Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-12
CLIMAX FOR SHOOTERS
GRAND AMERICAN HANDICAP
MAMMOTH SPORTING EVENT
More Than 500 Participants VIII Take
Part In Shooting Carnival MT
Chicago This Month.

The Grand American Handicap Trap
shooting tournament-the blue-ribbon
event Of trapdom. and the greatest Of
all sporting events-will take place
over. tho traps of the South Shore Coun-
try Club. in Chicago, Ill. beginning on
Monday, August 20, and concluding on
| Friday, August "a
Tho Grand American, Handicap. as 1t
is moro commonly called, Is to trap
shooters what the worlds series Is to
baseball; the Davis cup to tennis: tho
international matches to golf and
cricket. and Is an oven bigger event
than any OF these. 1t has often been
referred to as the trapshooters' worlds
series. Those who have never attended
the Grand American Handicap would
marvel at it's magnitude.
The assertion that 1t Is greater
event than the classic baseball worlds
series, the International golf and
cricket matches or the Davis cup series.
Is broad one. but It can be proven
the third week in August If any one
cares to do any probing.
here is a sporting event that attracts
moro than 500 mon and women-busi-
ness men and athletic women-from
every part Of the United States. They
are all active contestants. They de-
ray their own expenses, pay entrance
fees In all events and have numerous
other bills to meet and enjoy the sport.
me entrance money, OF course comes
pack 10 the shooters, but they all do
not share In the return
No Other Event So Large.
There Isn't another sporting event In
the world that will attract 500 par
tfcipants-nor 100 II they have to de-
Tray their own expenses. Trapshootins
Is great sport. and 'one Of these days
| 1t Will come into it's own through the
medium Of publicity. At the present
writing thousands Of persons attend
the annual tournaments, and In Chicago
they expect $4,000 persons each of the
five days. The fact that no admission
is charged induces many to visit the
carnival and watch tho greatest of
American shooters display their Prov
Tess with the shotgun,
ana every trapshooter OF ability will
be there. They come from Maine and
Oregon. from Minnesota and Florida.
Every State In the Union was repre-
sented In the tournament last year in
st. Louis. and there will be more en-
tries In Chicago than there were in the
Mound City.
For dozen years or so the Grand
American Handicap was at live birds
agitation In many States against live
nird shooting caused the change to CLAW
targets. and the change has never been
regretted. There were two dozen or
SO entries in the live-bird classics
"hen the switch was made to clay tar
gets the hrst tournament brought in
seVenty-eight entries. In 1914 the en-
ss ior the nrst time totaled over 500,
and In lois Chicago raised tho total
10 1874. st. Louis had 19s entries leas
IMAM Chicago. because ST. LouIs onIv
n1o hVe traps. Chicago used ten.
Ten Traps Away. WORKING.
Len traps VIII be used by the South
Shore Club in staging the tournamen,W
SIX 1or tho regular scheduled events
TWO Joker traps. one trap for profos'
siohais' and another for women. The
,alsets VIII be thrown over the Lake.
w. san, Ewing the shooters a perfect
tvo souha. ihere was time when
wv traps was great number for III,
Slaho american Handicap-but tint
wa. Was IN the long ago. 1t is doubtfuI ~
the tournament will ever be staeed
sah oy an organization that cannot
uarahtee the erection of ten trans
J.. Inc program Of tho Grand Americs,
Just ABOUT tho same as in otber
Sears' Monday, the goth, is preI,n,i.
, .ay Gay. The South Shore tntroduc.
, Vii IVY targets from eighteen yards.
49, ING only event. Tuesday, the
az 100 targets. sixteen Yards ~
.lohai amateur championships NJ do,,h,.
$50. se.s VIII follow. Fifty pairs win he
. Inc national amateur char
pionship. 100 targets, sixteen 49,.
VIII conclude the program.
The Event of the Well
~ ms event In the mind Of manv =.
onIv sbna,o event OF the program. The
Stats cb eligible are those who are
~ l.
the shooter to beat eyerv o. LOT
nome state before getting into ,h;s
race. 1t Is better known as tha ~. .S 20
ehampionss and tho winner ts knn1sn a.
M, 'raPsnoottng world as "the cham
FL blOm OK champions" It is no small
Stat. 10y sl1 OF those who won
this year. A' repeated
Inc preliminary Handicap will t,k.
pace wednesday, tho Grand America
thursday and the Consolation H.ndi-
cap Friday. Handlcaps for the Grand
american Will be announced on Aurnat
is me winner OF the Grand American
mat he will receive nearly si.ooo ~
captain Wulf. last years winner ~
lected about 500. COZ
Ihere will be special events for Tn.
women trapshooters, fifty targets IN
one afternoons e, OF the 21st. ED and
I'm ihree prizes will be awarded
each time, and the women's champion.
snip OF the United States will be de-.
cided. The two women making the
iighest score In the Grand American
WIZ also be awarded tropics.
Froiessionais are not allowed n
snoot In the events with the amateurs.
so they Will engage in matches arainst
eacn other on the professional tran nj
O'Clock each afternoon. About frtv
OF the best professional trapshooters
or tho country will be in attendance
me professional championship was
won last year by Phil Miller. Of st.
Louis. Mo.