The 8th annual Sporting Clays Challenge event for Indian Creek Foundation was held on May 9th, and was a sold out successful event! This was our biggest year ever with 180 participants. We covered both courses at Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays with participants of all skill levels.
We’d like to thank all of our participants, Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays, and our sponsors for helping us host this fun annual event. This year, we were especially thrilled to have perfect weather, and we raised about $50,000!
What is a Sporting Clays Challenge?
If you have never participated in Sporting Clays, you may be wondering what is involved. According to the Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays website, “think golf with a shotgun.” This outdoor recreational activity is great for experienced shooters and beginners of all ages.
Participants can walk or ride golfcarts over a course of stations from which clay targets will be launched. Each shooter will aim at 2 clay targets per station. The targets get launched from various directions and in several different formations. Every station contains its own challenge, which keeps the day interesting!
Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays, our host for all 8 Indian Creek Foundation events so far, is situated on the ruins of an old cement quarry. This scenic 130 acre facility is the perfect backdrop for the sport, and the paved and well-marked course ensures safety for participants and staff.
What is Unique about the Indian Creek Sporting Clays Challenge?
Our event has been steadily gaining in popularity and fundraising each year. The Lehigh Valley facility is spacious and welcoming to all participants, and they do an excellent job of keeping large events running smoothly. The staff are professional and helpful every step of the way.
This event was originally launched by our Director of Development, Brett Wells, and his shooting partner, Sandy Alderfer. Both sporting clays enthusiasts, they thought that a shooting challenge would be a fun diversion and great way to raise awareness about the work Indian Creek is doing.
A Sporting Clays event is similar to a golf tournament. Squads of four start at an assigned station on their course and work their way around until they have completed each one. Awards are given for various categories, and participants are encouraged to buy raffle tickets for baskets and a grand prize shotgun. The event moves at a pace that allows time for networking and mingling while traversing efficiently through the course.
Brett Wells is very happy about not only the event’s growth, but the new people it has attracted to support Indian Creek Foundation. “It’s fun to be outside for the day, but this also brings in a lot of people who love shooting recreation and are glad they can support a non-profit with it. It’s a unique cross-section of folks with all different experience levels who just really enjoy this event.”
We’d like to thank our presenting sponsors of the event, Univest and Bergey’s, as well as all of our other sponsors for supporting another great challenge. See you next year!