March/April 2009 - New Zealand Clay Target Association

Patangata celebrates
its 50 th Anniversary
Patangata Clay Target Club in central Hawke’s Bay recently
celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special Christmas shoot.
On hand was an original member of the club Doug Ashby. Jim
Meredith and Colin Wood who both joined shortly after the
club started, were also present and are both active shooters
in Hawkes Bay. Doug and Jim presented the club with a new
cup, the Ashby-Meredith 50th Anniversary Cup to celebrate
the event. The cup was won eventually by Geoff Groenveld
after long shoot off from 22m with a young junior member,
Stuart Field.
A field of 63 shooters attended. Some had travelled from as
far as Tauranga to attend the celebration. The club presented
50 hams as well as every shooter receiving a prize and a
commemorative cap.
“The club has always been about joviality” said Dave Hearn the
club captain. On the wall of the club house are six aluminium
clay targets organized by Doug Ashby and loaded especially
for Digger Gunn. Digger had just won a Browning shotgun at
the Champion of Champions shoot and was keen to try it out.
Jim Meredith recalls the sound of the pellets ricocheting off the
targets. After several attempts to break these targets, Digger
was mightily frustrated and while all around him knew that leg
pulling was the order of the day his demeanour became more
and more dark. Some genuine targets made up the last few
birds and he thought he was coming right. Gales of laughter
greeted him when the game was finally up.
Another piece of memorabilia is a “High Gun” presented to
Life Member Pat Beachen with 50 inch barrels made of broom
handles painted black and grafted onto an old side-by-side
stock. Pat was looking forward to this special presentation
from Councillor Ivor Field but Pat’s jaw dropped when he
realized what his award was. He later presented it back to the
club where it remains in pride of place to this day.
In the 60’s, Archie Wortherspoon made a name for himself
at one shoot by having such a high gun position he shot an
overhead power line clean in two. It was suspected that he
wasn’t using standard 8’s with low recoil.
Two new Life Members were presented with their badges for
services to the club, Chris Cassin and Ron Dick.
Patangata has a strong membership with a large number of
New Zealand representatives and National Champions for a
small club. The future looks secure with strong secondary
school support and more champions coming from Central
Hawkes Bay College as well as an active membership who
make a day at Patangata a most enjoyable event.
Geoff Groenveld being presented with the Ashby Meredith Cup
Jim Meredith and Doug Ashby and a table full of hams.
New Life Members; Chris Cassin and Ron Dick
Digger Gunn and Ivor Field, circa 1975
President Tony Winters and Secretary Margaret Goldsmith
cut the cake
Gunshot 30