Dusk delays shooting

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33815, 11 April 1975, Page 22

Dusk delays shooting

Press A ssoriatiOTi)

AUCKLAND

Four men. Frank Fyers of Hamilton, Robin Collins of Matamata, Barry Cable of Australia and Elgin Gates of the United States, were still seeking the New Zealand single-rise trap title last evening- when dusk prevented a final decision.

Today at 8.30 a.m. at Ku]meu the contest will be resumed. but Gates will not be lining up. He said he would withdraw because he was going on a trip with an American tour party. But he added that he had no regrets, and had beep most happy to take part in the event.

Four hundred and thirtyfour paraded yesterday morning in their quest for this blue riband event of New Zealand trap shooting.

Late in the afternoon 38 had scored possibles to qualify for a further shoot-off. Gradually the field was whittled down, but not soon enough to race the lengthening shadows. The junior gun was won by J. Woolley, of Christchurch.

The senior gun was won by Alf Walker, of Hakataramea. He had the best aggregate for the first five championship events — the skeet, double rise, single rise, clay sparrow and single barrel — but because Walker has held the award previously, Bill McCabe, of Morrinsville. was declared the winner. NERVOUS

In the first New Zealand trap shooting championships for women, Mrs Shirley Maihi, a Manurewa school teacher, was "shaking like a leaf” in 16 later stages, but not enough to stop her from winning.

In two rounds of the single rise event she scored 47 targets out of 50 to beat nine others of her sex. Mrs Maihi’s husband, Charles, is a shooter and so are the two elder of her three sons, who contested the junior singles rise. A 14-year-old girl, Anne Marie Webber, was a contestant in the championship.

A daughter of Mr Graeme i Webber, vice-president of the' Waitemata Gun Club which is ■ hosting the championships, she is believed to be the: youngest to have shot in the) national championships and certainly is the youngest] woman.