NSSA - National Skeet Shooting Association

The National Skeet Shooting Association is the world's largest organization dedicated to the sport of Skeet Shooting.

This Month In Clay Target Nation

By

The October issue of Clay Target Nation is full of event coverage as well as plenty of tips and advice to help improve your shooting.

In our Training Tips columns, John Shima advises you to finish a practice round with some shells in your pocket — in other words, to stop on a high note while you’re still having fun. And speaking of having fun, new CTN contributor Cory Kruse has advice for getting the fun back if shooting has started to feel more like work.

The recent U.S. Open Sporting Clays Championship is the lead story in this issue, with plenty of photos and results on Todd Hitch’s big win. We’ve also got coverage of the Pennsylvania State Skeet Championships and the NSSA Zone Shoots.

A pair of legendary skeet champions, Todd Bender and Paul Giambrone III, have articles in the October issue. Todd lists nine things your coach wishes he could tell you, while Paul emphasizes the importance of one move, one speed, one shot. The team at OSP Shooting School shares an article about how your rituals turn into your habits, while the GOAT himself, George Digweed, shares the most important part of your shooting: Your feet and body position.

Advertisers in the October issue are:

Clay Target Nation is available monthly to all members in digital and/or print form. Not a member? You can receive the next issue when you join at http://nssa-nsca.org/join-nssa-nsca/.

Houston Deshotels Wins HOA at 2021 World Skeet Championships

By

2021 World Skeet Championships HOA winners, left to right: Steven Wood, third; Houston Deshotels, champion; and Taylor Nicosia, runner-up

The NSSA congratulates Houston Deshotels, who won both HOA and HAA at the 2021 World Skeet Championships, held October 4-8 at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio.

Deshotels was perfect going into Friday’s .410 bore event, where he dropped only one target to finish the World Skeet Championships with a score of 449. Taylor Nicosia, who had dropped a target earlier in the week in the 28-gauge event, shot 100 straight in the .410 to tie Deshotels at 449 for HOA. Deshotels was the victor in the shoot-off, giving him his first HOA World Skeet Championship. He was also Triple-Sub Champion. Nicosia finished as HOA runner-up and Lady Champion. She also won Lady Champion in the Wayne Mayes Championship event, Lady runner-up in the 20-gauge and the .410, and Lady third in the 28-gauge and doubles.

Steven Wood, Cooper Oliver and Dessislav Ivanov battled it out in a shoot-off of 447s for the third spot on the HOA podium; Ivanov went out first and finished AAA1. Oliver went out next, finishing AA1, which left Wood as HOA third. Other class winners were Katie Hunt, A1; Tim Robinson, B1; Katie Lackey, C1; Michael Rykaczewski Sr., D1; and Steve Scales, E1. Katherine Adams was Lady runner-up, and Lauren Burge was Lady third.

With a score of 549, Deshotels was also HAA Champion, with Nicosia runner-up (547) and Ivanov third (546).

Also winning World Championships were Josh Poole, doubles and .410 bore; Robert Hicklin, 12-gauge; Michael Schmidt, 20-gauge; and Ryan Smithart, 28-gauge.

The previous weekend, at the Mini World, HOA winners included Alessandro Vitale, champion; Mike Woolard, runner-up; and Riley Chaddock, third. Vitale was also HAA Champion. Taylor Nicosia won doubles, Edward Smith won the 12-gauge, Michael Rykaczewski Jr. won the 20-gauge, and Josh Poole won the .410 bore. Wayne Mayes Championship winners were Ivanov, champion; Paul Newman, runner-up; and Nicosia, third.

Clay-Target-Nation-LOGO-transparent-cropped

Skeet

Sporting Clays

National Shooting
Complex

Museum &
Hall of Fame

About