March/April 2009 - New Zealand Clay Target Association

2009
National
5 Stand
and Sporting Nationals
Thames Valley Deerstalkers in Paeroa were the hosts for this
year’s North Island and National events and it was an absolutely
outstanding effort by everyone concerned that brought about
this fabulous week of sporting shooting.
The grounds were impressive as they always are and the variety
of targets on offer to over 100 shooters each day was superb.
This was the first time TVDA had ever run a 5 Stand event
However they went out of their way to ensure that this event.
would be a real success nevertheless, and certainly nobody
was disappointed. Many thanks must go to Albie Hanson as
the NZCTA representative for his endless help, support and
assistance in ensuring the success of these events. The week
long championships kicked off with the North Island 5 Stand
event on Sunday 1st February and were followed the next day
by the NZ 5 Stand Nationals, both events seeing a very worthy
winner in Des Coe from Matamata. Des shot a superb 92/100
at the North Island event and followed this up with a 91/100
on more difficult targets but shot in even hotter conditions
than the previous day. Sudden wind shifts on the second day
of shooting produced a completely different set of challenges
for club staff but Des’s outstanding efforts combined for him
to take out the High Gun which was a Beretta shotgun and
proudly presented by Beretta’s Martyn Coe.
Two days of rest for the shooters followed as the TVDA team
worked tirelessly to produce a completely different field for
the North Island Sporting Clay Championships which were
held on the 5th of February. This event was competed for
under the ‘new style FITASC’ rules which saw an amazing
field of 20 shooting stations and 60 traps being in use. Many
thanks must go to the other clubs that helped with the supply
of traps to ensure that this event could be held – the excellent
team effort and rapport between these clubs is great to see
and very appreciated. The work by the dedicated and skilled
trap mechanics was amazing and they ensured that all targets
were of the highest quality for the full range of shooters at the
event. Tony Truss of Rotorua was the very worthy winner of the
North Island Sporting Championship event after a three-way
shoot off with Paul Dunnett of Matamata and Doug Osborne
of Australia. It was fantastic to see an excellent spread of
shooters from beginners right through to AA graders at the
events and certainly there is a wonderful future in the sport
for many of these shooters.
Thursday night at the host club was a sight to behold as the
workers literally came from nowhere to ensure that Thursday’s
event was transformed into 8 fields of “Old Style FITASC” for the
National Championships events which were held the following
2 days. Yet again the conditions overhead were severe with
temperatures reaching well into the 30’s. However this was
made all the more bearable due to the host clubs commitment
Des Coe, High Gun over both days for the North Island
and NZ 5 Stand Champs with Martyn Coe (Beretta NZ)
North Island 5 Stand Geoff Wells (Sponsor Kilwell Sports)
and HOA Tony Truss
North Island Sporting B Grade: 2nd Jason Saunders 80;
1st Andrew Sanders 80, 3rd Callum Beattie 79
North Island Sporting (L-R) Roy Bishop Juniors: Mel Hoverd Ladies:
Geoff Hay Vets
Gunshot 9