Beaver Run Rod and Gun Club in Mahoning Valley was the site of the eighth annual Pistol League Awards Dinner on Friday.

"It was a good year," said Thom Tkach, league president. "I want to thank everyone who participated especially the youth."Tkach also serves as vice president of Beaver Run Rod and Gun Club.During the awards ceremony, honorees received trophies.Junior League champions are Brian Rotherforth, who won first place, and Emily Rotherforth, who earned second-place honors.Senior League champions for small bore/open site include first place, Bob Henninger; second place, Vern Fritz; and third place, Mike Palinchak.Ed Horowski was awarded small bore/scope champion.Big bore/open site champions are Tkach in first place and Paul Serfass in second.Most improved shooter for small bore is Stephen Redash Jr. Serfass was named most improved shooter for big bore.Don Dorward won first place; Janine Pusti-Graver M.D. earned the second place ranking; and Jimmy Graver received third place honors for the small bore/open site category.Small bore/scope champions are Gerry Rhyder in first place; Dave Goss in second; and Renai Foster in third.Big bore/open site champions include first place Art Betteridge; second place Dave Gerhart; and third place Bill Person.Dorward, Rhyder and Betteridge earned the honors of "Top Shooters." Their names have been engraved on a slate plaque, said Tkach, made locally in Slatington, that hangs in a place of honor at the rod and gun club.Foster and Don Dorward Jr. were both recognized for attaining perfect scores of 100 this year.Sanctioned by the National Rifle Association, the league ran for 20 weeks on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. However, the format changes next year to a 15-week league. The first 12 scores will be 360 rounds, followed by three weeks of bowling pin rounds.In addition to the presentation of awards, officers were re-elected to the serve the pistol league for the next year. They will be Tkach, president; Serfass, vice president; Sandy Palinchak, treasurer; and Peg Karper, secretary.Beaver Run Rod and Gun Club boasts over 2,000 members, ages 12 and up. For more information about the club, visit

www.BeaverRunRodandGunClub.com or call 570-386-4471. For more information about the pistol league, contact Karper at

pkaykarp@ptd.net or 570-732-4217.