Skeet shooting relies on focus, concentration and poise. 

For members of the Youngstown Country Club team its that and more.  

YCC hosted day one of the 74th Annual Indigo Shoot, a five day tournament at  different clubs over this weekend and next.

But Skeet shooting is not for everyone. 

Blake Benyo of Austintown was playing college baseball at Youngstown State and continued shooting after those days were over.

"Once I got started, I got hooked," said Benyo who's longest run is 187 straight birds. 

I'm at the level now where if I miss one  bird, it kind of gets in my head a little bit and I lose concentration," he said.

YCC Skeet President John Messenger has been shooting for nearly 30 years and loves the competition.

"I think its the comradery and I compare it to other outdoor sports like golf. It's a game of consistency and you have to go out and perform."

But hitting the bird or clay pigeon (target) while its moving is even more impressive.

'You have to clear your head and have to focus on the targets and a lot of things come into play when your shooting with mechanics, but the hardest part is to make sure you have a clear head," Messenger said.

The tournament is five days covering this weekend and next.  Competition is Saturday at the Pepper Pike Cintry Club, Sunday is at the Mentor Harbor Yacht Club and next weekend at the Kirtland Country Club & Hunting Valley Golf Club.

YCC has won the Indigo the last two years and look to make it three in a row.

"It's always been popular here and its been here since 1952 and it's become more popular here since we've been successful," concluded Messenger.

SKEET SHOOT NOTES:

The Youngstown Country Club is one of several Skeet Shoot clubs in the area.  Their season starts when "golf season is over" in the fall and runs through "when golf season starts" in the spring.

Team members say they have shooters as young as 10 coming out to the range & hoping they continue the tradition.

Weather plays a substantial role in the sport.  Since shooters move around from various positions the sun could play a huge role.

The key in Skeet Shooting is to be "ahead of the target" comparing to a quarterback throwing to a wide receiver.