It’s a green light for Skeet Nationals at Payagala
After the successful completion of Trap and Skeet Open Meets last month, the National Shooting Sports Federation of Sri Lanka (NSSF) has made all arrangements to conduct the Skeet Nationals at the National Shotgun Range in Payagala from October 6 to 8.
The NSSF, headed by Shirantha Peiris, has been keenly promoting shotgun sports in addition to popularising air rifle and air gun disciplines around the country, mainly among schools. The upcoming meet will be one of the four shotgun events planned for 2017, where the annual calendar includes a total of eight meets. The remaining meets are air rifle and air gun events.
According to a circular issued by NSSF, participants who are ranked in the Top 30 in the concluded NSSF Open Meet 2017 will be slotted into details to their rankings to shoot on the second day of the Skeet Nationals.
“All other participants and clubs will be allocated slots to fill on the first day of the meet. A competitor must shoot 
their first 50 clays on the first day and after that, shooters with the 12 highest hits will be slotted according to rankings, to shoot at further 75 clays on the final day. The top six shooters from the total of 125 clays will then move on to shoot the finals as per current ISSF format, where any tie breaks will also be settled. The scores from the first two rounds will be considered for the team award,” an release issued by NSSF stated.
Jonathan Martenstyne, the Assistant Secretary of NSSF in-charge of shotguns stated that his association is keenly looking at developing the sport by assisting shooters with the minimum necessary supplies.
“I have been concentrating on developing shotgun. It has immense opportunity, even to the local general public, who are naturally talented. The shotgun discipline has been there in Sri Lanka for many years but lately, especially during the war, certain restrictions forced this style to natural decease. In addition there were lack of ranges to suite shotgun ranges, also the discipline is more costly than the air guns, where Sri Lanka is struck to, historically. There should be at least 15 machines to conduct a meet if it’s an international meet, but at Payagala, the range owned by the Clay Target Shooting Club of Colombo, has one machine that oscillates to different directions. In a way it’s a little bit harder than we imagine, the sport itself is a challenge, as shooters cannot expect from where the target appears. It will be a greatly anticipated competition,” he stated.
The NSSF General Secretary, Pradeep Edirisinghe told the Sunday Times that entries will be accepted until September 21 with the 
signatures of shooters and club officials. He went on to say that only entries send through the respective clubs in writing with duly paid entry fees will be accepted only.
“The NSSF will accept late entries until 12.00 noon on September 28, and any entry later than that will not be entertained. The NSSF has officially sent circulars, noting down the terms and conditions to all affiliated clubs and associations by now,” he stated.
The overall winner of the Individual Open event will receive a challenge trophy in addition to the gold medal and a certificate. The next top two finishers will receive silver and bronze medals respectively with certificates. The winners of the Team event will also receive the similar set of awards. In addition to the two main events Youth, Ladies and Masters categories are also slotted to take place depending on the number of entries received. Following this event, the NSSF will conduct the National Trap event from October 26 to 29.