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The Vintage Cup at 10

This year's Vintage Cup will be the last at the Orvis Sandanona Shooting Grounds.

The tenth running of the World Side-by-Side Championships and Exhibition-The Vintage Cup -will be the eighth and final year for the event at the Orvis Sandanona Shooting Grounds, in Millbrook, New York. This year the largest double-gun gathering in the country closes a chapter for all of those who have memories of the Cup tied to those storied grounds. The Order of Edwardian Gunners and hundreds more "Vintagers at heart" will gather for one final fling at Sandanona from September 21 to 24.

"It's just too small for some of the things we want to do," said Vintagers spokesman Ray Poudrier. "We want to offer more games at a larger facility." A future venue had not been selected at press time.

The competitions, side events and exhibition will proceed with a constancy that speaks of a greater sense of tradition than just those 10 years-and, after all, The Vintagers were formed to exalt shotgunning traditionalism as a core value. There are just a few tweaks and changes to the events this year, including a retreat from last year's flirtation with over/under shotguns.

About 40 competitors shot the over/under event last year, but the idea received a chilly reception from the Vintager faithful. "I heard from everybody that that just shouldn't be," Poudrier said. "It's a matter of selectivity."

Last year more than 150 shooters paid the $200 entry fee for Sunday's main event of 130 sporting clays targets at 16 stations. That fee has not changed since the first Cup, and all other shooting prices will be the same as last year. Around 600 different shooters competed in one or more of the many categories of side games at the '05 event, accounting for more than 1,200 entries across the span of 31/2 days. The "all-you-can-shoot" carte blanche fee of $500 is in effect again this year, and the gate fee is still $20 and waived for members of The Vintagers, Sandanona and everyone who pre-registers to shoot an event.

One other small change returns the minimum caliber for the Stopping Rifle competition to .40. Last year the minimum was dropped to .375 by popular request, and a shooter armed with a .375 won the event. "It's so much easier to control than those big rifles," Poudrier said.

This year happens to be the Year of the Dog on the Chinese calendar, and Poudrier said he will organize a few special gundog-related events featuring breeders and trainers.

More information and registration forms are available by contacting The Vintagers at 413-339-5347, vintagersray@hotmail.com; www.vintagers.org.

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