NATIONAL TRAP-SHOOTING Record 150 Entries In Skeet Section

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32265, 7 April 1970, Page 17

NATIONAL TRAP-SHOOTING Record 150 Entries In Skeet Section

A record entry of 150 competitors was received for the national skeet championship when the 1970 New Zealand Rothmans clay target shooting championships continued on the Christchurch Gun Club’s grounds at Yaldhurst, yesterday.

This entry exceeded by five the previous highest field in this event, when the match was shot in Hamilton in 1967.

Shooting began in bright sunshine but conditions became dull later in the day. The north-west wind changed to south-west during the shooting, providing another handicap for competitors. Two experienced shooters, J. R. Thomson (Rotorua) and C. W. Stott (Kimberley) both farmers, shot off for the coveted skeet title. These finalists were the only competitors in the match to break the possible 50 targets, Thomson winning the shoot-off with another perfect round, Stott being two down.

Thomson is one of the best clay target shooters this country has produced. In 1958 he was awarded the Willoughby Norrie Silver Pigeon Trophy as “high-gun" in the New Zealand international team that year.

This success was followed by the winning of the champion of champions title in 1963, and the next year he won his first skeet title. In 1966, after a marathon

116 target shoot-off with the prominent Australian shooter, M. Fuller (Sydney) who is again competing at this championship, Thomson won the single rise title. His all-round ability as a trap shooter was shown again in 1968 when he won the national single barrel title. He

has also had considerable success at island and provincial level.

Stott, the president of the Christchurch Gun Club for this tournament, has several times gone close to winning a national title but victory has been denied him. He has won three South Island championship titles and has represented New Zealand several times in team events. The two-men team skeet championship, held in conjunction with the event, was won by the Bay of Plenty combination, J. R. Thomson (Rotorua) and B. J. Anderson (Mount Maunganui), scoring 99 out of a possible 100.

The Southland team, J. McKenzie (Seaward Downs), A. J. C. Donald (Otahuti), J. L. Gorton (Makarewa), E. E. Pannett (Invercargill), and G. C. Halligan (Invercargill), retained the five-men team's championship title which the same province won in Hamilton last year. The Rotorua team, J. R. Thomson, W. E. Hamill, B. J. Anderson, R. O Hughes and G. B. Thomas was runner-up.

The annual Australia v. New Zealand five-men teams match, held yesterday afternoon was won by the New Zealand team which scored 119 targets out of a possible 125 to Australia’s 116. Members of the New Zealand team, and individual scores were: C. W. Stott (Darfield) 25, C. Willock (Balclutha) 24, R. G. Brown (Ashburton) 24, J. R. Thomson (Rotorua) 23, and G. C. Halligan (Invercargill) 23. When Thomson, this year’s skeet champion, missed his seventh target in the Australia v. New Zealand teams match, his long run of 335 skeet targets shot in succession ended. This run exceeded the previous highest of 332, by A. J. C. Donald (Otahuti). The tournament will continue today when the clay sparrow and double rise titles will be shot.

W7O Hew Zealand Skeet Championship <5O Targets; 150 Entries) J. R. Thomson (Rotorua) and C. W. Stott (Kimberley) 50; Thomson won shoot-off.

A. J. C. Donald (Otahuti), T A. Everest (Christchurch). C. Eynon (Morrinsvtile). B. J. Anderson (Mount Maunganui). D. J. Cruickshank (Palmerston North). G. C. Halligan (Invercargill). R. J. Wasley (FeildIng), P. O. Anson (Hunterville), M. J. Fuller (Sydney), B. G. Begg (Darfield), R. H. Cooper (Gisborne), C. Willocke (Balclutha), A. W. H. Walker (Hakataramea). and R. G. Brown (Ashburton) 49.

J. McKenzie (Seaward Downs), Allan Brown (Lauder), F. E. Pannett (Invercargill), J. L. Gorton (Makarewa). M. Hoyles (Auckland), D. H. Frewin (Palmerston North). G. G. Denning (Auckland) R. K. Meads (Hunterville), R. w. S. Cavanagh (Wellington), K. Gamble (Auckland), G. W. Shaw (Auckland), C. R. Gunn (Fernhill, Hawke's Bay), B. R. Cumings (Feilding), B. C. Webber (Auckland). J. Marshall (Balclutha), J. Stiven (Balclutha). R. J. McGregor (Gisborne). T. P. Hayman (Waimate), N. D. Rutherford (Wanganui). P. Stanley (Ashburton), A. T. Kemp (Palmerston South). S. R. Marston (Christchurch), and L. V. Evans <Lower Hutt) 48.

W. D. M. West (Leeston), C. J. Benton (New Plymouth), R. A. McCabe (Morrinsvillek E. Sutherland (Sanson). W. R. Counsel! (Tokoroa). G. B. Thomas (Te Puke). J. C. Streeter (Amberley). G. Brinkworth (Hamilton). L. J. Wills (Fairlie). C. Tahau (Tokoroa) J. Hedley (Otautau), W. * E. Hamill (Rotorua). D. J. McGregor (Balclutha), D. Cameron (Balclutha), L. J. Eden (Greenpark), and J. McMillan (Cambridge) 47.

Two-man Team Skeet Championship.—loo targets (25 entries): B. J. Anderson and J. R. Thomson 99; J. McKenzie and B. R. Dobbie, A. J. C. Donald and J. L. Gorton, R. H. Cooper and R. J. McGregor. A. W. H. Walker and T. P. Hayman, J. Marshall and C. Willocks. R. G. Brown and P. Stanley 97. Five-man Team Skeet Championship.—2so targets (five entries): Southland (J. McKenzie, A. J. C. Donald. J. L. Gorton, F. E. Pannett and G. C. Halligan) 242, Rotorua (J. R. Thomson W. Hamill, B. J. Anderson, R. O. Hughes and G. B. Thomas) Fifteen Target Clay Sparrow Handicap (135 entries).—Possibles: G. C. Halligan (Invercargill), R. Fitzsimons (New Plymouth). P. A. Veale (Auckland). W. A. Aitken (Morrinsville). and G. M. Wilson (Timaru). Fifteen Target Sweepstake (42 entries).—E. F. Baldock (Greymouth) and T. Lewis (Nelson) 15; C. R. W. McKinley (Whangarei), W. A. Aitken (Morrinsville). J. M. Wilson (Waimatua), K. Gamble (Auckland). L. H. Tuck (Greymouth). N. Howson (Sedgmere), E. L. F. Donald (Irwell), and D. Manning (Christchurch) 14.