From the ATA :
Grand American Relocated for 2020
ATA staff and local officials have been providing information to state officials over the past several weeks concerning the possibility of the 2020 Grand American taking place at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex at Sparta Illinois. The ATA had asked for a decision by June 15 to allow time for Grand American preparations.
ATA staff was informed by IDNR representatives late Friday afternoon June 12 that a COVID-19 Mitigation plan for the Grand American from the ATA would be required by Sunday afternoon June 14 to assist in the Illinois Department of Public Health’s final consideration for allowing the 2020 Grand to take place at Sparta. Local health and government officials and ATA staff met at the ATA offices on Saturday June 13 to compose the plan which was supplemental to information already submitted. After review by the ATA Executive Committee, the plan was submitted to IDNR Saturday evening.
At 5:30 Monday June 15, ATA Executive Director Lynn Gipson, was informed by IDNR Director Colleen Callahan that the Grand American would not be allowed at Sparta this year. A press release was released by IDNR at the same time.
In anticipation of this decision, the ATA Executive Committee had pre-determined that if not at Sparta the Grand would be held at the home grounds of the Missouri Trapshooters Association, Linn Creek Missouri.
The dates of the AIM Championship will be August 2-4 (trap events only), and the Grand American August 5-15.
Over the next few days, ATA staff will be working on details and modifications for this year’s Grand American at Linn Creek. Please be patient as we plan and prepare this historic event. Details will first be posted to the ATA website.
Thanks for your continues support,
ATA Executive Committee
From Our ATA Delegate :
Hello Shooters,
First off, I hope everyone is staying healthy and sane out there and secondly, I am sure by now, most of you have heard that the state of Illinois has denied the ATAs request for access to the World Shooting and Recreation Complex for the 2020 Grand American. The Executive Committee had asked Illinois to have an answer on or before June 15, 2020 so that in the event the facility was unavailable, there would be adequate time to set back up plans in motion. As outlined in the email sent out to the ATA membership, the EC tried everything in their power, including meeting with local and state health officials to institute a plan that would ensure all CDC guidelines/safeguards would be in place, to no avail.
At the height of the pandemic when the possibility of this happening came into existence, the EC began exploring alternative venues that could possibly host the Grand. Several proposals were submitted and ultimately the one that was in the best interest of the ATA was the one submitted by MTA in Linn Creek Missouri. The dates will remain August 5th– 15th. From my understanding, this is a one-time contract with no mention of future Grands.
Details are scarce at the moment and I am sure everyone has lots of questions (as do I) but I will do my best to keep everyone up to date. There will be much more information available in the coming weeks as details are finalized.
On another note, ATA gun club grant application deadlines are rapidly approaching. If you think your club could use the grant, please have them apply. If anyone needs help or has questions pertaining this program, please feel free to get in contact with me. Any club that throws ATA targets is eligible and I can’t stress enough how great of a program it is.
Also, anyone who would like to contribute to the gun club grant fund and have a chance at winning a Kolar Prestige combo at the same time, you can purchase raffle tickets from me. The winning ticket will be drawn during the closing ceremony of the Grand. Tickets are $20 each. I can mail the tickets after payment is received via mail or electronically (paypal, cashapp, etc.). Please email me at trh.trap@gmail.com for more information.
Until then, shoot straight!
Thomas Harrington
ATA Delegate
