Testimonial | Selecting a Wheelchair Van

Adventures with the Paralyzed Veterans of America, By Gerry Davis Personal Mobility/United Access Springfield, Illinois

I recently had the opportunity to a attend one of 11 Tournaments held throughout the United States, that make up the PVA National Trapshoot Circuit. The Vaughan PVA Tournament was held at the Rend Lake Shooting Complex, June 18-20, 2010 near Whittington, Illinois. The event began Friday with registration, practice and an informal reception at the range. There were shooters there from Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Arizona, South Dakota, and Nevada. Saturday morning kicked off with a mandatory safety clinic for all novice shooters. The competition began with singles, (one target at a time) with 100 targets each. After lunch the competition was doubles with the shooters each having 50 pairs of targets thrown.

To say the least I was more than impressed with the camaraderie, sportsmanship, and the effort shown by everyone involved with the tournament. Most of the shooters are wheelchair users. Some of the standers have a disability which makes it difficult to hold a shotgun upright, let alone fire it at a 4 inch flying target with accuracy. While a few of the registrants have no disability. There were a couple of women and one young man, age 14. I want you to know I would not want to be in the sights of any of these folks, men, girls or boys. They each and everyone knew what they were doing with their guns.

The weather was very sunny and scorching hot. But it did not have an adverse effect on the competition. There were several teams and several rounds each to qualify and move through the team competition.

Sunday rounded out the tournament with the competition being 100 targets and Handicap Yardage, (which has nothing to do with disabilities) a shooters handicap is relative to their shooting ability and thus is regulated by the distance they are from the target. The event concluded with an awards ceremony where awards were given for: Top Overall and Top Overall Wheelchair Shooters on all 300 Targets. Singles and Doubles: 1st and 2nd place in classes AAA-D. Handicap: 1st and 2nd place for short, medium, long, and extra long yardage. Top Novice and Top Female 1st and 2nd.

I really enjoyed visiting with and watching the competition. I am looking forward to attending the event again. What a wonderful group of people and we are blessed for their service to our country.

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