January 22 was the perfect day to hold the first shoot of 2022 at Dallas Gun Club. Weather was great for January, with sunshine and no wind. Forty-one shooters ventured out to shoot the tournament of 100 12-gauge targets in the morning and 100 12-gauge targets in the afternoon. Of the 41 shooters registered, over half were Sub-Junior/Junior shooters competing in their first NSSA registered tournament. Most wore their team colors/vests showing their team spirit for their school where they shoot competitions against other schools under the auspices of the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Youth in Education Shooting Sports (YESS). Twenty-one shooters shot in the SCTP concurrent. 
Several years ago, the Dallas Gun Club moved from a one-day format of 50 targets each in 12-, 20- and 28-gauge and .410 bore to a menu of 12-gauge only for the day. This provides an opportunity for shooters without the 4-gauge set-up to join in; thus, the Dallas Gun Club has seen an influx of youth shooters showing up each January and February for the 12-gauge events. It has been a wonderful experience for all – getting to know new shooters, making new friends, and talking up the 4-gauge competitions.
Cody Sargent, well-known in the worldwide skeet community, handily won the HOA event as well as both 100-target events with a perfect score of 200. Mike Schmitt and Jeff Myhre tied with 195s, with Schmitt prevailing for runner-up and Myhre with third.
With many youth shooting their first registered skeet targets, there was one who celebrate a momentous occasion – Jacob (Jake) Farrand, who shoots for the Carroll Clay Target Program in Southlake, Texas, shot his first 25 straight. Several of his teammates gathered to shoot his hat. They did a good job hitting the hat, and Jake was still able to wear it home proudly.
Thank you to all the shooters who came out to make this shoot great fun with good friends and shooters. Thank you to the staff at the Dallas Gun Club for the great targets and food.
– Contributed by Jo Ellen Collin
