The smell of gunpowder filled the air as shots rang out at the Education Foundation of Indian River County’s 16th annual Charity Shoot at the Windsor Gun Club at Indian River Trap & Skeet last Saturday morning. Roughly two dozen shooters took part in the event, which concluded with a barbeque lunch catered by Windsor.
Teams of participants, randomly drawn to keep the playing field level, took their places at stands and attempted to shoot down the highest number of the 100 skeets sent flying into the air. There was a lot of friendly banter as skeet shards rained down on the players’ heads – hats and glasses an essential part of every outfit. Many of the players took advantage of the option to buy mulligans – do-over second chances to increase their odds for a better score.
“This event is to raise money. So we usually don’t do it, but I will add mulligans just to raise even more money,” said Count Nikolaus Szapary. Nicky to his students, Szapary is the director of the Windsor Gun Club, whose members shoot at Indian River Trap & Skeet. The former Austrian Olympian was recruited by Windsor developer Galen Weston in 1995. “The special thing about the charity shoot is the team feature. Since players are picked out of a hat, you can meet people you have not met before so everyone really enjoys it.”
As the teams of three were drawn, there were good-natured moans and groans as shooters realized that some teams were comprised of all good players and others were made up of novices. Dede Snowden, an originator of the charity shoot event with Szapary, was paired with husband Guy, who is also known as a good shot.
“Oh no, I guess I cannot be captain if my wife is on the team,” said Snowden with a laugh, indicating she was the boss. Their team eventually came in third.
“This is a great event,” said Ben Bailey, the defending champion who was teamed up this year with Todd Marchant and Schuyler Roseland. Although their chances looked good at the outset, they ranked fifth after the scores were totaled. “When we come out here to shoot with Nicky during competitions it is serious and we have pressure, but this is just fun.”
“It’s great, you have 100 clays coming at you and it gets your adrenaline really pumping,” added Marchant.
The team made up of Tony Zande, Neil Shaw and John Kinsella won first place and teammates Trish Backkal, Tony Woodruff and Thad Davis placed second. The youngest and one of the few women participating, Schuyler Roseland, said knowing how to shoot is a positive asset.
“I love it. It is just different and not everyone can say ‘I shoot sporting clays.’ My friends think it is very cool,” she said. When asked what the boys at school thought, she laughed and said it scared them a bit. “It’s a real conversation starter!”
Education Foundation Executive Director Cynthia Falardeau expected the event to net approximately $20,000 thanks to entry fees and generous donations and sponsorships.
“We do a lot of things to support the basic needs of children and teachers whether that is backpacks, vision exams, school supplies or larger projects to increase the graduation rates and kindergarten readiness,” said Falardeau. “A variety of things, but all centered around advancing student achievement.”
