Zappe reclaims the throne

Local sharpshooter Joe Zappe outperformed stiff competition to claim his third King of the Feast title at the Appelt’s Hill Gun Club 140th annual October King Feast on Sunday.

With several former champions and up-and-coming hotshots as competition for the three-shot 100-yard target shoot from a post, Joe Zappe kept his cool with a near-perfect score of 38 out of a possible 39XXX.

“It’s a family tradition,” Joe Zappe said of his accomplishment. “The trophy is actually named after a relative of mine, Adolph Zappe. It has gone on in the family for many, many years. I have even used my dad’s gun to shoot every time that I’ve won.”

The 2022 Feast King said he hoped to eventually surpass Appelt’s Hill Gun Club legends like Robert Obelgoner for the total number of Feast titles.

Gun Club President Robert Zappe emphasized the difficulty of performing well in the competition.

“When standing up against the post, it’s hard to keep it steady. You’ve got to have decent eyes, that’s for sure, to see the target and line it up…,” said Robert Zappe. “Anybody can win. When you shoot from the post (with) only three shots, one shot that’s a little off and you’re out of it. No sneezing.”

Spectators joined shooters outside the historic Appelt Hill Dance Hall to watch the competition, browse vendors, test their luck with a cake walk, and enjoy a pork steak dinner with all the trimmings.

Among the return spectators was 95-year-old Lillian Harned, who estimated attending bi-annual feasts at the gun club for about 55 years. She said she looked forward to the shoots and had several decades of fond memories at the dance hall, including meeting and dancing with her husband at an event. 

Robert Zappe thanked participants, vendors and attendees, and encouraged interested shooters to clear their calendars for another competitive shoot in May.