 shooters took part on June 12th, and the total swelled to 188 for the Singles Championship on June 13. The Handicap title race drew 124 gunners, and was shot in the rain.

Hindered by a strong gale, former national singles champion Charlie Newcomb of Philadelphia, won the Pennsylvania State Singles Championship on June 13th. He was the only amateur to break a 97. Professional gunners J. M. Hawkins broke 100 straight and L. S. Garman broke a 97. Hawkins would go on to become the greatest professional clay target shooter in Pennsylvania trapshooting history. In the Handicap Championship, W. H. Jeffrey of Philadelphia broke 93 and defeated D. W. Baker 20-17 in a shoot-off for the title.

1917 at Bradford Gun Club, Bradford, PA
June 4-7, 1917

Butler’s Roy McIntire breaks 100 for State Singles title
M. B. Stewart wins Doubles, Allen Heil wins colt revolver

Shooting under which was perhaps the most disagreeable weather conditions possible, the shooters at the 1917 State Shoot at Bradford braved the rain, cold and wind. The Lindsley two man title was won by the Wilkes Barre Rod & Gun Club. The Harrisburg trophy went to McKeesport #1 team and the Reading Cup also went to McKeesport.

The first day of the tournament saw W. H. Wolstencroft of Philadelphia win the Maplewood 100 when he broke a 99. M. B. Stewart of West Fairview, PA won the Doubles title with a 45x50 during the last event of the first day. Allen Heil, H. Garman and W. C. Heisey finished with 44’s. On the second day of the tournament, Roy McIntire of Butler, of whom little is known, greatly surprised everybody by winning the Interstate Association Amateur State Singles title with 100 straight. Heil finished second with a 99. He was the defending champion. The State Handicap trophy went to R. S. Pringle of Bradford with a 95 from the 20 yard line.

Heil won the PSSA General High Average award 443x450 in the singles events, the Holley Trophy with 74x75, the In The Open Trophy with 99x100 and the Emery Trophy with 197x200. The Emery Trophy was a pearl-mounted 38-caliber Colt revolver. A. B. Lewis broke 75x75 to win the Speer Trophy.

1916 at Landsdale Gun Club, Lansdale, PA
May 18-20, 1916

Allen Heil crowned Singles Champion with 100 straight
H. W. Buckwalter of Royersford wins Doubles with 47

The 26th renewal of the Pennsylvania State Shoot was held on May 18-20, 1917 at the Lansdale Gun Club. J. S. Speer of St. Mary’s, PA was again elected President of the PSSA. Dr. A. W. Vernon of Bradford won the High Average Award on the 450 singles targets when he broke 426x450. Allen Heil of Allentown was runner-up with 425. J. M. Hawkins of Baltimore, MD was high professional with 425.

The Singles Championship was won by Heil on May 19th. He broke the only perfect score in a field of 147 shooters. The President Speer Trophy was won by M. B. Stewart when he broke 74x74. The Harrisburg Cup went to the Spring Valley Club of Reading, PA. The team of Heil and Howard Schlicher of the West End Gun Club in Allentown won the Lindsley Cup. Back in 1911, Schlichter was runner-up to Kelsey Painter for the DuPont Cup as Pennsylvania State Singles Champion. The Harrisburg Shooting Association won the four man Reading Cup. The Lansdale Handicap was won by A.H. Aber of Dravosburg, PA. He broke a 96 from the 19 yard line. Harry Buckwalter of Royersford won the Doubles title with 47x50.

1915 at Milton Rod & Gun Club, Milton, PA
May 18-21, 1915

Charles Newcomb wins Pennsylvania Singles title with 99
A. L. Lewis takes Handicap crown with 96 from 18 yards

The 25th renewal of the Pennsylvania State Shoot was held at the Milton Rod & Gun Club in Milton, PA from May 18-21. Charles Newcomb, who during his career would win over 1000 trophies, won his first Pennsylvania Amateur Singles title with a 99. Later in the year, Newcomb would win the National Singles Championship at the Grand American in Chicago. The State Doubles Championship title went to Walter S. Behm of Reading when he broke 44x50. Twenty five gunners took the line for the event. The two man Lindsley Cup was won by F. S. Bender and L. Swartz. The three man Harrisburg Cup was taken by the Bradford Gun Club trio of Dr. A. W. Vernon, C.D. Henline and R. S. Van Nette. The four man team Reading Cup was won by the Independent Gun Club of Philadelphia. Shooting for them were Newcomb, Frank Sidebotham, H. E. Perry and A. Fink.

The final singles event on the fourth day of the tournament was won by Newcomb, breaking another 99. The last event, the Handicap Championship saw 101 gunners take the line, was won by A. L. Lewis with the only 96. He shot from the 18 yard line.

1914 at Herron Hill Gun Club, Pittsburgh, PA
May 20-22, 1914

PSSA now has 120 clubs on their roll, John Speer elected President
W. S. Behm of Philadelphia takes Singles title with 98

On May 20th, the first day of the big tournament, Charlie Newcomb simply "shot his head off", breaking 174x175 singles targets. This was five targets better than any other shooter on the grounds, amateur or professional. Walter S. Behm was his closest rival with 169. On May 21st, the "big day" of the annual classic, included the Pennsylvania Singles Championship. Held under conditions laid down by the Interstate Association, was won by Behm, shooting under the colors of the Hercules Gun Club, Reading, PA. He broke 98 and edged Newcomb by a single target. The Harrisburg Trophy was won by the Harrisburg Sportsmen’s Association team. The Herron Hill Gun Club won the Lindsley Cup, while the Independent Gun Club of Philadelphia won the Reading Cup. Newcomb was one of the team members of the Independent Gun Club.

Newcomb won two events on the final day of the tournament, winning the first singles event with 173x175 and the final event for the Interstate Association trophy with a 98 and a one round shoot-off over state champ Walter Behm. The Wolstencroft Trophy, emblematic of the Pennsylvania State Doubles title was won by Allen Heil of Allentown with 43x50. Newcomb also led all shooters in total singles targets, breaking 494x500 to capture the DuPont Trophy. Behm was second with 487.

1913 at York City Gun Club, York, PA
May 12-15, 1913

Allen Seitz of Glen Rock Gun Club wins Ithaca Trap Gun
R.J. Budd of Lykens wins State Singles title with 416x450

Despite the fact that an entirely new program was used by the PSSA for the State Shoot at York, there was not a hitch during the four days of shooting. The prestigious DuPont Cup for the Pennsylvania State Singles Championship was won by R.J. Budd of Lykens. Shot over the final three days of competition, Budd broke more targets than any other amateur on the grounds, breaking 416x450.

1912 at Sunbury-Selingsgrove Gun Club, Sunbury, PA
May 22-24, 1912

Harry Kahler wins State Singles, Doubles titles
E. Adams of Reading wins McNichol trophy

The 1912 Pennsylvania State Shoot was Harry Kahler show. He won the DuPont Trophy, emblematic of the Pennsylvania Singles Championship with 434x450, shot over the three days of the tournament. He also won the Wolstencroft Trophy for the Pennsylvania Doubles Championship, breaking 43 out of 25 pairs. Kahler, a former world’s trapshooting champion from Philadelphia, broke 146x150 on May 22 to win the first day’s event by two targets. He also won the singles on the third day of the classic, breaking a 145, winning by two targets again. E. Adams of Reading, PA won the singles on the middle day of the tournament, winning the McNichol Trophy in the process, breaking 144, one targets better than Kahler.

The Milt Lindsley Trophy was won by the Lehigh Valley Gun Club while the Harrisburg Trophy and the Reading Cup by the Highland Gun Club of Philadelphia. Over 65,000 targets was thrown during the three day event. Shooting each day started at 9:00 AM sharp, not 9:30 or 10:00. The shooting was over by 2:30 PM each day of the tournament. By a 21-15 vote, York was chosen over Harrisburg for the 1913 shoot.

1911 at DuBois Gun Club, DuBois, PA
May 16-18, 1911

"Kelsey" Painter breaks 437x450 for State Singles title
Allen Heil of North End Gun Club wins State Doubles with 41x50

George "Kelsey" Painter of Pittsburgh won the DuPont Trophy as the Pennsylvania State Singles Champion of 1911 by breaking 437x450. However, he was tied by Howard Schlicher of Allentown and had to win a shoot-off to gain possession of the title. He defeated Schlicher 25-24 in a one round shoot-off. Allen Heil won the Wolstencroft Trophy as the Pennsylvania Doubles Champion with 41x50.

The team of W. H. Wolstencroft and Harry Kahler gave the Highland Gun Club of Philadelphia the two man Lindsley Cup trophy. This is the second straight year they won the trophy. The three man Harrisburg Cup went to Highland Gun Club also. The four man Reading Cup ended in a tie between Pittsburgh and the crack Highland team. The trophy went out west as Pittsburgh won the cup in a one round shoot-off.

1910 at Highland Gun Club, Edge Hill, PA
May 16-19, 1910

Howard Schlicher of Allentown wins State 16 Yard title
Frank Ebb of Atglen wins State Doubles crown with 42x50

The Highland Gun Club, near Philadelphia, held the annual Pennsylvania State Shoot from May 16-19, 1910. Howard Schlicher of Allentown took the Dupont Cup as the Pennsylvania State Singles Champion with a score of 190x200. He won by a single target over Charles Mink. During the four day run of the shoot, Mink won the bronze medal for the champion of Philadelphia county, the Hanover trophy for having the second highest average over the final three days of the tournament, the White trophy, two Marlin guns and a fox shotgun, beside many other trophies. The Wolstencroft Doubles State Championship trophy was won by Frank Ebb of Atglen with a 42.

H. E. Adams of Reading defeated Harry Buckwalter of Royersford for the McNichol Trophy after each has posted a perfect score. It was the first time the McNichol trophy was awarded. W. C. Wolstencroft and Harry Kahler won the Lindsley Cup, the Highland Gun Club of Pittsburgh took the Harrisburg Cup while two Highland Gun Club teams tied for the Reading Cup. They did not shoot-off as the cup was sure to travel to the Philadelphia club no matter who won.

1909 at Independent Gun Club, Reading, PA
May 3-6, 1909

GEORGE s. McCarty wins State Singles title with 186x200
Many find fault with Tournament held in Reading

In a State Shoot that ran into many problems, including bad weather, bad management and low attendance, George S. McCarty of Philadelphia took the State Singles Championship with a 186x200. The event was held under handicap conditions as each of the 63 shooters were placed at handicap yardage with McCarty shooting from 21 yards, the maximum yardage used for the shoot. McCarty also was the high average shooter for the tournament, breaking 521x550.

The first day, the practice day, saw weather conditions so bad that good scores were impossible. Added to that the grounds were very bad. No two traps were set alike. The way the money was divided all through the tournament was questioned. Many shooters were shooting for targets only. Payoff’s of the optional monies were low, and it goes on and on. Could this be the reason Reading was not awarded another State Shoot for 25 years?

The Harrisburg Trophy went the Herron Hill team while the Milt Lindsley Trophy was won by the Independent Team of Philadelphia. The Reading Trophy was also won by the Independent Team of Philadelphia. This four man team consisted of Charles Mink, W. H. Wolstencroft, George McCarty and Harry Kahler.

1908 at Bradford Gun Club, Bradford, PA
May 25-28, 1908

Harry Buckwalter wins State crown with 49x50
Defeats George S. McCarty in 100 target shoot-off

The Bradford Gun Club held their first of six State Championships from May 25-28, 1908. They threw 75,000 targets over the entire classic. The club would host tournaments in 1917, 1931, 1936, 1941 and 1948. George McCarty was the high average shooter over the course of the tournament when he broke 490x510. However, he lost the coveted State Championship to Harry Buckwalter of Royersford, PA after each broke a 49x50. Buckwalter won the shoot-off in four extra innings with scores of 24,24,25,25. Defending champion S.W. Bilsing of New Brighton, PA was also part of the shoot-off but lasted only one round. The Bradford merchandise handicap was won by J. F. Mallory of Waterford, PA with a score of 47x50. He shot from 20 yards.

DuBois won the Lindsley two man race while the Independent Club #1 of Philadelphia won the three man Harrisburg Cup. That team was composed of McCarty, Buckwalter and big Charlie Newcomb. The four man Reading Cup was won by the Independent Club #2 of Philadelphia.

   1907 at Keystone Gun Club, Lebanon, PA
May 20-23, 1907

Fred Coleman win State Live Bird title
S.W. Bilsing wins State Singles title with 49x50

The 17th annual Pennsylvania Trapshooting Championships was held in Lebanon, PA under the auspices of the Keystone Gun Club. The fairgrounds in Lebanon was selected for the tournament. The State Live Bird Championship was held in conjunction with the state inanimate target event for the last time. The live bird title went to Fred Coleman, winner of the Pennsylvania State Singles Championship back in 1905. Coleman killed 25 pigeons plus 12 in a miss and out shoot-off over three others. This was the last year that live birds were shot at the PSSA State Shoot. The state clay target title went to S.W. Bilsing of New Brighton, PA when he broke 49x50. H. E. Buckwalter, Kelsey Painter, Allen Heil and Charles Newcomb led a large field of shooters during the tournament.

The Reading Cup was won by the Independent Club of Philadelphia while the Easton team won the Harrisburg Cup. The two man team Lindsley Cup was won by Pleiss and Markley.

1906 Under the Auspices of the Williamsport Rifle Club, Williamsport, PA
(Held at Milton Fairgrounds, Milton, PA)
May 15-18, 1906

King wins Pennsylvania Live Bird Championship
Ed Hickey wins Clay Target crown

The 16th annual Pennsylvania Trapshooting Championships were held at the Milton Fairgrounds, complete with bands and a parade. Ed Hickey of Millville won the inanimate Clay Target Championship when he broke 42x50. The Park Memorial Distance Handicap was shot on May 16th and was won by George Hansel, breaking 47x50 from 19 yards and was awarded a gun. R. C. Derk of Northumberland was second with a 46 and won an LC Smith shotgun. Mr. King won the Williamsport Trophy at live birds, emblematic of the Pennsylvania Live Bird Championship. Eight gunners killed 15 birds and King killed 28 more in a shoot-off to win the title.

The Milt Lindsley Cup was won by Harry Buckwalter and Charlie Newcomb, the Harrisburg Cup went to Sewickley Valley Gun Club and the Reading Cup was won by the Florists’ Gun Club of Philadelphia.

1905 at Herron Hill Gun Club, Pittsburgh, PA
May 9-12, 1905

Fred Coleman wins second State Singles title with 47x50
PSSA led fight against bill to ban live bird shoots

The 15th annual Pennsylvania State Trapshooting Championships were held by the Herron Hill Gun Club of Pittsburgh, PA. The shoot was held at Pittsburgh & Allegheny Driving Park, Brunot’s Island. Fred Coleman of Philadelphia, won his second Wolstencroft Trophy in three years, emblematic of the State Singles Championship, when he broke 47x50. He defeated four others who broke 47 in a one round shoot-off. 219 faced the traps for the Herron Hill Handicap, won by Richardson with a 96 from 17 yards. The Harrisburg Trophy was won by the host Herron Hill Gun Club while the Reading Trophy went to the Florists’ Gun Club of Philadelphia. The Lindsley two man trophy went to the North Side Gun Club. The shoot was run by the legendary Elmer Shaner.

The Williamsport Trophy, given to the Pennsylvania Live Bird Champion, went to Pontefract when he killed 15 straight in the program and defeated 9 others in a shoot-off for the title. He killed another 50 straight in the shoot-off but won the title when he had to draw against Fred Coleman and Derk. Both Coleman and Derk killed 50 straight in the shoot-off also. However, they ran out of birds. Seems all three should have shared the title.

1904 at York City Gun Club, York, PA
May 16-19, 1904

Fen Cooper of Mahanoy City wins State Singles title
Three way tie for live bird title to be shot of in June

Fen Cooper of Mahanoy City, PA won the Pennsylvania Singles Championship with 142x150. Three men tied for the Williamsport Trophy, emblematic of the State Live Bird Championship, with 15x15. They included Wellington, Stroh and Pyle. They were to have shot off for the title in Harrisburg on June 11th, 1904. Great interest, as usual, was focused on the two, three and four man team titles. The two man Lindsley Cup went to Carlisle, the three man Harrisburg Cup went to Luzerne County and the four man Reading Cup was won by shooters from Allentown.

The three man team L.C. Smith Trophy at live birds was taken by the team from the Keystone Shooting League of Philadelphia. They killed 39 out of 45.

1903 at Florists’ Gun Club, Philadelphia, PA
May 18-23, 1903

Fred Coleman wins Pennsylvania Singles Championship
Denny elected president of PSSA for 8^th straight year

The 13th annual PSSA Pennsylvania State Shoot was held on the grounds of the Florists’ Gun Club of Philadelphia. The first three days were devoted to shooting at inanimate targets while the final two days at live birds. The Wolstencroft Pennsylvania State Singles Championship trophy went to Fred Coleman of Philadelphia after he won in extra innings against four others. Coleman was the only one to break all 25 targets in the overtime session.

The Lindsley trophy was won by North Side Team #2. The Harrisburg trophy was won by J. F. Weiler Rod & Gun Club of Allentown and the Reading Cup by North Side Team #1.

1902 at Oil City Gun Club, Oil City, PA
May 13-16, 1902

Milton Brey of Zionsville captures State title with 112x125
Ballman captures Live Bird title with 15x15

Milton Brey of Zionsville won the Pennsylvania Amateur Singles Championship during the State Shoot held at Oil City. As many as 2,000 spectators attended each day of the championships. Brey broke 112x125 of the championship targets. New Castle #2 won the Harrisburg Trophy and the New Castle #1 team won the Reading Cup. The Florists’ Gun Club of Philadelphia took the Lindsley Cup. Ballman took the live bird title with 15 straight kills and ten more in a miss and out shoot-off. The legendary Fred Coleman was one of five shooters who killed 15 pigeons in the regular program, but hit only 5 in the shoot-off.

1901 at Allentown Rod & Gun Club, Griesemersville, PA
May 14-17, 1901

Elmer Shaner in charge of 1901 shoot near Allentown
P. J. Trego of Tyrone takes Amateur Singles Championship

With the legendary Elmer Shaner in charge, the 1901 Pennsylvania State Championships were a resounding success. P. J. Trego of Tyrone captured the Pennsylvania Amateur Singles Championship, breaking 131x145 clay targets while the Williamsport Trophy, emblematic of the State Live Bird Championship was won by McCoy, the ties were decided by lot. Twelve gunners killed 15x15 pigeons, including Fred Coleman.

The Reading Trophy, Lindsley Cup and the Harrisburg Cup were won by the New Castle Gun Club.

1900 at Chambersburg Gun Club, Chambersburg, PA
May 15-18, 1900

W. S. Smith of Oysterburg take Clay Target title
Fred Coleman wins Live Bird title

The first State Shoot of the 20th century saw W. S. Smith of Oysterburg, PA win the Clay Target Championship with 112x115. J. T. Atkinson, H. B. Brewster, G. W. Wellington and Fred Coleman each killed 15 pigeons for the Williamsport Trophy and the State Championship title. Coleman won the title with 15 straight kills in overtime. Atkinson missed one for the runner-up award.