Young shooters earn honours at clay target nationals
Mitchell and Josie Dean of Dannevirke came away from the New Zealand Clay Target National Championships with honours reflecting their skill and training. Mitchell is 20, and Josie is a 17-year-old Feilding High School student. They could have 40-plus years to go in the sport, time and finances permitting.
Both attended the National Clay Target Shooting Championships at Hamilton over March 4 to 11.
They shot 50 targets each day in the individual disciplines of Single Rise, Single Barrel and Points Score.
Shooting in the B-grade, Josie scored 50/50 in the Single Rise and went into a shoot-off with two others on perfect scores, only to miss her first shot.
This relegated her to third and the bronze medal. She puts the result down to nerves but was thrilled to be on the podium.
Shooting in the Double A grade, Mitchell shot 149/150 over the three disciplines which put him into the New Zealand Mackintosh team.
This competes over six months in a World Postal Shoot when teams from around the world put in their best scores out of 100.
The Mackintosh team consists of New Zealand’s best 25 shooters and it has already shot its scores, Mitchell shooting 98/100 which was about average for the team the next day.
The wind was blustery over the week but he was pleased with his result. With this result Mitchell will probably compete in the next World Championship as a senior, since he turns 21 this year.