STORY BY P.J. PEREA
PHOTOS COURTESY OF NATIONAL
SKEET SHOOTING ASSOCIATION

Young shooters from across the 50 states, Canada, Great Britain and South America will converge on the town of Hainesville in Lake County on August 1-4 to test their gun skills on flying clay targets. The youth have qualified for the Junior World Skeet Shooting Championship via sanctioned National Skeet Shooting Association competitions held across the country and through overseas affiliates.

"We expect up to 150 competitors to vie for the World Title in the age categories of Sub-Junior (13 years old and under), Junior (13-18 years old) and Collegiate (18-21 years old)," said Ronald DaRosa, co-chairman of the event.

"These youngsters are respectful of the law, gun safety and the shooting sports," DaRosa stated.

Skeet shooting can be traced to the early 1900s and bird hunters seeking to improve their shooting skills by mimicking the various shooting angles presented to them in the field. In today's competitive skeet, shooters fire at clay targets on a standardized skeet field arranged around a semicircle with eight shooting stations. A high and low hen house serves up the fast-moving clay targets in a pre-set pattern.

Participants will be shooting at 500 targets during the four-day event. The first 400 targets will be split in groups of 100 across each of the four types of shotguns: 12 gauge, 20 gauge, 28

Competitive skeet shooting is a sport that requires discipline, years of practice and excellent hand/eye coordination.

July 2002    9

Ryan DaRosa (center) is the 2001 Junior Illinois skeet champion in the 12-gauge category and is pictured with R.J. Konsler (left) and Zack Knasko (right). DaRosa will be one of several Illinois youth vying for a world title.

Safety is strongly emphasized as all shooters are required to wear protective gear and follow gun safety practices.

gauge and the .410 bore. The remaining 100 targets will be used in a double-target shoot. Points are awarded for each target that is successfully broken by the competitor. At this level of shooting skill, it is quite common to see perfect or near-perfect scores during the contest.

The best scorers in their respective divisions will be given gold, silver and bronze medals in an Olympic-style medal ceremony.

"There also will be fun shoots that allow the parents of the competitors to shoot with their sons or daughters. This is a family oriented event," DaRosa said.

The National Skeet Shooting Association Organized in 1946, the National Skeet Shooting Association was formed as the official governing body of competitive skeet shooting. Information can be found at http://nssa-nsca.com/nssa/index.htm or call 210-688-3371.

Speaking of family, DaRosa's son, Ryan, is no stranger to the sport. Ryan has been shooting competitively since he was 10 years old and, in seven years, has become a talented skeet shooter in the junior division. Ryan is considered to be the top junior skeet shooter in Illinois and a nationally ranked competitor, according to the National Skeet Shooting Association's website.

"Hopefully, I'll see some good results at the Junior World Championship. I've been working real hard with my coach," Ryan stated.

Those interested in youth shooting sports can contact the Northbrook Sports Club, host site of the 2002 Junior World Skeet Shooting Championship, at (847) 223-5700 or visit the club's website at www.northbrook sportsclub.org.

Despite the competitive nature of the sport, there is great camaraderie among the youth and their families.

10   OutdoorIllinois