Abilene Clay Sports

06/24/2026

This is an interesting post. The Government did not even acknowledge the existence of these clay targets for 72 years.

06/23/2026

ACS Board meeting Tues, June 30-6:00
Clubhouse

06/23/2026

Trapshooters began replacing live pigeons with clay targets in the late 19th century. The change was needed mostly due to a shortage of live pigeons, and to a lesser degree the public’s perception of animal cruelty. Cincinnati inventor George Ligowsky introduced the first commercially successful "clay" target in 1880.

To demonstrate the use of clay targets (as designed by Ligowski), Chicago held the first International “Clay” Pigeon Tournament in May of 1884. The Exeter Sportsman’s Club in New Hampshire famously sent a team to compete in that historical tournament. The Exeter team took the top award, demonstrating that clay targets were vastly superior to live birds. It was at that point that trap shooting moved quickly to shooting “inanimate” birds as they were initially called.

The Exeter Sportsman's Club, led by dentist Dr. Charles E. Gerrish, surprised the sporting world by winning the top honors. Club member C.M. Stark won the highest individual score, earning a diamond medal, and the team was celebrated as conquering heroes upon their return.

The win established the credibility of the clay target and glass ball over traditional live-pigeon shoots, cementing the Exeter club's legacy in early shooting sports history.

Shown here are (Back row): O.J. Jenkins, Capt. A.F. Cooper, H.S. Taylor, (Front row): Dr. C. Gerrish, team captain, C.M. Stark, medal winner. The photo was created in March 1916. This is the only known photo of the Exeter Champion Team.

Steve Ellinger

06/22/2026

In the 1930’s, the relatively “new” sport of s***t was gaining traction and popularity by leaps and bounds. S***t was the new sport of the well-to-do, the Hollywood movie stars and the high society community. Trap had already been established for at least 30 years. The NSSA was formed in 1928 and doing a great job of promoting s***t.

S***t demands great eyesight and quick reflexes. Who has those qualities more than any other? Those of a younger age of course. Three young boys were setting the s***t world on fire. 14-year old Dick Shaughnessy (L), 17-year old Billy Clayton (C), and 17 year-old Robert Stack (R). They were winning everything and scoring higher than most of the adults. The NSSA Nationals was being held in St. Louis in 1936. Those three boys entered and won everything. Shaughnessy took the all-gauge (12 gauge) event with a 248/250. Billy Clayton took the high-overall score with a 529/500, and Robert Stack was runner-up to Shaughnessy.

Shaughnessy of course ultimately became one the greatest s***t shooters in history. Remember also that s***t at that time was low gun, and without modern cartridges. Clayton ceased competitive shooting just two years later at 19 due to the Great Depression. Stack of course also became of the greatest s***t shooters in history, along with one of America’s best-known movie and television actors.

This very rare photo is perhaps the only time the three were photographed together. Taken on September 19, 1936 during the NSSA Nationals, it captures the three boys who would in short order become three of the most famous Clay Target Legends in history.

Steve Ellinger

06/21/2026

As I now serve as one of the curators at the NSSA-NSCA Museum and Hall of Fame, I encounter a lot of fascinating history and legendary shooters. One of those is Clay Target Legend, the late Penny Norman. Although I have scribed other articles on Norman, I find it is always informative to reintroduce her to newer shooters. It was in 1968 on a perfect weather Florida Saturday that friends asked a young Penny Norman and her husband Wallace to join them for a round of s***t.

Now Penny at this point had never even held a shotgun, much less fired one. Not wanting Penny to feel left out, the friends asked her to give it a try. They handed her a soft shooting Re*****on 1100 (as most clay target shooters used at that time), gave her a bit of basic instruction and she let our her very first “PULL”. She was hooked. “I just adored it immediately”. Norman became a legendary, championship-winning American s***t shooter who rose to global prominence in the early 1970s.

Within just three years after that first trip to the s***t field, she became the 1971 National S***t Shooting Association World Champion. How is that for talent and determination? Her success resulted in her being selected to the All-American Women's S***t Team in 1972 and served as co-captain. She was one of only twelve women globally at the time to reach the top AA class across all four primary s***t gauges. She passed away on August 29, 2003, at the age of 72. Photo circa 1969.

Steve Ellinger

06/20/2026

Here is a photo from the 1924 Washington State Trapshooting Championship, held in Seattle, Washington. The state-wide tournament was hosted during the first week of June 1924 by the Seattle Gun Club. The original historic Seattle Gun Club facility shown here is no longer in Seattle proper, but it survives today as the Seattle S***t & Trap Club located in Ravensdale, Washington.

In 1924, the Seattle Gun Club was located at its Fort Lawton trap grounds in the Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Gun Club’s new facility adjacent to Fort Lawton was widely considered one of the finest, most modern trapshooting installations on the Pacific Coast. When it officially opened its permanent grounds, the club boasted top-tier amenities designed to comfortably accommodate hundreds of regional shooters and spectators. The grounds featured an expansive, rustic-style clubhouse complete with a wide veranda that offered spectators a clear view of the shooting lines.
Inside, the clubhouse was equipped with a large social hall and a massive stone fireplace. A fully equipped kitchen and dining area allowed the club to host large banquets. The club operated 4 to 5 active trap fields.

Today, the original 1924 trapshooting grounds are entirely integrated into Discovery Park, Seattle's largest city park, located on the Magnolia Bluff. Today there is no visible physical remnants of the 1924 club, trap shooting history lost. I particularly like the aircraft doing they flyover. Anyone want to guess the make?

Steve Ellinger

06/19/2026

Here is the famous 1919 Wi******er Shooting Team. The team was an elite, world-famed exhibition and competitive group sponsored by the Wi******er Repeating Arms Company to promote marksmanship and company products. The legendary trick-shooting couple Adolph and Plinky Toepperwein were its most famous members, wowing crowds nationwide with phenomenal rifle, pistol, and shotgun feats. From left to right are: Plinky Toepperwein, Charley Spencer, J. Mowell Hawkins, Fred Bills, John R Taylor and Adolph Toepperwein seated. Special thanks to Kenny Ray Estes for this information!

Steve Ellinger

06/18/2026

For over a half a century, Trap & Field Magazine has served as the official publication of the Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA), documenting the sport's competitive history, including the world-renowned Grand American World Trapshooting Tournament. In this episode of Clay Target Legends, Phil and Steve visit with Editor-in-Chief Elissa Harding to see what makes the magazine work!

For over a half a century, Trap & Field Magazine has served as the ...

06/17/2026

06/17/2026

Repost from
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Growing up it was very common to see cigarette ads everywhere, including comic strips. Smoking advertising declined in waves following major government interventions, beginning in 1971. Prior to that however to***co companies used American lifestyle and sports to market their products. One of the most commonly seen was by Camel. Comic-style panels of movie stars like John Wayne, athletes like New York Rangers star Bill Cook, or tie-ins with popular television programs, were commonly seen. Famed s***t champion Dick Shaugnessy was a national spokesman for Camel ci******es in the 1940’s.

One of those comic strips featured “field shooter” Jack Scott giving s***t a try and how it is so different than field shooting. Of course, the shooter runs a 25 straight and immediately celebrates by having a Camel cigarette. This vintage and rare Camel comic promotion is from the late 1950’s.
Steve Ellinger