You've Come a Long Way, Vegas

They were getting ready for the 2nd annual U.S. Open Indoor Archery Championships to be held in Las Vegas early in 1970. As one might ascertain from this month's cover, since Jim Easton gave mini-skirted Sherri Schrull that lesson in the fine points of shooting the recurve bow, tournament archer styles have changed a bit. Slacks are now de rigueur for women shooters, purses have grown larger, compound power (aided by releases) was unleashed in unlimited competition, NFAA's Pro Division appeared and prospered and, through it all, Jim Easton appears to have aged by almost six months.

As for Miss Archery, Ms. Schrull subsequently received love letters from ardent archers around the world, then she went on to be a Miss Universe runner-up. And the U.S. Open? Well, since that second edition, it has gone on annually in Vegas for six more under a couple of titles, with a seventh version - the $25,375 International Indoor Archery Championships - getting under way on the 28th of this month.

The tradition of a Las Vegas tournament of national import really goes back 15 years to the Castaways Open in 1962 - actually an outdoor PAA round with a total purse of $10,000. Big winners that year were a pair from just over the border in California, Matt Yurick and Lucille Shine, who was to continue her winning that year by capturing an NFAA national title.

After a hiatus of three year, in 1966 another large Vegas money shoot convened in out of the cold with a $12,000 pot and a new title, the Sahara-Colt U.S. Open Indoor Archery Championships, and Chuck Wertz and Roma Squibb captured freestyle honors that year. The following year, the purse increased to $15,000 and the name become simply the U.S. Open, which was won by Lester Gervais and, once again, Lu Shine.

Easton had entered the tournament as major sponsor in '67, and there followed another lapse of two years between Vegas tournaments. "It took us two years to get it sponsored and put the 1970 tournament together," recalls Joe Johnston, whose association with the Vegas shoots began when he took fifth place in the Castaways Open and who, as PAA tournament director in 1968, lent his expertise to the reorganization of the U.S. Open. So it was that not only Jim and Sherri entered the picture in 1970, but Joe Johnston as well, as tournament director of the 2nd annual U.S. Open. Easton upped the ante to $20,000 and two individuals who seemed destined to win everything won in Vegas that year, Victor Berger and Ann Butz.

The purse and the title remained constant in 1971 - Jack Lancaster and Denise Libby topped the field - and again in 1972. But the whole nature of the tournament, and of competitive archery, began to change that year after the NFAA membership voted the compound bow legal in all its divisions and U.S. Open officials acted quickly to implement some format alternatives that allowed all archers to participate; namely, they introduced limited (fingers and conventional bows) and unlimited (any type equipment, including compounds and release aids) divisions.

Ken Ostling emerged from a four-way shoot-off to join hometown winner Mary Lynn Snyder as '72 unlimited champions, while Butz and Berger scored another dual victory, this time as limited freestylers.

In 1973, the purse edged upward to $21,000, Gene Parnell and Darlene Collier won unlimited and Jim Pickering and Lavonne Hagemeyer, limited competition. By that point, the Saunders Slingshot Tournament became of the widening scope of the tournament and manufacturers' booths began to appear. In 1974, the Speed Round was introduced and the tournament became the $20,000 Desert Inn Archery Classic. Jim Pickering picked up his second title and Jean Neubauer, her first, and unlimited freestylers Bob Jacobsen and Eva Troncoso top their division. That year the archery manufacturers' show really caught on, and the new NFAA Pro Division put on its own money shoot.

The 1975 Desert Inn Classic had more archers, more displays and more money, a $22,000 total purse. Ann and Rod Schooler teamed up to take the limited division, while Jim Quarles won his first unlimited title and Eva Troncoso, her second. Eva then won her third Desert Inn Classic and a share of the $22,000 1975 purse, while Mark Perfect lef the unlimited men, and Keri Stanislawski and Anita Denend wrapped up the limited competition.

"The year that I'll never forget is when someone stole all of the results after they had been typed up," commented Joe Johnston, who continued to serve as tournament director through last year. "I didn't think it was too funny, but probably everyone who watched me panic thought it was. And the other memorable event that comes to mind was the year that the P.A. system went out in the hall and I had to yell all of the instructions and results and I lost my voice for three days afterward which also pleased a lot of people. But the most dramatic events I'd say with Bob Bitner's or Gervais's 300's. Those were exciting."

There's more excitement in store this month as the International Indoor Archery Championships feature a $25,375 purse, new Las Vegas Hilton Hotel headquarters, a new efficient target assignment system, much more room in the hall and many more exhibitors previewing their 1977 lines in the archery show.

Vegas has come a long way, but is growth rate will accelerate, according to Johnston. "This will be the biggest one ever. There has been incredible interest shown, from archers, manufacturers and dealers - 8,00- dealers have been invited to participate in the archery show - and there is no question but that we have ample room for everyone." In light of the solid reputation of Vegas versus some less-than-successful tournament ventures last year, Johnston placed tongue firmly in cheek for one final comment: "I did consider making this one a $100,000 tournament and then paying 25 cents on the dollar. Whaddya think?"