CLUB OF THE WEEK: Tauranga club aims at bright future

SECONDS after a round clay target is launched into the air, an ear-splitting boom is heard and the remains of the target flutter down to earth in a million pieces.
Patience, precision and practice are three qualities needed to become efficient in the sport of Clay Target Shooting and there are many people in the Western Bay of Plenty who are well on their way to achieving this goal.
Tauranga Clay Target Club has just over 100 members who meet at least once a month to test their skills and compete against other like-minded enthusiasts. Since the Tauranga Clay Target Club began 32 years ago, it has become recognised as one of the leading clubs in the country, said current president Mark Walsh.
He has been involved with the club for about six years and said over time it has produced a number of athletes with amazing talent.
"The Tauranga club has been right up there for years and we're very strong competitors," Mr Walsh said.
"The group from Tauranga Boys' College won the North Island champs last weekend, which is a wonderful achievement."
Mr Walsh got involved in the sport after his two sons began shooting at Tauranga Boys' College. Through their involvement, he became the school's team manager and now he co-coaches the team with another club member, Ben Tuck.
"This is a great sport because it's purely individual and you can challenge yourself but there is the opportunity to shoot in teams," Mr Walsh said.
Clay Target Shooting is predominantly a male-dominated sport however he said the number of female club members had increased over the past few years.
"It's such a good sport for women because they don't have to be big and powerful to compete on the same playing-field as men," he said.
"It's a level game ... you just need to have some brains."
Clay Target Shooting is a sport that offers the opportunity to travel and Mr Walsh said a number of athletes had succeeded at a high level, which enabled them to take part in international competitions.
One of these athletes is 53-year-old Grant Castles. Mr Castles was a member of the four-person team that competed at the Oceania Games last week in Samoa.
He said it was "a real honour" to represent New Zealand and shoot against other experienced competitors.
Mr Castles has been involved with the Tauranga Clay Target Club for about 30 years. He has developed a prominent role within the Clay Target Shooting community and is now the sport's national co-ordinator.
"It's something I've always been interested in. I grew up on a farm, and always had an interest in shooting."
"Growing up I did a lot of hunting and deer stalking then I guess I just wanted to get into competition stuff."
The Tauranga Clay Target Club has had a fruitful past and members have overcome many challenges.
Clay Target Shooting first established in Tauranga about 70 years ago, at the end of World War I. The club was first located on Cameron Rd, where the Court House currently lies. From there, members moved down the road to where Tauranga Intermediate is situated. Soon after, the club moved to Domain Rd, Papamoa, so they could have more space.
In 1965, after a number of happy years, the club folded. City developments forced the club to close as neighbouring properties were deemed to be too close to the shooting area.
This was a terrible downturn for the club and all of the club's assets and money were given to the Rotorua Gun Club. After this happened, Tauranga clay target enthusiasts were forced to Rotorua to shoot there, as nothing was available in the Western Bay of Plenty.
Thirteen years later, in 1978, this all changed when the Tauranga Clay Target Club re-established thanks to three passionate men. Mr Tuck, who currently coaches the Tauranga Boys' College team alongside Mr Walsh, was one of these three men.
He said the club suffered an "unbelievable" blow when all their money was given to the Rotorua Gun Club. "It should have been left in a trust but it was all blown ... " he said.
The three men were determined not to be disadvantaged by the club's previous financial loss and re-established the club on Tara Rd, where it currently stands.
Changes are on the horizon for the Tauranga Clay Target Club, which is currently in the process of amalgamating with the Mount Clay Target Club. The amalgamated clubs will move to a new home - TECT Park in Pyes Pa - and will be renamed the Bay of Plenty Clay Target Club.
"The lease has been signed and is now before council and it's all expected to go through by mid-August," Mr Tuck said.
"Hopefully earthworks will begin in September and we can be there prior to winter 2011." Mr Tuck encouraged people to come along and check out Clay Target Shooting at the next club day.
THE DETAILS
Name: Tauranga Clay Target Club.
Number of members: About 100.
How long it's been going: Over 30 years.
How often it meets: 1st Sunday each month.
If interested to join: Phone club president, Mark Walsh, on 027 240 7728.