Olivia Webb

Richmond County Daily Journal

Fourteen stations were filled with 169 competitive sporting clay shooters from nine different states on the 1.2-mile loop around Dewitt’s Outdoor Sports in Ellerbe Saturday afternoon.

“I tell you, it’s been a very smooth run so far,” said owner Chris Dewitt of the 2009 North Carolina State Shoot. “I’ve got some good help out here, and they’ve been doing a great job.”

According to Dewitt, the three-day event provides about 35 jobs for Richmond County residents. Many of them are “trappers”; their job is to launch the clay, watch the shooter hit or miss it, and keep score.

Stephanie Dawkins of Ellerbe teaches third grade, but enjoys working at Dewitt’s on an as-needed basis throughout the year.

“You get to know a lot of (the competitors) after a while,” said Dawkins. “Because this is the fourth time we’ve had the State Shoot here.”

“Because of the size of the course, we are able to host all these different events simultaneously,” said Dewitt.

He advertises the tournament in national publications, and said local tourism development liaisons have helped facilitate options for food and lodging within the county.

“When they call, we give them the names of local places to stay like Ellerbe Springs, Comfort Suites, and Holiday Inn,” said manager Linda Blakeley. “A lot of them ask for Ellerbe Springs. (Owner Jim Lane) was up at seven this morning cooking breakfast for all the shooters.”

Competitors can enjoy another local delicacy at a special banquet Saturday night.

“A lot of people in Richmond County know about David DeWitt’s famous pork chops,” said Blakeley. “And he’ll be out here cooking them for everyone tonight.”

By the end of the event on Sunday, approximately $17,000 in prize money will be given away, including a $1,000 grand prize for best overall shooter.

Sponsors range from outdoor sports heavy-hitters like Remington, who provided a gun to be raffled off Saturday night, to local businesses like E.E. Vuncannon’s Farm Supply in Ellerbe and the Richmond County Chamber of Commerce.

Wayne Decker, senior vice president of Big Rock Sports, recently cited DeWitt’s as one of the reasons he chose to build his company’s 310,000 square foot East Coast distribution center in Richmond County.

“I got into it because I love the sport,” said owner Chris DeWitt, who has been in the business since 2001. “I thoroughly enjoy the sport, and I hope to maybe make some money out of (the business).”