Still on target after 60 years of shooting

LOCKED AND LOADED: Gisborne Clay Target Club shooter Roger Hurlstone is still going strong at the age of 80 and the family name is continuing in the sport on a multi-generational level, with son Chris a long-time shooter and his son Luke rising up the ranks. Picture supplied

“SUPER veteran” Roger Hurlstone has been pulling the trigger for six decades and his competitive fire still burns fiercely.

“I've been shooting for 60 years and I'm just about back in the A Grade — from B Grade — where I want to be, having had to have my eyes checked a little while ago.”

The 80-year-old retired butcher beat grandson Luke (17) to win the “high overall in handicap by distance” in the first round of the Gisborne Clay Target Club championships at the club's Manutuke grounds.

“I'm classed as a super veteran,” he says. “Veterans are 70.”

Roger got into the sport at the age of 20 through his father Vic.

The family involvement has continued through the generations. Roger's son and Gisborne Clay Target Club committee member Chris started shooting at 14 and Chris's son and Campion College Year 12 student Luke started at 15.

“I took the sport up because I wanted to improve my field shooting at ducks, and was put on to the local club by Rod McGregor of McGregor's Sports Centre,” said Roger.

“I've been blessed to be involved and have won every championship in Gisborne, including the Rex Oates Memorial Double Rise Trophy eight times.”

Roger was a member of New Zealand teams for the 1973 and 1983 Mackintosh Trophy international postal shoots. Teams were selected from the top 25 of 30 shooters in the single rise, single barrel and points at the annual national tournament.

He still recalls the first competition he entered in 1960.

“I had no recoil pad, no hat, no glasses, no jacket and only one packet of ammunition.

“Someone left me four packets of ammo as I went around with my old Spanish side-by-side field gun. I shot 112 and came second.

“Huia Boddington beat me when he'd never shot more than 50 before. He couldn't miss in that particular trophy shoot.”

Work commitments with Gisborne Refrigeration Company forced Roger to stop shooting at the age of 23 in 1963 and he married Dianne Kennedy in 1964.

He returned to the sport in 1968.

Gisborne Clay Target Club President Rick Spence has fond memories of Roger.

“I was still at Gisborne Boys' High School when I first shot against Roger,” said Rick.

“He's charismatic and he's always been most supportive of the youngsters in our club. He's just a great enthusiast and on top of it all, he still shoots very well and remains very competitive.”

Having been at or near the head of the pack for 60 years, Roger has simple advice for any shooter.

“I've learned that you've got to be able to concentrate.

“Never mind the guy next door shooting out of turn, or the noise of spent cartridges rattling around in a drum.

“My advice is to ignore that. Stay in rhythm.”