by Bud Hart Kyle Kanuah, a 13-year-old Smith Middle School student, took High Gun honors in the PenMar Trap Shooting League's 2016-17 season. Kanuah hit 541 of 600 clay birds during the league's 12-week qualifying period. He took up competitive trap shooting seriously a year ago. Kanuah shoots a Browning Citori 12-gauge over and under shotgun. It's a gun his father says is an antique by current trapshooting enthusiasts. “It’s ancient, but one we could afford, “said Ed Kanuha, who also competes in the league. The younger Kanuha has made a name for himself in the trap shooting world in a short amount of time. In 2016, he was an AIM Grand Singles Pre-Sub champion after busting 197 0f 200 (98.5 percent efficiency) clays in Sparta, Illinois. He won the High Junior Lancaster County Championship and earned the top spot in the Oxford Gun Club Trap Championship.
This year he was recently named to the 2017 AIM All-Star Team, a National recognition, with only 15 chosen per age category, and the only Pennsylvania resident to qualify. The PenMar League includes three clubs - Quarryville (Southern Lancaster County Farmer’s - Sportsmen Association), Oxford and Maryland (Cedar Gun Club). The league has existed for over 50 years with Quarryville coming onboard during the 1970s. Participants can register with any club during the 15 scheduled shoots, which rotate between Oxford and Quarryville, beginning in October and ending in February. Maryland has no range available at this time. The top 10 scores from each club are used to determine the winning club for that day’s shoot. Club winners for the 2016/17 season were Oxford, Quarryville and Maryland. Roy Snyder, who was the runner-up to the High Gun award, and a former Lancaster County Trapshooting Champion, said that it is rare that inclement weather cancels a shoot. At the completion of the season, the league hosts a banquet and trophies are awarded to shooters who have participated in at least 12 league matches. Snyder began shooting competitively shortly after graduating from Solanco High School. He began his trap shooting career with a Model 12 Remington, but literally wore it out and several years ago purchased a Krieghoff 12-guage over and under. For those participating in all 15 matches, the most prestigious award is High Overall Gun. This year Rick Fortner, an Oxford Gun Club member, walked away with the prize dusting 665 of the 750 (88.9 percent efficiency) clays launched. Fortner, who lives in Delaware, but shoots for the Oxford Club, only began competitively shooting six years ago. “This is a sport anyone can enjoy,” said Fortner, who is blind in one eye. Besides Fortner, Kanuha and Snyder other 2016/17 local winners were:high handicap, Bob Rineer, Quarryville; high 20 yards, Class C & D, Ken Ray, Quarryville; high 19 yards, Dick Rineer, Quarryville; Quarryville high gun, Chet Frey; and Quarryville high gun runner-up, Jim Norton. Snyder explained that the clay bird is 4 ?-inches in diameter traveling at an average speed of 42 miles per hour at varying heights and direction when thrust from the trap arm. “It is a very challenging sport that participants can enjoy,” said the veteran shooter. “Spectators are always welcome at any of the league’s trap shoots.” Snyder and Fortner praised the accomplishments of Kanuha. “I’m really proud of him,” said Snyder. “His success is the reason more youth may be interested in taking up this sport.” Fortner agrees. “The youth are what’s going to keep this tradition going,” said Fortner. “Great to see Kyle’s success.” Comments are closed.
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