Our second batch of new shooters moved to sling and jacket yesterday with very pleasing results.  Many thanks to our coaches for the time and effort they put into this very important process.

The best 10-shot score overall was shot by Hamish Guthrey (C Grade) with a new personal best score of 99.5 – brilliant!  And congratulations to Meredith Ackrill on scoring the first 100 at the club this season as part of her 20-shot card (197.8).  Evan Little scored best in the higher grades with 98.7, while Ross Little was top shot in B Grade with 97.5.  Amalamo Simi and Anna Hooper (congratulations on her marriage and we note the new name) both scored second best in C Grade after Hamish with 96.3 – great shooting!  And Chris Lockery was highest in D Grade with 91.1 followed by brand new shooter to the sling, Callum Austin, with 87.1.  Those shooting using the rest continue to improve – Hugh Guiney top scored with 88.0 followed by Marin McCarthy 85.2 and Jack Day 84.2.

The interclub draw has now been finalised.  Brooklyn have entered a team in each of the three sections (C Grade, B Grade and Open Grade).  C Grade have a bye in Round 1 on Tuesday 1 May.  B Grade and Open Grade teams will be named in the week preceding this match.

Wellington representative match dates are currently being finalised.  There will be a slightly different format for these matches this year, with two interassociation matches being held on each night rather than one, and only one team per grade.  Once these dates have been confirmed the club calendar will be emailed to our members.  Please keep this handy.

There are numerous competitions that Wellington shooters can opt to take part in:

• Open champs – these are hosted by various clubs and associations around the country, and are usually held on a Saturday.  Shooters pay an entry fee, shoot 3x10 shot cards in their grade, and prizes are awarded at the end of the day.  Great opportunity to shoot at different ranges and to meet shooters from other areas.
• Interclub – between Wellington clubs.  Each team comprises four shooters.  C and B Grade matches comprise 1x10 shot card per shooter, and Open Grade matches comprise 1x20 shot card per shooter.  All teams can be made up of shooters from the relevant grade or lower.  Interclub nights are Tuesday 1 May (B + Open), Monday 21 May (all grades), Sunday 17 June (all grades), Wednesday 4 July (all grades), Tuesday 26 July (all grades), Thursday 16 August (B Grade).  The C Grade match is at 7.45pm, B Grade at 8.15pm, and Open Grade at 8.45pm.
• Wellington representative matches – graded, juniors, women.  Various nights, various start times, various team numbers.  Further information will follow later.
• Wellington closed champs – paid as part of club entry fees, shot on club nights in six rounds three weeks apart, 1x10-shot card.  Deadline for first target is 20 May.
• Secondary school matches – paid as part of club entry fees for secondary school shooters, this nationwide Triple S (secondary school shooting) competition is run by Brooklyn Club and shot in four rounds throughout the season.  A local secondary schools match is held in August comprising six shooters per school, and a three-person team per school can compete in the national secondary school match to be held in Rangiora at the end of September.  Further details on all of these to follow.
• National District Champs – another Wellington representative match, details were emailed last weekend.  Comprises 23 Wellington shooters of various grades and includes a junior section.  Five-round competition on Thursdays followed by semi-finals and finals.  Round 1 on Thursday 26 April, with each next round three weeks later.
• Brooklyn members are automatically involved in the Brooklyn club competition.  All 10-shot and 20-shot competition scores shot at the club (maximum 25 of each) are recorded on the large scoreboards by the kitchen and go towards a variety of trophies presented at the end of the season.

After all new shooters have made the transition to sling and jacket, half-time talk sessions will be reinstated to cover both coaching tips as well as give more information about the various competitions.

Every shooter should now be recording all competition scores on the score spreadsheet.  It is best if this is done after each night so that scores are not forgotten.  At the end of the season these are collated and forwarded to the national body TSNZ for grading purposes for the following season.  So please remember to keep your spreadsheet up to date.

Upcoming events:

• Saturday 14 April, Bulls Open Champs, Palmerston North.
• Sunday 15 April, 9.30am, Teams of Ten trial, 2x20.
• Sunday 15 April, 5pm, three new shooters moving to slings and jackets; 6.30pm coached and 8.00pm non-coached sessions.  Assistance required for earlier sessions.
• Saturday 21 April, Rangitikei Open Champs, Marton – on electronic targets.
• Sunday 22 April, 9.30am, Teams of Ten trial, 2x20.
• Sunday 22 April, 5pm, final three shooters to move to slings and jackets, assistance required.