CLAY TARGET CLUB

The Clay Target club, formed in the spring of 2006 is gaining a heightened popularity among students. The club aims, among other things, to train its members to participate in competitive skeet, trap, and sporting clay. The game of skeet was first developed by Charles E. Davies in 1915, but it wasn’t until 1923 that it gained recognition. When it was first formed, live pigeons were used as targets. Contestants competed by shooting the pigeons as they flew away. When the sport became popular, the use of live pigeons became expensive and ethical questions were raised. This notwithstanding, the game continued but with a different target. Clay became the target of the shot.

Towards the latter part of the 1920s, Gertrude Hurlbutt named the game “skeet,” from the Scandinavian word, “shoot.” The game is played by throwing clay disks at high speed from locations into the air while competitors aim their guns at their targets.

The club intends to participate in trap shooting, which involves clay target as well. Although the targets are the same with the skeet targets, there is a marked difference between the two sports. For the trap shoot, there is only one house where the clay disks are flung and the competitors have five different positions within which they can move.

The club has two main facilities where the members go for training and practice: the Halifax Gun club, South Boston, Virginia, where there are facilities for skeet and trap. The other training center is the Timber Ridge Sporting Clay Club within forty minutes drive from Hampden-Sydney College. Like all other clubs on campus, membership is open to everyone interested in the clay target shooting either on recreational or competitive level. Daniel Adum, class of ’06 and a member of the Club, explains that “Collegiate level clay target shooting is popular in several schools such as VA. Tech, UVA, Lindenwood, Purdue, and because of its popularity at the National and State level, several teams are attracted from around the country to participate in the game.”

Although the Club is new, the participation rate is high, and training has thus far been exciting if not inviting. H-SC will be competing against schools such as UVA, and VA. Tech. Mr. Jeff Atkins, distinguished clay and trap shooter, and Dr. Lawrence Martin, also an experienced shooter will be assisting the club in their endeavor as they prepare to compete against the other schools.

The few people who know the thrill in clay target shooting are joining the club, but I want to encourage many of you who might not be aware of the fun associated with the game to join the club and feel the beat.

April 10, 2006