Michael Gould, of New Zealand, sights his target while
Bruce Scott (left), of Auckland, Scott McDonald of
Australia and Robert Passarin of Australia look on, at the
international clay shooting competition at Northburn
Station. Photo by Sarah Marquet.
The hills were alive with the sound of gunshots - music
to the ears of some, particularly the competitors in the
international clay shooting competition being held at Northburn
Station near Cromwell.
As the booms echoed around the hills, brightly coloured clay
targets fell to the ground in pieces or carried on in
predetermined trajectories, and competitors either smiled
modestly or cursed while reloading their guns or searching
for their next target.
Competitors from New Zealand, Australia, Russia, England,
Germany, France and New Caledonia, 136 in total, descended on
the high country station this week for the 2012 sporting clay
nationals and the third annual New Zealand Federation
Internationale de Tir Aux Sportives de Chasse (FITASC) Grand
Prix.
Each competitor shot at 75 targets yesterday over eight
different fields designed by Graham Brown of Timaru.
At the end of the day John Younger, of Australia, was leading
the field after successfully shooting 67 targets.
Mark Marshall, of England, was second on 66 and Ed Treadwell,
of Australia, was third on 62.
The highest-placed New Zealander was Brian Deadman, of
Waiuku, with a score of 61.
"But it's early days yet; we've still got two days to go,"
South Island Sporting Clay Shooters Club president Neil
Winsloe, of Alexandra, said.
They will all also shoot at 75 today and 50 tomorrow of the
bright yellow, bright orange, white or black targets mostly
measuring 10cm wide and shaped to provide specific flight
patterns meant to mimic birds or rabbits.
For a shot to count as a point, the target doesn't need to be
completely broken but does need to have a visible chip out of
it.
Competitors are only allowed to use double-barrelled guns.
Mr Winsloe said New Zealanders on the course were competing
for the chance to represent the country at the world
championships to be held in Chicago in August.
There is also the Oceania championships, which will be held
in Waikato at Easter, in which they can prove their worth for
the national team.
FITASC vice-president Ray McFarlane, of Geelong, Australia,
said he thought the station was a great venue.
"The terrain is rough and rugged and just what we like ...
the targets aren't easy but there are some high scores."
The 2012 sporting clay nationals, the New Zealand national
competition, was contested over the weekend, with Mark
Vessey, of Auckland, taking top honours with a score of 178
out of a possible 200.
He is originally from England and represented that country at
an international level but agreed the targets were hard and
the terrain difficult.
"But it's a true test of shooting ability."
sarah.marquet@odt.co.nz
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