Ritson sounds just like a duck to win champs
Ritson Galloway won all four categories at the New Zealand duck and goose calling championships in Taupo¯ .
He also won ‘team duck’ with younger brother Kellan. The Manawatu¯ teen was with duck and goose callers at the annual Sika show and competition at the end of September.
There were five categories: open live duck, open team duck, open live goose and open team goose.
Ritson began duck calling as a three year old and entered his first competition when he was 10. It was a natural spinoff from duck hunting that runs in the Galloway family. Fifteen-year-old Ritson hunts with his father Andy and grandfather Rusty and 11-year-old Kellan.
He shoots every weekend of the season, including with a hunting and duck-calling friend Ben Schnell. The Freyburg High School student is thrilled with his win, given the two and a half hours practice he puts in when he can.
He’s keen to represent New Zealand in the world champs.
“If not this year then some time in the next few years.” This year five Kiwis will compete in the champs at the Waterfowl Festival in Maryland, USA. A fresh look at Aotearoa New Zealand through the lenses of many photographers is launched for Mental Health Awareness week.
This year’s theme, Let Nature In, sits alongside the title of the book, I Am New Zealand, with all royalties from the books’ sales going to the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand.
Nikon invited the photographic community to build an image map of the nation online (iamnewzealand.co.nz). Many creative and inspiring photographs were posted, a range saying “I am New Zealand”.
This has resulted in a modern take on the old standard scenic New Zealand book. It collects a range of personal views of Aotearoa from photographers, both amateur and professional, along with their thoughts on what makes New Zealand.
The book looks at lots of different aspects — people, inner cities, sport — not just sheep and mountains, though they are there too. The photographers’ thoughts add an interesting dimension, whether talking about how or why they took the shot, or how it stands for their vision of New Zealand. Buy the book from Bruce Watt Photography for $45.