Peattie shows up male shooters
Rayleine Peattie’s eye for the target continues to have her a shot above the rest.
She picked up her 19th smallbore rifle shooting title last Thursday, outclassing the men and fellow women shooters.
It saw her claim the open title for the third time after previous victories in 1992 and 1998, and the women’s section for the 16th time.
Peattie, who has been shooting for 45 years, was introduced to the sport by her father Albert.
She snaffled the women’s and open title at the South Canterbury Smallbore Rifle Association’s champions of champions meet at the Gleniti range.
She showed her class to score a total of 198.12 out of a possible 200.20. Peattie has managed to shoot 200s before but not since the cards they shoot at had changed.
‘‘I was really happy to have won both titles,’’ she said. ‘‘It was certainly a good feeling.’’
Peattie has always been competitive and it is that desire which strives her to be victorious.
‘‘I enjoy beating the men. The first time I won the open title was definitely the sweetest. I just enjoy shooting against the men.’’
She was the first woman to claim the open title with her top display in 1992, with Joan Richardt the only other female shooter to have won the open grade, when she claimed the trophy a few years ago.
Peattie said she was just ‘‘lucky’’ more than anything in claiming the open title for the first time in 18 years.
‘‘I had a good day and that’s what it comes down to. I was shooting reasonably well.’’
To win the open title she outscored at least 12 other shooters from clubs around South Canterbury.
Defending her title in 2017 was certainly a goal.
‘‘If I’m one of the best shooters from the Temuka Smallbore Rifle Club then I’d love to be able to defend my title.’’
She represented the South Island 26 times in shoulder-toshoulder meets against the North Island and made the New Zealand team on numerous occasions to shoot in postal meets against England.
‘‘I’ve given all that stuff up now though. I can’t hold the gun for 20 minutes but it’s quite good because I have an eye piece and can see the targets quite well now so that helps.’’
She only shoots indoors but said it was a ‘‘great way’’ to finish the season.
‘‘It’s great I’ll get to hold the trophies over the summer period.’’
Father Albert has been shooting for 66 years but has never been able to claim the open title.
‘‘I’m really chuffed for her. She’s a good shooter. I’ve been runner up a couple of times but that is as close as I managed to get,’’ he said.