Orvis Game Fair 2018, a sporting weekend foray

MILLBROOK— Sun and fun made for a great combination on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 15 and 16, at Orvis Sandanona on Route 44, in Millbrook.

Smells of food, cigars and burning wood, sounds of dogs barking and gun shots coming from the field made for an exciting fall weekend, drawing crowds from near and far.

Visitors from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Vermont, Maine and many other places came to eat, shop, check out the vendors and compete in the shooting events.

Many of the vendors were local, and the diversity was amazing. Clothing vendors were varied, although most concentrated on country and sporting apparel: Braeval offered a variety of plaids, Ball and Bucks offered shirts, pants and other accessories. Hound and Hare offered what they call British luxury and southern charm, and Dubarry of Ireland offered outdoor clothes, boots and more.

Distilleries were present, proffering tastes of their wares; Hillrock offered samples of rye whiskey, bourbon and single malt scotch. Still the One, from Westchester, also poured out shots of single malts.

Nat Sherman, one of the sponsors, offered fine cigars and a smoking lounge. 

Other vendors offered antiques, jewelry and dog food and treats. There were antiques, taxidermists, food from Adams, the Cue, and many others. Two artists were also present along with gun clubs, gun schools and dog trainers and kennels.   

Three men from the Fly Fishing group at Orvis had a table where they spent the days making fishing flies and selling materials for making the intricate flies.

Events were as varied as the vendors; there were Birds of Prey demonstrations by Tom Cullen; a Hunting Retriever Dog demonstration by Mossy Hill and the Culinary Institute of America provided a cooking class for preparing and cooking game.

Other events were the off-road driving demos courtesy of Land Rover, Take Your First Shot by Orvis shooting instructors, Orvis also provided casting demos and lessons and Trout Unlimited had fly tying demos.  

Gun engraving was done by Geoffrey Gournet and Merritt Bookstore had visiting authors.

The Dutchess Land Conservancy offered information on preserving the lands and the wetlands. Cary Institute provided information on Lyme disease, ticks and many additional topics. The Game Conservancy also had information and held discussions.

The main event for many was the shooting competition for the 12th Annual Orvis Cup Trophy. This is a clay shooting event, and people from all over come to enjoy the sport.

The winner of the Orvis Cup 2018 was Joe Carey, with a High Overall Average of 83. Carey was the Orvis Cup Winner in 2017 as well.

The High Team: Steven Wing, Tyler Olay, Charles Conger and Lavert Cypher. 

   Other winners were: 

 Youth division, first place, Anthony Regelski, 72; Christian Jackowski, 67; Garrett (no last name given), 63.

Lady’s Division: Kristen Canale, 79; Sabine Moeller, 65; Halina Duda, 60.

Class A: Charlie Conger, 80; Mark Cushinell, 79; and Duane Knapp, 78.

Class B: Michael Marelli, 59; Rich Lanzilotta, 69; and Steve Jones, 58.

 Class C: Dylan Swanson, 46; Paul Bergdoff, 46; and Bruce Rugar, 46.

Class D; Sarah Gaebe, 33; Jane Bergdoff, 63; and John Dolen, 33.

Sponsors of the event were Land Rover, Winchester Guns, Caesar Guerine, Nat Sherman Cigars, Shooting Sportsman Magazine, White Flyer, Covey Rise and the Culinary Institute of America.