NSSA - National Skeet Shooting Association

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

CDR Cotton Talbott Passes

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We’re saddened to report that NSSA Hall of Fame and Armed Forces Hall of Fame inductee CDR Merrill Lee “Cotton” Talbott, USN Ret., passed away on Wednesday, August 8, 2018 at the age of 87.

CDR Talbott was inducted into the NSSA Hall of Fame in 2014 as the Ray Boller Award recipient. He proposed the founding of the Armed Forces Skeet Association and served as one of its first officers. In addition, Cotton served on several of the AFSA officer leadership boards and committees, was inducted into the AFSA Hall of Fame in 1991, and in 2014 earned the Pletcher Award for his service to the association and skeet shooting. In 2011, Cotton was selected as one of AFSA’s Directors Emeritus and continued to provide guidance and mentorship until his passing. Although Cotton didn’t compete in many of the most recent championships, he was always in attendance and willingly offered his advice to those who sought it. 

Services at St. Timothy United Methodist Church are pending. You can view his full obituary here. NSSA extends its condolences to CDR Talbott’s many friends and family.

Zone VI to Memorialize Don Snyder at Zone Shoot

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The 2018 iZone VI Championships are being dedicated to the memory of Don Snyder, the former NSSA-NSCA Executive Director, World Skeet Champion, and Texas Skeet Hall of Fame and Armed Forces Skeet Association Hall of Fame inductee who passed away on May 30.

When Zone VI was considering switching to an iZone format for its 2015 zone shoot, Snyder supported and influenced the decision to do so. When the new format proved to be a tremendous success, Snyder was quick to congratulate organizers and credit them for pulling it off.

The HOA Championship at the upcoming iZone VI shoot has been retitled the Don Snyder iZone VI HOA Championship in appreciation for Don’s encouragement for the format and his support and guidance to competitive skeet. A new shoot pin has been developed to reflect the honor.

 

 

 

 

Reserve Tickets for NSSA Hall of Fame Banquet

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The 49th Annual National Skeet Shooting Hall of Fame Banquet will be held during the 2018 World Skeet Championships on Thursday, October 4, 2018 at the Courtyard by Marriott San Antonio SeaWorld/Westover Hills in San Antonio, Texas. NSSA will induct Helen Swetman and Billy D. Williams for achievements as shooters and Robert DeFrancesco as the Ray Boller Award recipient for his contributions and service to NSSA. In addition, John Cicora and Rayburn Rash will be added to the Referee Honor Roll.

Cocktails will begin at 6:45 p.m. with dinner to follow at 7:45 p.m. Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in a small silent auction. Tickets are $50 each and reserved tables are $500 for 10 attendees. Reserved tickets must be purchased by September 28, 2018.

You can download the banquet ticket order form or purchase tickets online.

For more information, contact Cara Woodard at cwoodard@nssa-nsca.com or 210-688-3371, ext. 112.

Final Shots: Jim Conley

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There is much as skeet shooters that we owe to the people who have led the NSSA. Their leadership and dedication have made it the premier shooting organization in the U.S. One of those, Jim Conley, was from Nebraska. He passed June 29 at the age of 81.

Jim’s shooting career started fairly late. He was 36 when he began a more than 40-year pursuit of skeet excellence. It wasn’t long before he emerged as a top shot in Nebraska. He was on the Nebraska All-State Team for 25 consecutive years, while shooting more than 210,000 registered skeet targets. He also attended 40 consecutive World Skeet Shooting Championships.

As his career progressed, he became president of North Platte’s Lincoln County Wildlife Gun Club, president of the Nebraska Skeet Association, NSSA Director, and eventually president of the National Skeet Shooting Association.  In 1994, he was inducted into the Nebraska Skeet Shooting Association Hall of Fame.

Along the way, he and his longtime two-man team partner, Bill Harder, set a World Record, shooting 200 X 200 skeet doubles. His individual wins included 22 State Shoot titles and numerous gun titles across the country, highlighted by winning the U.S. Open, which was held in Pennsylvania. He tied with All-American Dave Starrett, both shooting 399/400. Jim won the shoot-off. That year Jim was awarded All-American status.

(L-R) Robert Stack, Alex Kerr, Jim Conley

His influence on skeet shooting and skeet shooters over the years are immeasurable. Few were as well-liked in the skeet community.

Funeral services were held in North Platte on July 26. You can read more about Jim’s extraordinary life at carpentermemorial.com.

– Contributed by Bill Harder

Jason Ward Wins 2018 Krieghoff Masters

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Spring finally arrived last week for about 270 shooters who traveled to sunny Savannah, Georgia, for the Krieghoff Masters Skeet Championships at Forest City Gun Club. Jason Ward, 2017 HOA World Skeet Champion, walked away with the Masters HOA Championship title after posting the lone 397. Shooting off 396s were Mark Vaillancourt, who finished second, Michael E. Schmidt, third place, and Pam Larrowe, who earned the Ladies title.

In preparation for the 2018 Krieghoff Masters, NSSA Chief Mechanic Barney Brown worked with the Forest City Gun Club team to ensure that the traps were properly set up and the targets were being thrown in a consistent manner. In all, 20 fields were set up to throw targets for the competitors at the Krieghoff Masters, including six dedicated practice fields. When practice started, it was noticed that there was an unusual delay on the practice fields, which was quickly identified by Barney as an electrical problem that was resolved by swapping out some equipment. The result was that all fields were back up and running properly within 30 minutes. Kudos to Barney and the Forest City Gun Club team for responding so quickly to ensure that shooters were able to practice prior to the shoot even starting.

Here are more of the winners:

HOA Champion Jason Ward 397
HOA Runner-up Mark Vaillancourt 396
HOA Third Place Michael E. Schmidt 396
HOA Lady Champion Pam Larrowe 396
HOA Lady Runner-up Alyssa Gormish 391
HOA Lady Third Place Meredith Tunick 389
12-Gauge Champion Jason Ward 100
20-Gauge Champion Houston Deshotels 100
28-Gauge Champion Worth Turner 100
.410 Bore Champion Mark Vaillancourt 100
Doubles Champion Armour Strunk 99

Click here to see all Krieghoff Masters event results.

 
 

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