Aquinas shooting team wins awards

Top intermediate team from Aquinas College. Left to right, Emma Watson, Lochlann Greer and Elise Oxenham. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Aquinas College have cleaned up in the intermediate section this year after three years of entering the McMillan Cup junior air pistol competition run by the New Zealand Pistol Association.

Elise Oxenham was the undoubted individual star. She won the Phillip Murphy Trophy for best new shooter for both college and intermediate (325, 12th = overall), the Leigh, Judy and Deborah Baker Trophy for first Intermediate shooter (325), and the Ian Knight Trophy for Top Rookie Intermediate (325).

She was also part of the Aquinas team that won Top Intermediate Team and Nobes Trophy along with Emma Wilson and Lochlann Greer. They scored a combined total of 930 to place then eighth overall.

The boys' team of Liam Anderson (287), Samuel Lee (257) and Tyler Dunseath (223) were placed third in the Intermediate team medals.

Tauranga Pistol Club would like to thank Evelyn Knights for all her hard work in coordinating the students and college involvement toward this event.

"It has been a hard three years but thanks to perseverance and the Tauranga Pistol Club committee backing this event with equipment. They recently purchased three competition air pistols," International Shooting Sport Federation section director John Peacock said.

"It made a big difference to the students' performance. Many thanks to NZPA sponsoring specialist training from Greg Yelavich - the results speak for themselves. Last but not least thanks to Howard Kay (assistant coach), who brought a new dimension to help the students and Peter Vickers with all the behind the scenes work."

Aquinas College student Loretta Knights, who has been shooting in this programme since it started three years ago, has been selected to represent New Zealand at the Oceania Competition for Junior Woman's Air Pistol in Brisbane.