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~ PORT PERRY STAR -- - Wednesday, Oct, 6, 1971 Then shoot pigeons, dont they? . Article and photos by John B. McClelland Kapow! Kapow! With the duclseason having opened a week ago, you've probably heard the odd shotgun biast oear-the lake or im the marshes. During hunting season, you expect it. But if on some snowy afternoon in February, you happen to be a couple of miles from Port Perry near the Oshawa Road and hear the biast of a shot gun, don't run off to the game warden to report somebody hunting out of season. For it is in this area that the Oshawa Skeet and Gun Club has its skeet ranges, and: all year long some 185 club enthusiasts take to the ranges to biast not live ducks, but clay pigeons Skeet shooting is a sport ast growing in popularity When the Oshawa Club opened in 1936, it had about 20 members. This year, Club President Rick Sheridan says there are 185 members and the figure increases each year. Of the tptal membership in the Oshawa Club, 157 are men. But there also about 3) women who actively shoot the clay targets with the same en thusiasm as the male members Skeet shooting is really very simple. On the field, as a skeet range is called, are two "houses"'. a low house and a high house from which the clay targets are released. From the low house, the target is released on a low trajectory, and from the high house on a high trajectory. A round is made up of 25 targets, the shooter fires from eight different stations on the skeet field. Of course the whole idea is to hit the target, and if any visible piece comes away from the target, it is counted as a hit The shooter yells "pull" and the clay target is automatically released from the house. The target moves through the air at a velocity of about 60 mph, and must be broken before it hits the ground The targets look like miniature flying saucers, and are made of tar, sand and pitch. They weight about four ounces, and are a little more than four inches in diameter The mechancial devices that releases the targets cost about $2,000 for a pair, and the Oshawa Club has four pairs, with plans to add another pair in the very near future The Oshawa Club prides itself in counting among its nembers a couple of the best skeet shooters in Canada Bill Rudyk for example, has been shooting skeets for about 13 years and has won just about every important skeet competition in this province, as well as the Canadian Championship. He also set a world record in the 12 gauge class with a 1969 average of 99.7 percent. This means that out of the 1,000 targets required over a year to gain a recognized average Bill hit 997 of them. Pretty good shooting. Bill has also gone 1,300 straight targets without a miss In the junior, or under 17 class Shane Irwin placed tops in thrée out of four gun classifications plus high overall in Canadian Junior competitions held this year in Montreal President Rick Sheridan explained that it is the idea of competition that sustains an interest in skeet shooting A guy can be as com petitive as he wants. He can compete on a personal level, in club championships, or go as high as national or in ternational competition. It's all up to the individual." As well Rick adds "Skeet shooters are a great bunch of people. There is always a friendly atmosphere and a good social life at the club." And all the members have a love of guns and shooting ~ Mrs. Janice Reid who has been shooting skeets for less than a year became in- terested through her husband. She says, "I like the idea. of competing in what is usually considered to be a man's sport. "Never having fired a gun before she joined the club, Janice now gets out at least once a week to shoot skeets Can anybody shoot skeets' Well, the youngest member of the Oshawa Club is nine years old, and the oldest member is close to eighty. It can be a family sport, as the $20 annual membership fee in the Oshawa Club covers a man, his wife and any children under 21. For the real beginner, a good shot- gun can be bought for about $1.25 for 25 targets, and a box of 25 shells costs $2.50. Most members however cut the cost of shells in half by reloading their own. President Rick Sheridan says that the club always welcomes new members, and "the most important member of the club is the newest one." To give you an idea of the sport's popularity, last year the members of the Oshawa Qub blasted away at 310,000 of the clay targets. Is skeet shooting difficult? No, not really. But as in any sport, excellence does not come easy. A top skeet shooter will spend many hours and countless clay tatgets to reach near per- fection. But even if your goal Rick Sheridan on the ranges sharpening his already expert skeet shooting ability. Rick has won numerous competitions in Ontario, as well as the Canadian Championship. Notice the correct way to "lean 'into the shot." Oshawa Skeet Club President Rick Sheridan gives some advice on how to hit the targets to Mrs. Janice Reid. Mrs. Reid has been shooting skeets for less than a -year, but she has scored as high as 20 out of 25 targets. is not international com- petition, skeet shooting can be fun Incidently, your correspondent who hasn't fired a shotgun in ten years, knocked off 11 out of 18 of the clay birds in a novice effort. So, if you're worried about going out there and not hitting a thing; forget it. If this writer can hit them, anybody can Evening Classes will commence at the OSHAWA BUSINESS COLLEGE on TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5 1971 and will be held every TUESDAY & THURSDAY 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Choose from the following subjects: Forkner Shorthand Gregg or Pitman Refresher Bookkeeping Accounting Business Machines Typewriting Dictophone Individual instruction -- Modern facilities - reason- able tuition. DIAL 728-0052 18 Simcoe Street, North This style of skeet shooting is definitely not » for the novice. Using a .20 gauge shot-gun, Rick Sheridan demonstrates the Old West way of "firing from the hip." If Wyatt Earp could see this ; MR. and MRS. HUGH SANTER -- and MR. & MRS. DOUG HOGG -- CORDIALLLY INVITE ALL INTERESTED TO A GARDEN PARTY at 563 SCUGOG STREET, PORT PERRY Thursday, October 14, 9 p.m. (Weather Permitting) ~ IN HONOUR OF -- DR. MATTHEW DYMOND Warm Clothing