Sisters youth wins sporting clays title

Spencer Ross waits for a target... photo provided

Spencer Ross of Sisters won the Junior class and "E" Class Division at the Oregon State Sporting Clays championship meet held in Salem July 24-27.

The state shoot is one of the largest competitions on the West Coast. Thirteen states were represented by a total of 245 registered shooters.

Sporting clays simulates hunting situations for shotgunners, presenting clay targets that fly like different types of game birds.

Ross shot at 100 targets at 19 stations on Saturday and another 100 targets at 20 stations on Sunday. He scored a 92 on Saturday to beat the reigning California/Idaho Junior State Champion for Oregon Junior honors. His combined score was 169/200.

In a second competition known as "five-stand," Ross went 79/100 to top a field of 10 shooters in "E" Class. A total of 131 shooters participated in that event.

The Sisters shooter has been active in sporting clays for almost two years. According to his mother, Melinda Witt, if he shoots consistently in the 90s, he could participate in national competition in Texas next year.