NEW ULM - A three-time, professional, world-record-holding, clay target sharpshooter is part of the Twin Valley Boy Scout Council 4th Annual Fun Shoot on Saturday at River Ridge Gun Club.
Tom Knapp, who has performed target shooting in 14 countries, will help raise money for Scouting programs in 15 Southern Minnesota counties, displaying his shooting skills at 2 p.m.
His world records include throwing nine standard clay targets without assistance and breaking them with individual shots in less than two seconds; throwing eight clay targets into the air with one hand and breaking them all with individual shots in 1.87 seconds with a manual pump shotgun; and launching ten clay targets into the air with one hand and shooting all of them in 2.2 seconds.
In his .22 rifle show, he shoots potatoes, apples and oranges, charcoal briquettes, small, wooden blocks, billiard chalk cubes, even aspirin tablets at a distance of 15-20 feet.
His messages include the importance of safety, responsibility and good sportsmanship and that "gun play" or "goofing around" is not the way to experiment with this art.
Scouting fund-raiser volunteer Paul Sabatino of New Ulm said he adds new wrinkles to the Fun Shoot each year.
"People asked us where the Boy Scouts were at last year's shoot, so we turned the weekend into a spring camporee and added people who shoot for sport and hobby to shoot with the Scouts," Sabatino said.
The shoot starts at 8 a.m. and includes burgers, brats, hot dogs and all the fixings for a good picnic lunch plus door prizes.
"We're banking on real good weather and hope the public plus seasoned and novice shooters come out at 8 a.m. and spend the day," Sabatino added.
Cost is $50 for 100 clays and $30 for 50 clays plus lunch and a Tom Knapp show ticket. Knapp show tickets themselves are $5.
The gun club is a half mile off U.S. Highway 14, between New Ulm and Courtland.
