Gerald Smith moved to Estevan from Porcupine Plain, Saskatchewan 20 years ago to work in the oil field, and about two and a half years ago he decided to engage in the sport of trap shooting. " I just went out to the Estevan event one year, tried it, and really liked it," said Smith. Smith said the sport is extremely challenging and highly competitive, however, he quite enjoys it."The sport is very challenging, you got to have more mental strength than physical. It's just pure concentration and visual on the targets."This year the national trap shooting title went to Smith, and was his first ever title. "It's the event of the last day of everybody competing. It's the Handicap Championship: each shooter moves back the better they are, and I got a 97, which is the top score," described Smith. A shooter is required to shoot at targets that are thrown out of what looks like a treasure chest. Targets are usually clay pigeons about five inches in diameter said Smith. This year the championship took place in Richmond, Vancouver. Location varies from year to year said Smith. "Each year it's different, from Calgary to Edmonton to Ontario."While each location changes, Smith said travel costs are not fully covered. However, Saskatchewan offers it's competitors the best deal. "The Saskatchewan one is one of the better ones because our clubs out of Saskatchewan do get travel grants," he said. The tournament is held once a year at the end of June and runs into the beginning of July and the overall winner in each of the five categories is awarded a trophy and reigns as the champion for one full year. Smith said he is unsure if he will be able to reclaim his title next year because of the sheer difficulty of the sport, but said he will try his absolute best.
