The Turkey Time Trapshoot competition held in town over the weekend finished with a bang Sunday afternoon, as event organizers said the event was an overall success.

Wayne Chadwick, of South Dakota, takes aim Sunday during the Turkey Time Trapshoot competition. Jayne Hanson/News-Herald Photo.

“It is the best (attended) event we have ever had here,” said Gary Palese, of Lake Havasu City Sportsman’s Club.

In its 11th year, 61 shooters showed up to participate in the competition, said Denny Neff, the club’s Amateur Trapshooting Association chairman. Neff is responsible for the paperwork and compiling the shooters’ scores into ATA’s computer system.

Clayton Philipp, of Las Vegas, has been shooting competitively for about 10 years and was a first-time entrant in the Havasu-based competition.

“The wind is intense here,” Philipp said of the weather during competition. “Everything is a factor when shooting — the sun, the wind, the rain. Everything,” he said.

But competitors said the event was worth the trip. Participants came from as far away as Wyoming, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Nevada and New Mexico to showcase their skills.

Palese’s wife Frida said many of the competitors left for Tucson to prepare for the Autumn Satellite Grand American trap and skeet shooting competition scheduled this week. The ATA competitions are on a circuit-type schedule, and some competitors travel from one place to the next following competitions, she said.

Four of the Turkey Trapshoot champions for Saturday’s five competitions are: Gerald Demulling, of Wisconsin, winning Event No. 1; Mike Grady, of New Mexico, for Event No. 2; Mike Freeman, of Nevada, for Event No. 3; and Dyllon Drake, of New Mexico, for Event No. 5.

The fourth event’s champion wasn’t determined until Sunday because three shooters tied. Demulling, Drake and David Siegler, of Nevada, competed in a shoot-off where Drake was declared the winner.

The high overall trophy was awarded to Mike Grady.

You may contact the reporter at jhanson@havasunews.com.