March/April 2009 - New Zealand Clay Target Association

NORTH Island DTL
Championships
Waikato Clay Target Club
24-26 January 2009
Jane Davidson Ladies Skeet Shannan Evans Skeet HOA Kelvin Gutsell HOA
Brendon Malcolm
Single Barrel
Double Rise HOA
When planning for a major event, a Club has to take into
consideration just how many people are going to turn up. With
the recession in full swing, school holidays coming to a close,
and a long weekend for everyone Taupo north, Waikato’s
committee’s best guess based on previous experience, was
for 60 – 80 shooters for Saturday, and possibly with a bit of
luck 120 on the more popular DTL day. So you can imagine
our pleasant surprise of 149 shooters turning up for perfect
conditions and targets on the first day, and the board topping
191 on Sunday.
Large numbers are pleasing for the club, as we have done
considerable work on the grounds looking forward to the
upcoming National Championships. At a recent working bee
30 people turned up with their families to help out with their
own skills ranging from cleaning, plumbing, carpentry and
operating all manner of garden implements. We took this as a
sign of a healthy club, and appreciated each and every one of
the people that assisted with their time.
On shoot day, very quickly people settled in under trees and
on the deck making the most of the new layout, and with 101
entries before 10am, you can imagine the increasing frustration
with only 10 people in squads! Still, shooters vote with their
feet, so they obviously wanted to shoot well into the evening,
delaying the presentations to Sunday. The presentations were
carried out prior to the Single Rise shoot off, to a packed
audience, seeing the premier event of High Gun go to Ross
Ellis (Tauranga show pony) with just two points down for the
weekend, arguably a North Island record. The large crowd
present was a sign of respect for a top effort.
Sunday was another picture perfect day, with 50% of people
on the grounds complaining that it was hotter than the day
before, the other 50% shot a possible in the Single Rise. Colin
Waghorn, and Tony Truss took the shoot off into Monday, 497
targets, leading the other 17 squads of shooters that made the
shoot off. Comments were made like “the ‘high dome’ issue is
closed”, and “we should increase the Single Rise to 50-target
qualification”.
Needless to say, Waikato will be welcoming all to shoot early,
and enjoy the upcoming Nationals. Look forward to seeing
you there.
Results:
Skeet – HOA Shannan Evans, Southland 25. A grade 1st Dean
Everett, Waikato 25, 2nd Clark Pirie, Mataura 25, 3rd Bill Jones,
Huntly 25. B grade 1st Laughlan Elliott, Kopuku 25, 2nd Ross
Ellis, Tauranga 25, 3rd Grant Nixon, Taupo 25. C grade 1st
Paul Boeyen, Waikato 24, 2nd Dave Dockary, Gisborne 23, 3rd
Jane Davidson, Waverley 23. Ladies Jane Davidson, Waverley
23, Juniors Nick Gavin, Whangarei 24, Veterans Ray Everett,
Timaru 25. 2 Person Team 1st Dean Everett, Merv Pratt 50,
2nd Lindsay Rodgers, Shannan Evans 50. 5 Person Team 1st
Lindsay Rodgers, Shannan Evans, Kelvin Gutsell, Clark Pirie,
Ewen Pirie 122, 2nd Dean Everett, Merv Pratt, Peter Goodwin,
Graeme Williams, Neil Pratt 121.
Double Rise – HOA Brendon Malcolm, Hawkes Bay 30. A grade
1st Gavin Searle, Canterbury 30, 2nd Ross Ellis, Tauranga
30, 3rd Colin Waghorn, Gorge Road 29. B grade 1st Mike
McCormick, Patangata 28, 2nd Dean Horn, Whitianga 26,
3rd Sam Morrow, Waitemata 26. C grade 1st Warren Holden,
Ball Trap Ladies Maria Dunnett,
Veterans Graham Geater
Single Rise C grade Todd
McCormick, Warren Holden,
Tony Holt
Single Rise A Grade Gary
Discombe 3rd, Tony Truss 1st
Ball Trap B grade Dean Horn,
Bruce Sanderson,
Cameron Fulton
Gunshot 11