Shooter should improve on fifth placing

Press, 1 July 1978, Page 10

Shooter should improve on fifth placing

By

DAVID LEGGAT

It is unusual for some’ one to have mixed feelings when he finds business is “booming.” However, that is the somewhat strange situation in which Bruce Lassen, one of Christchurch's two shooting representatives for the Edmon-ton Commonwealth Games has found himself. For Lassen, who turned 29 earlier this month, is a commercial fisherman and although he is delighted about the current trend

his business is taking, it cuts down the amount erf

time he has to properly prepare himself for the Games.

“With things the way they are now. I am often working six days a week and, if the pressure is on, seven days. Therefore the problem is finding myself practice days.” For many competitors taking part in the Games it is an excellent opportunity to broaden their international experience, yet without necessarily having a realistic chance of winning a medal. For Lassen, however, it is different. In 1974, at Christchurch he finished fifth equal in the clay target trap competition, his specialist event. He has hopes of improving even on that fine achievement.

“I was fairly new in the sport, and had only been shooting for three hr four years then. 1 know I can do it. If everything clicks, then I should come fairly close.”

At Christchurch, Lassen shared fifth place with the renowned Englishman, Joe Neville. When the first day’s shooting had been completed. Lassen was sharing third place with another English com-, petitor, Brian Bailey. However, his day’s total of 95 was four points better than his second day score. He trailed the winner,

John Primrose (Canada) by 10 points, the Canadian having set a Commonwealth Games record with 196 points, dropping not one point in a marvellous second day performance in which he scored at all 100 targets. International opposition

for New Zealand shooters is relatively rare between Games; therefore, the South Pacific I.S.U. cham» pionships held in Melbourne at Easter were important for both Lassen

and John Woolley, Christchurch’s other trap shooting representative for the Games.

Lassen finished second in his individual event, a result whcih specially pleased him as he is not particularly experienced in trench shooting.

There is only one trench target range in New Zealand — at Wanganui — and this was Lassen’s first real chance to shoot the trench targets under match conditions.

Lassen hopes that this competition will be continued, at least on an annual basis, although he adds that two or three such tournaments would be good for New Zealand’s shooters.

Lassen missed most of the national championships at Yaldhurst early in April. He did compete in the I.S.U. trap but was not really prepared for the championships, having just returned from Melbourne.

He said his present form is quite satisfactory and

feels he is shooting a wee bit better” than he did at Melbourne. He is trying to get in one day at the week-end but has been hampered by the weather, as well as his job commitments.

As a result of the lack of international opposition since the Christchurch Games, Lassen is unsure of who he will be up against at Edmonton although he feels sure the Australians will be near the top at the end of the competition. Lassen was mildly surprised that 10 out of 12 shooters nominated for the Games team were selected. “I was thinking it would be more like five or six going but I would have liked to see the other two get in.” As far as Lassen was concerned, four shooters were certainties.

“I knew John (Woolley), lan Ballinger, Maurice Gordon, and Bruce McMillan would be in and I thought the others were pretty much on a par. I was pleased to see the others get a chance.”

Lassen will have a fortnight’s preparation in Edmonton before the competition begins. In that, time, he will compete in a trial badge match over 100 targets which should be a particularly useful buildup.