Matt Bartholow didn’t just win in Sparta—he made history.
At the 2025 Grand American World Trapshooting Championship, Bartholow clinched his fifth ATA World Doubles Championship, becoming the first person in trapshooting history to achieve the feat. Competing at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, Illinois, Bartholow broke an astounding 420 targets, outlasting one of the strongest fields the sport has ever seen.
“This one means a lot,” Bartholow said following the victory. “I’m always honored to compete, but to stand here as the ATA World Doubles Champion for a fifth time is truly humbling.”
The Grand American is more than a tournament—it’s the mecca of trapshooting. This year’s event drew more than 5,000 shooters across the AIM and Grand American competitions, with Bartholow once again proving that experience and composure make for a formidable combination.
The Amateur Trapshooting Asssociation World Doubles Championship isn't for the faint of heart. Two targets are launched simultaneously—one left, one right—traveling at speeds up to 42 m.p.h., testing not only a shooter’s reflexes but also their mental stamina. To earn the win, Bartholow had to maintain elite accuracy across a grueling number of attempts, with only solid breaks counting toward the score.
Throughout the competition, Bartholow relied on his trusted ammunition setup: Winchester AA Light Target Load (AA128) for the first shot and AA Heavy Target Load (AAM128) for the second. His rhythm, built over years of discipline and competition, never faltered.
“Congratulations to Matt on his fifth ATA World Doubles Championship. We are proud to have Matt on Team Winchester and continue to be impressed with his dedication, focus and achievements,” Winchester Ammunition Senior Director of Marketing Jason Gilbertson said. “Matt not only has consistently performed but has made history with his fifth championship. Well done to Matt and to all competitors at the Grand American.”
Bartholow’s name has long been synonymous with success in the trapshooting world. Known for his calm demeanor and unwavering focus, he has been a fixture on ATA leaderboards for more than a decade. But this win elevates his status a rung or two.
With five ATA World Doubles titles now to his name, Bartholow has become the benchmark for future champions—and a living testament to what excellence in trapshooting looks like. Visit winchester.com for Bartholow’s gear and check out full 2025 ATA Grand American results at shootata.com.
