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“That’s what I think is the big plus to this sport.
The people.”
An iTrapshooter.com interview
Copyright 2011.
All Rights Reserved.
Mike Blaisdell
8 Time All-
30 New Hampshire State Titles
Other State Titles -
9 Times Captain
Past
President, New Hampshire
Trapshooting Association
5 – Eastern Zone Titles
(Including
2011 Eastern Zone
Doubles Championship and All Around)
2005 Eastern Zone Singles Champion
ATA
Record Shoot-
12 Grand American Trophies
15 Satellite Grand Trophies
All-
Page Four
Copyright 2011
iTrapshooter.com: An amazing accomplishment.
Mike: The thing that it did, I really didn’t know Brian Whalen all that well. Yet, after that shoot-off and you know, no one likes to lose, I remember saying to Brian, “There was no loser in this. We’re both champions. Don’t ever forget that my friend.”
Every time he and I see each other now, we give each other a big hug. Every time, we talk about our families. You create a special bond with people. In my opinion, when you’re a competitor and you’re at the top of the level, there is an extra thing there with people that you have respect for. It’s like two gladiators when you get done fighting. You fought a good fight, I won this time.
It’s an emotional bond to people. I’ll remember Brian for the rest of my life. His picture’s in my home when we had our picture taken at Elysburg for that. My son was involved, sat in for the picture. These are memories that you have forever. And that’s what trapshooting creates. That’s what I think is the big plus to this sport. The people.
iTrapshooter.com: It really is about the relationships, the camaraderie.
Mike: Absolutely, I came in at the tail-end of the golden era of trapshooting. The 60’s and the 70’s with Mr. Orlich, Mr. Robinson and all of those people that were at the Grand. And you hear stories. That’s like Dickie Baldwin, who passed away, he was our historian. He wrote a book called The Road to Yesterday. I love that stuff, the history of trapshooting and the characters that were involved. Hearing the stories of that there were four hundred people behind Mr. Orlich’s squad watching these people shooting. Gene Sears. The pictures.
We’re kind of missing a little bit of that today. The numbers are down. Of course, the economy has a lot to do with it. There’s probably a lot of things that are involved as far as why aren’t people coming to shoot again? What’s happened? We all have our opinions.
Still, my time is my time now. I really enjoy it, but I kind of wish I had a little taste of the older days.
Copyright 2011
iTrapshooter.com: An amazing accomplishment.
Mike: The thing that it did, I really didn’t know Brian Whalen all that well. Yet, after that shoot-
Every time he and I see each other now, we give each other a big hug. Every time, we talk about our families. You create a special bond with people. In my opinion, when you’re a competitor and you’re at the top of the level, there is an extra thing there with people that you have respect for. It’s like two gladiators when you get done fighting. You fought a good fight, I won this time.
It’s an emotional bond to people. I’ll remember Brian for the rest of my life. His picture’s in my home when we had our picture taken at Elysburg for that. My son was involved, sat in for the picture. These are memories that you have forever. And that’s what trapshooting creates. That’s what I think is the big plus to this sport. The people.
iTrapshooter.com: It really is about the relationships, the camaraderie.
Mike: Absolutely, I came in at the tail-
We’re kind of missing a little bit of that today. The numbers are down. Of course, the economy has a lot to do with it. There’s probably a lot of things that are involved as far as why aren’t people coming to shoot again? What’s happened? We all have our opinions.
Still, my time is my time now. I really enjoy it, but I kind of wish I had a little taste of the older days.
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