NSSF Trap Open and Skeet Open Meets: Shirantha Peiris claims overall titles

The winner of the Overall Championship of the NSSF Trap and Skeet Open Meets 2017, Shirantha Peiris (third from right) with top performers (from left) Jeremy Fernando, Kushan Samaranayake (winner of Youth categories), Rishan Dias, Nihal Perera and Johan Fernando

Shirantha Peiris claimed two overall championships at the National Shooting Sport Federation of Sri Lanka (NSSF) Trap Open and Skeet Open Meets held at the National Shotgun Range in Payagala, Kalutara. 

Peiris’ overall championships at both Trap and Skeet were bolstered with the two gold medals he won in the Master category on both occasions. 

Peiris, who is also the current NSSF President, displayed overwhelming skills at the Trap Open Meet held from 9-11 June. His style and eventual results pushed Nihal Perera and Maurice Wambeek to second and third positions as both claimed the silver and bronze medals respectively in the Master category.  With an overwhelming tally, Peiris won the overall title with Rishan Dias and Nihal Perera finishing second and third respectively. Kaushan Samaranayake, still a teenager, also had a victorious double outing as he went on to win the gold medal in the Youth category at both events which were held with a month’s gap. 

Samaranayake came above Malisha Karunarathne to win gold at the Trap Open Meet. In the Team category, Negombo Rifle Shooting Club ‘A’ won gold, while Peiris’ Clay Target Shooting Club of Colombo won silver. The Police ‘A’ team won bronze. 

At the Skeet Open Meet, held from 14-16 July in Payagala, Peiris won his second overall title of the ongoing season in the Shotgun events. After winning the gold medal in the Master category, Peiris’ final tally made him an easy choice for the overall gold medal, as Dallas Martenstyne and Susira Diwulwewa finished second and third overall respectively.  Again, young Kaushan Samaranayake won gold comfortably in the Youth category. Air Force SC shooters Shiroma Priyadarshani, Chathuri Wickramasinghe and Dilani Jayakody finished with gold, silver and bronze respectively in the Ladies’ category. In the Team category the Clay Target Shooting Club of Colombo had the honour of claiming the title, ahead of Air Force SC ‘A’ and the Negombo Rifle Shooting Club, who won the silver and bronze medals respectively. 

With these two events, the NSSF completed four competitions in 2017, with four more to come up before the year’s end. In addition, the NSSF is currently holding two qualifying meets to pick shooters for the Commonwealth Games. Their next competition, the Negombo Open Meet, will be held in Welisara from 21-27 August.