The annual Southern Side-by-Side Spring Classic is back for its 17th event. The special double-barrel shoot will be held April 21-24 in Sanford, N.C., giving shooters of fine shotguns a chance to come together and share four days of clay busting. Along with the shooting will be a chance to meet Jim Carmichel in person and have him sign a copy of his new book, Classic Carmichel.
The Classic will once again be held at Deep River Sporting Clays and Shooting School. Located on 65 acres, it features two courses, eight stations, and 5-stand fields. The 2016 builds on the success the Spring Classic enjoyed last year.
“I think we had the biggest show that we’ve ever had last year,” Southern Side-by-Side’s Bill Kempffer said. “This year is shaping up to be exactly the same. We’ve got 78 exhibitors signed up, and that’s pretty well our cap. We have quite a few more pre-registrations than we normally have, which is a good sign.
“It’s our 17th one; for us it’s a real joy to put on because it’s like a big family reunion — of course, without the fistfights.”
The fun starts Thursday with the special Classic Slide Action event. First added in 2015 with nearly 60 entries, the shoot is back and better than ever for the 2016 weekend. It features 60 targets spread over 10 stations, with pump gunners shooting from noon until 3 p.m.
Unlike the side-by shoots, the pump event will not be gauge specific. Those shooting 20, 28, and other gauges will receive a handicap assist with their scores.
The Parker Brothers/ L.C. Smith Challenge Cup will take place Friday through Sunday.
The weekend’s main event, the Ripon Cup, closes out the Classic on Sunday. Also taking place Sunday is the special black powder event. Who will emerge from the smoke as the victor of this year’s competition?
Special shoots for 10, 24, 32, and other gauges will be held during the weekend as well.
“We’ve got several new exhibitors that are coming. It’s shaping up to be a really great show,” Kempffer said. “What really makes it [a success] is nothing we do. I mean, I have a great staff, they do a phenomenal job. But the exhibitors, the vendors that come, they’ve always been our best selling point.”
Among those phenomenal vendors and exhibitors will be Sporting Classics. The magazine’s Trent Morgan and Bill Jackson will be on hand to sign up/renew memberships, sell books and other products, and share in the thrill of double gun shooting.
Along with the staff members will be the one and only Jim Carmichel, meeting with fans and signing copies of his new book, Classic Carmichel, at the Sporting Classics booth. The book will be available at the show or can be purchased online today.
Whatever gauge or gun or book you prefer, the Spring Classic has something for everyone. Like Sporting Classics, the shoot is about the heritage and romance of fine guns, not the trivial matter of winning and losing.
“We have a really great group of shooters. It’s a recreational shoot, not a competition,” Kempffer said. “The whole purpose is to celebrate the tradition of double shotguns.”
For a full listing of the weekend’s events, visit southernsidebyside.com. Click here to register for this incredible event.