Toast of the gun club for a ‘possible’ and high gun

TOAST OF THE CLUB: Clayden Hope (left) and Blake Marshall were the toast of the Gisborne Clay Target Club with their exploits at the gun club grounds at Manutuke. Campion College student Marshall won the points score with 60-60, breaking every target with his first barrel and then winning the shoot-off. Gisborne Boys’ High School student Hope scored 98 of 100 possible points over three disciplines to be high gun, the top award overall. Another Gisborne Boys’ High student, Haeora King, was third in the high gun with 95-100. Picture by Justine Hurlstone

These guys hit the mark.

Clayden Hope and Blake Marshall were the toast of the Gisborne Clay Target Club with their most recent exploits at the gun club grounds at Manutuke.

Campion College Year 12 student Marshall won the points score with 60-60, known as a “possible”, breaking every target in the event with his first barrel, and then winning the shoot-off.

Gisborne Boys' High School Year 13 student Clayden Hope beat some first-class competitors with 98 of 100 possible points over three disciplines: single rise, points-score and single barrell, to be high gun, the top award overall.

They were competing in the fourth meeting of the 2020 Central and Lower North Island Secondary Schools Clay Target Series.

Club president Rick Spence was delighted with the performances of Marshall, Hope and Gisborne Boys' High Year 12 student Haeora King, who came third in the high gun with 95-100.

The trio were among 58 shooters taking part in the competition. Entrants came from the East Coast region and from as far away as Rathkeale College of Masterton, and competed in 12 squads of five, predominantly representing their schools.

Spence, who with Kelvin Ellison, Colin Jones and Paul White coaches the up-and-comers after school on Wednesdays, said: “They're good boys, good shots, and we're thrilled to bits because this is only their second season.

“They've got natural ability, sure, but also discipline, and their skill-level's through the roof.”

The local shooters couldn't have picked a better time to find their form. The national championships — split this year into six zones nationwide — will be held from September 26 to 28, and the North Island championships will be held in Hamilton in early October.

The Gisborne Clay Target Club shoots on the second and fourth Sundays of each month with a range of shooting that includes clay target, two skeet, three down the line, one ball trap and voice release.

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