On Saturday, September 6, the Fort Frances Sportsmen’s Club held their annual Skeet Shootoff. Nine shooters dodged rain, wind and general weather nastiness to shoot 100 rounds.
The High Season Average went unchallenged to Brad Houghton who, at one point, ran 72 straight. Houghton further prevailed as top shot on Saturday. HOA trophy donated by Dave Forrester family, the club trophy, Hiram Walker the 3rd, the R.J. (Bob) Kennedy Memorial Plaque easily went to Reg Weeks as the largest (by far!) contributor to the club in 2025. A 100 percent effort ,with thanks.
The tournament was most capably managed (score keeping in rain, filling clays and more) by Allie and Natalia Saciuk with ever-present smiles. Thank you!
And there were other contributors, too many to mention, but thanks.
Finally, skeet shooting continues each Tuesday through September.
A brief history
The local 1958 Skeet “Houses” were equal height wooden glorified “outhouses” with an opening, hand-cocked for ech target and required an individual to set each target after cocking. To trigger the left “high” house, one called “pull,” its opposing “low” partner “mark,” and for doubles (two targets together) “fire.” These terms were necesary to cue the kids in the houses.
In the ‘70s, proper height, to spec, cement-poured houses replaced these relics, fun as they were.
1958 saww the first champion, John Miller, take the silver Hiram Walker trophy. Your writer remembers John as he looked better missing a target than the rest of us hitting one. As of today, there are five living past champions.
About Labour Day, the shooters gather for the annual shootoff for:
• Best shot that day
• the Dave Forrester trophy for best season average (Brad Houghton 2025)
• R.J. “Bob” Kennedy trophy for “Most Impressive / Biggest Contribution”
