By Greg Myers

More than 400 shooters are expected to compete in the fifth annual U.S. Open Trap Shooting Championship, which will be held June 10-13 at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta.
This will be the third consecutive year the Illinois Department of Natural Resources will be running the event. The Amateur Trapshooting Association  ran the shoot in year one and Southern Promotions ran it the following year.
“There has been greater interest shown this year compared to last year,” said complex shooting manager Chris Hespen. “For the trap shooting discipline, the U.S. Open is the third largest event to be held here at the complex, behind the Grand American and the SSSF/SCTP national championships. This is a very important shoot for the complex that pulls shooters from all over the country and world.”
The Open will feature 10 events, while the state SCTP shoot will be held Saturday in conjuction with the championships.
Last year, 400 shooters from 18 different states competed in the event, while 351 kids took part in the SCTP state shoot.
“With 400 shooters competing, that equals out to around 1,200 people on site for the competition,” added Hespen. “I am hoping for good weather and that the local communities embrace these out-of-town folks. It will also be nice for the shooters to go out and see the surroundings and enjoy the local communities.”
A shooter’s appreciation banquet will take place Saturday night at the restaurant in the event center. The public is welcome to attend.