Manson and Hawes in top form

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

GISBORNE pistol shooters Aaron Manson and his partner Natalie Hawes were in top form at the North Island International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) champs in muddy conditions at Carterton.

Manson made it five straight North Island titles, while Hawes returned home with two gold medals, retaining her open women’s crown and finishing first in the Open C Grade.

Hawes said the two-day competition consisted of 230 rounds over 12 stages — eight stages shot on Saturday and four shot on Sunday.

“It was wet and cold on both days and everyone got to shoot in the mud both days, which made for some fun shooting,” Hawes said.

“Aaron, sponsored by Gun Supplies and Gun and Bell Custom in Rotorua, made a few mistakes on the first day and was nine points behind the leader.

“But he made up for it on Day 2 and ended with a 30-point lead.”

Hawes said she was “quite happy beating the guys” in C Grade, all of whom are seasoned shooters.

Another highlight was beating Aaron in one stage, part of which had to be shot while lying on the stomach.

“The stages were a lot of fun with props, such as a stagecoach, a saloon with a swinging door and many others with moving and swinging targets.

“The mud made your shoes really heavy, so each time before you started you were trying to get as much off as possible to lighten your feet, so you could move more quickly.”

Three shooters from the Gisborne Pistol Club — Pacos Bill (Greg Bothamley), Moneyman (Wayne Urry) and Shiloh (Warwick Manson) — also competed in the North Island Cowboy Action Shooting Championships in Napier.

Pacos Bill won the long-range shoot and black powder muzzle-loading chimes, and was third in cowboy clay birds.

“Moneyman had a clean shoot and received the silver buffalo,” Hawes said.

“Shiloh was first in black powder frontier cartridge and also received the silver buffalo for a clean shoot.”