SPARTA, IL (WSIL) -- The Grand American Championship returns to the World Shooting Complex in Sparta this year after COVID-19 concerns led to moving it to Missouri last year.
With its return are thousands of participants, spectators and millions of dollars in revenue to the entire region for the sport of Trapshooting, which organizer say is becoming one of the most popular out-door sports in the country.
For most of every day-light hour over the next two weeks, more than four million rounds will be fired at little disk flying out of a trap at 42 miles per hour; it is a lot of action, a lot of concentration, and they have to get it just right.
More than 4,500 shooters are taking part in this year's event, and Amateur Trapshooting Association Executive Director Lynn Gipson says 1,000 trophies and bragging rights are on the line for an event that brings out the best.
"The top shooters in the nation and probably the world, the top trap shooters are competing," says Gipson. "The best of the best are here."
International covid restrictions limited over-seas participants this year; however, shooters from every state are competing and some from Canada as well. Vincent Barranco travels from Staten Island, NY for the event he says he "waits all year" for.
"Cause this is the Grand American, this is the granddaddy of all shooting events, in the states, or outside the states," explains Barranco.
This is the 102nd Consecutive year for the Grand that has taken place through wars and now a pandemic. Barranco says it is become something of a reunion for him, seeing old friends, making new ones and shooting against the best.
"The competition is the best in the world, they come from everywhere," says Barranco. "If you want to shoot against the best, you got to come to Sparta."
Gipson says nearly 40-percent of the shooters are youth competitors. He says the sport is continuing to grow in popular but comes with hard work and dedication to have a chance in competitive events. For some participants it is just to say they shot in a Grand, for Payton Detavernier from Papillion, NE, it is a path to the All-American.
"There's 11 days of shooting starting today, I believe there's 2,600 targets that we'll shoot from now until the 14th," says Detavernier. "I'm down here with some of my friends, my parents will be down here on Saturday, having some fun and shooting some targets."
The economic benefits of the Grand American amounts to millions for the region, says Gipson. "It's Christmas in August for Sparta; the population of Sparta doubles when the Grand American comes to town."
And after the Grand moved to Missouri last year because of COVID-19 concerns, he says its return to Sparta increased participation numbers. All 1,001 camp-sites at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex are booked, unlike any previous year in the site's history of hosting the event, as more than 20,000 visitors are expected in the region over the next two weeks.
Southside Ribs co-owner Nancy Bertetto says it can be over-whelming for her small restaurant. They fill up "fast" each night, many customers waiting up to an hour for a table. She says every place in town will get busier each night building to the weekend events, it is a challenge they welcome back for everyone.
"The city and this area really benefits from it," explains Bertetto. "It's nice, you know last year with the COVID it kind of messed us up a little bit around here but, we're glad to have them back."
The event runs through August 14 with vendors and food on-site. For more information visit on hours and events, and event registration for future shoots.
