These eagle-eyed shooters are competing head-to-head

Gunshots echoed throughout the forests of Joe Rich as the first day of the Western Canadian Skeet Championships commenced.

Competitors arrived at the Central Okanagan Shotgun Sports Club from as far away as Saskatchewan for their chance to test their mettle against other experienced shooters.

Among those putting their skills on display was Greg Miester, a competitive skeet shooter from Warman, Sask.

“I got into skeet shooting when I lived in Regina, and I was shooting trap with some friends,” Miester told Kelowna10. “They said that ‘you should try skeet, it’s a little faster.’ So I went over and tried it with some friends and loved it.”

Practice for a large competition like this is built on a repetition, but Miester said strong mental fortitude is also critical.

Being able to see your target, slow it down mentally to better track it, as well as making sure you are adequately rested, hydrated, and overall, in good spirits are all key to a good performance.

These aspects lead to a competition that Miester closely likens to golf.

“You’re competing within yourself, but you're [also] competing against others,” he explained. “But everybody cheers everybody on and whoever wins, wins. And I like that camaraderie.”

Several different gauges of shotgun ammunition are used throughout the competition. The range adds an additional layer of challenge.

But with an understanding of the basic mechanics of a firearm and the different spread of the varying ammunition, Miester said it boils down to more of a cognitive challenge than anything.

With most participants of the sport being older men, he hopes more young people take up interest, as well as other competitors of diverse backgrounds.

“The future of the sport, I think it’s great, as long as we continue to welcome everyone who comes in and give them pointers and coaching.”

At the end of the first day of competition, Miester placed first in the ’28 gauge Keith Stead Memorial’ competition.

The competition will continue on July 22 & 23 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.