Ron Traill Memorial Perpetual Trophy Alice Springs Masters Games Page 8 2014 VCTA STATE TRAP COMMONWEALTH CARNIVAL CARNIVAL Page 4 Page 16 2015 Trap Championships NOMINATION FORM Page 25 Official Journal of the AUSTRALIAN CLAY TARGET ASSOCIATION INC. – January 2015 Vol. 68 No. 1 Print Post Approved PP349181/00364 HI-DOME PETROLEUM PITCH TRAP & SKEET TARGETS These targets will REALLY SMOKE • Consistent Flight Path • Available in All NEW Fluoro & Black TRAP TARGETS Phone: (03) 5229 9882 Fax: (03) 5229 3524 Colin Macpherson 0409 567 727 Simon Gunther 0499 154 782 Bruce Burns 0418 522 059 Email:Australian [email protected] Email: [email protected] VOLUME NO. 68 ISSUE NO. 1 JANUARY 2015 Phillip, Glenis and Steven Traill OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AUSTRALIAN CLAY TARGET with the Victorian State Handicap, ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED Ron Traill Perpetual Trophy. Annual Subscription Rate: $50 This trophy was presented for the February 2015 issue closes December 10 2014 first time at the VCTA State Trap March 2015 issue closes January 20 2015 Carnival at Echuca in November 2014. AUSTRALIAN CLAY TARGET ASSOCIATION INC. PO Box 466, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 Phone: (02) 6938 2121 Fax: (02) 6931 0125 Website: www.claytarget.com.au Contents NATIONAL OFFICE EXECUTIVE OFFICER: President’s Notes 2 Tony Turner – email: execoffi [email protected] Executive Offi cer’s Report 3 ACCOUNTS: Judy Ferry – email: [email protected] VCTA 2014 State Trap Carnival 4 CTSN: Wangaratta Sporting Clays 7 email: [email protected] MEMBERSHIP: Shooting for Gold at the Alice Springs Masters Games 8 Maureen Ryan – email: [email protected] Gemfi elds Two Day Annual Trap Carnival 11 ADMINISTRATION/ EVENTS CO-ORDINATOR: Lake Albert 36th Anniversary 12 Sue Vesperman – email: [email protected] RECEPTION: The Squire Reports from West Wyalong 13 Jenny Robinson – email: [email protected] 2014 World Skeet Championships 14 ACTA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Guyra Sporting Clays Championship 15 PRESIDENT: Commonwealth Carnival 16 Mr Allan Vilcins VICE PRESIDENTS: Mackintosh Trophy 2014 International Teams Match Results 17 Mr Robert Fox, Mr Robert Nugent Psychological Skills for Shooting 18 EXECUTIVE: Club News 18 Mrs Cheryl Arnol, Mr Malcolm Dyson, Mr Bronte Evans, Mrs Elaine Forward OAM, Mr Robert Fox, Mr Gary Hayden, Hermidale 35th Anniversary Shoot 19 Mr Kim Hibble, Mr David Howe, Mr Don Johnson, Mr Terry Marsden, Cuzzo’s Ramblings 20 Mr Brian Muirson, Mr Robert Nugent, Mr Don Power, Mr Garry Read, Mathoura Night Zone Tower 21 Mr Allan Vilcins. Co-opted Members: Mr Neil Haydon & Mr Peter Haley Australia and New Zealand Skeet Postal Challenge 2014 21 PATRONS: Competition Results: The Right Honourable Malcolm Fraser, A.C., C.H., Tasmania 27; South Australia 27; Northern Territory 30; Mrs Kay Hull Queensland 30; Western Australia 35; LIFE REGISTERED SHOOTERS: New South Wales 37; Victoria 46 J Houston†, H. G. James†, D. B. Mott†, W. E. H. Rainbird. O.B.E.†, Bendigo Bank Academy of Sport Coaching 55 J. M. Wilson†, J. M. Tyquin†, K. Soames†, N. Wells†, E T. Baldwin†, G. H. Hall (PP)†, E. G. Biggs†, R. H. Moyse†, L. S. R. Stewart†, Glen Innes Annual Spring Fling 150 56 C. Moll†, A. Pedersen, (PP)†, O.R. Taylor†, E.F. Hawkins (PP)†, Sarina 2 Day Annual Shoot 57 R. Mules†, A.N. Rowe†, L.G. Connors (PP)†, W. Jones (PP)†, Defence Clay Target Association National Carnival 58 R.M. Holtfreter (PP)†, N. Hardy, LJ Martin (PP), JK Scott (PP), RF Buchan, J Murphy, GG Woodhatch (PP), R Silvester, R Nugent (PP), Vale 59 J Byrnes (PP), A Kenny, D Harwood, J Mack (PP), R Traill† Break Badges 60 † Denotes deceased. PP denotes Past President Shoot Calendar 60 VCTA South West Zone Carnival 61 Cup Day at Castlemaine 61 Classifi eds 62 Designed and typeset by Ironbark Graphics, 22 Hubble Street, Maryborough, Vic 3465 Ulupna Island ZZ Nationals 62 Printed by Newsprinters Pty Ltd, Melbourne Rd, South Shepparton, Vic 3630 No responsibility is accepted by the publisher for the accuracy of information contained in the text, ACTA News 63 illustrations or advertisements. The opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily represent those of the publisher. ACTA Welcomes New Members 63 ISSN: 1321-3903 2015 Annual Registration & Club Membership Application 64 JANUARY 2015 – AUSTRALIAN CLAY TARGET NEWS 1 Presidents Notes There has been discussion recently regarding E. Albert, 2nd, 59/60. I had the pleasure of being in Katanning whether the ACTA should consider the ease in Western Australia for their three days’ championship shoot, in which members are shooting large breaks. and here, although 39/40 was the best score off 20 yards, the There has been an improvement in firearms, shoot-off lasted for over 100 rounds. equipment and ammunition and in the not I am over 70 years of age and I feel that conditions of shooting too distant past there was a change in the are much too easy. All shooters know that on any reasonable angle that targets were thrown along with the day if they lose a bird they are out of the contest, even if distance. Some say that this makes the sport the programme states at 50 birds, and more or less lose all too easy – others say that it is a good thing interest in the shoot, although most shooters go through the because they have an opportunity to shoot programme. these larger breaks. At the last DTL Nationals there were four shooters in the double barrel Clay bird shooters have to find all the money for their sport – event that shot over 1000 targets straight. upkeep of their club, nominations to pay for trophies, sashes Fantastic shooting and I congratulate these members (and those that were in and clays, and mostly sweeps and cartridges. We find that the shoot off) however it caused timing issues for the carnival. unless a shooter is quite wealthy he cannot afford, say, four or five packets of cartridges, plus all other expenses and perhaps, Whilst reading past Clay Target Shooting News magazines on the ACTA after shooting 50, 60 or 70 straight, to miss a bird before a website, I came across a letter that was sent to the Secretary / Editor over 57 division. He just stays away from future events. years ago. I reprint it below in full. I suggest that shooting be made much more difficult by Clear Hills handicaps commencing from, say, 18 yards minimum to 30 Barellan, N.S.W. yards maximum, and that traps be regulated to throw targets 14th December, 1957 from, say, 6 feet high at 15 feet from the trap to 20 feet at the same distance. After all, only one shooter can win any Letter to the Secretary – Editor championship, and I feel the winner would get much greater A.C.TA. thrill to win a championship with, say, 15/20 than 100/100, or Sir, even 150/150. I think that some system of shooting should be devised that would allow the young shooter who still has to As an old and keen clay bird buster for the last 30 years or so, make his way in life, to enable him to compete at a reasonable I am very concerned at the falling off of shooters, particularly cost without using up to six packets of shells for an afternoon’s in my district (the Riverina, N.S.W.). Over the last few years sport. quite a few clubs have given up the “ghost”; for instance, Leeton and Gundagai, which were flourishing clubs a few years ago, Yours faithfully, have folded. My own club, Barellan, is on the verge of extinction, (Sgd.) EMIL E. ALBERT although still registering; Temora – Gidginbung is apparently in the same boat; many other clubs are not by any means Is this a new issue? I think not. It has been around long before I was born and healthy. is continually being assessed, even today. The National Executive Committee, When I ask any of the many former supporters why they do not through the Championships Committee realised this issue and has altered this shoot, the answer invariably is “too expensive” or “make the years’ programme in an attempt to rectify the long shoot off issue. Whether it shooting tougher and we will come back”. I personally feel that I works or not will be assessed and reconsidered after the Nationals. am getting to that stage myself and feel that unless conditions In short, at least the Executive Committee is trying different approaches in an of clay bird shooting is made much harder, I will not be interested effort to rectify problems of the past. As to the success – if not, there will be a in it much longer. I personally think that it should be difficult for return to the format of the past or another approach tried. any shooter to shoot, say, 20 straight. Taking some of the local championships here, we get these results:- Or, as has been suggested by members, the double barrel event is not included in the Macintosh Team selection? Should the team be selected on 1956 – the single barrel event only? Single and pointscore events only? Or should they Griffith Gun Club Championship – be conducted one day after each, with shooters that are in the double barrel R. Bushby, 50/50, 1st; E. Albert, event shoot their single barrel event then continue to the shoot off trap to 49/50, 2nd. continue their shoot off? I would ask that if you have a view on this that you Barellan Gun Club Championship – email the ACTA office at [email protected] for it to be considered.