RICHARD "BLUE" SKEEN
The Howard Hill of Catapultry
In the spring of 1980, I received a phone call and the voice on the other end said, " I hear you're the world's fastest shot with a slingshot."
I replied, "I've been told that by several different people, so I began to bill myself as the "world's fastest shot" and have been looking for someone to compete with."
"Well you've found someone and I think I can beat you," answered Blue.
Please understand that the above statement by Blue was not brag just fact!
This first phone conversation developed a special bond between Blue and myself that lead to a multitude of improvements, innovations, and advancements in the sport of catapultry and slingshots.
Blue attended the 1980 Summer Nationals Slingshot Tournament, we competed in the first World's Fastest Shot event, and Blue won. He also won second place in the Men's division.
At his first appearance at the SNST, Blue was a pure instinctive shooter. His instinctive shooting was highly refined from years of practice and hunting. He was not totally pleased with his performance and began to watch and study other shooters. Blue noticed that several people were using some type of aiming system. He began to experiment with sighting, anchor points, release, stance, and form. Blue also experimented with different types of slingshots, bands, ammo, pouches, and attaching bands to the slingshots.
Within a years time Blue developed a superior shooting style that incorporated sighting, release, arm position, and hand position that increased his target shooting skills about 40%. From then on Blue became the man to try to beat at all the tournaments.
Blue now began to share his knowledge of slingshot shooting by teaching others how to improve their accuracy by using his methods. Through his instruction I was able to improve my shooting by about 30%. Blue taught so many people how to shoot more accurately that several began to challenge him. This only made the sport more enjoyable for him and encouraged him to improve his shooting more.
Blue is also a designer and crafter of fantastic hand-made and hand crafted slingshots. He makes slingshots out of all types of materials from tree forks to metal alloys. Years ago when visiting Blue during the Multi-Lakes Slingshot Tournament I was amazed to see the number of slingshots that he was in the process of making. There were several hundred slingshots in various stages of production. I have 30 or 40 of Blue's slingshots in my collection. Some of my favorites are the C-Shot, one made of antler, one designed to hang on a belt loop, one made from a grape vine, and a very unusual vertical shooting design. He has designed some slingshot trophies that are incredible.
In 1983 the Multi-Lakes Conservation Club Slingshot League sponsored the first Michigan World Championship Slingshot Tournament. Blue was one of the main people who brought about the tournament. The tournament ran for several years and the plans are for a return of the tournament.
Here is a list of the shooting accomplishments of Blue Skeen:
Summer Nationals Slingshot Tournament
1980 2nd place Men's Division
1st place Speed Shoot
1981 2nd place Men's Division
1st place Silhouette
1st place Speed Shoot
1st place Team Shoot
1982 3rd place Men's Division
1st place Silhouette
1st place Speed Shoot
2nd place Team Shoot
1983 1st place Men's Division
1st place Silhouette
1st place Speed Shoot
1st place Glop Shoot
2nd place Team Shoot
1984 1st place Men's Division
1st place Standard Round
2nd place Silhouette
1st place Speed Shoot
1st place Glop Shoot
1st place Tub Shoot
1st place Team Shoot
2nd place Caveman Silhouette Team Shoot
1985 1st place Class A
1st place Standard Round
2nd place Texas Shoot
1st place Silhouette
2nd place Speed Shoot
1st place Hillbilly Shoot
3rd place Glop Shoot
4th place Tub Shoot
1st place Team Shoot
WSDR INTERNATIONAL SLINGSHOT TOURNAMENT
1981 1st place Men's Division
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SLINGSHOT TOURNAMENT AT CARRIZO SPRINGS
1981 1st place Men's Division
WINTER INDOOR CATAPULTRY TOURNAMENT
1981 4th place Men's Division
WYANT FESTIVAL SLINGSHOT TOURNAMENT
1983 2nd place Men's Division
MICHIGAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SLINGSHOT TOURNAMENT
1983 2nd place Men's Division
1st place Speed Shoot
1st place Team Shoot
1984 1st place Men's Division
1st place Speed Shoot
2nd place Team Shoot
1985 1st place Men's Division
1st place Speed Shoot