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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
VOLUME 13 NUMBER 39
Robert Docherty – Stettler’s trap shooter par excellence MOUSH SARA JOHN Weekender reporter
Trap shooting is a sport that is on the decline in the town of Stettler because of the lack of facilities, but not for Robert Docherty, who still meets up with the other members of the Stettler Trap Club to practise the sport every week. “I have always enjoyed the outdoors with my family and began going with my dad hunting at a young age, before I could carry a gun and going out to sit with them and watch,” said Docherty. “I feel like family, friends and the outdoors is what instilled in me a love for shooting.” Born and raised in Alix, Docherty recalls how they would dig pits in the nights, and then go early in the morning before sunrise to set up the decoys for the geese. “I began to enjoy hunting very much, but it started by shooting geese and ducks along the Red Deer River,” added Docherty. Looking back on how he transitioned from hunting to trap shooting, Docherty remembers a group of trap shooters form Red Deer visited Alix, and showed off their skills. “They were very good shooters, and every time they shot a perfect, they won a turkey, it was called the ‘turkey shoot’ in those days because the prize was a turkey,” said Docherty. “That got me deeply interested into taking up trap shooting, and once I had made up my mind there was no looking back.” Docherty started practicing diligently till he got to a level, which he was proud
of and joined the Edmonton gun club, and started participating in competitions. “It was quite a sport in those days, and I enjoyed the competitions hugely,” said Docherty. “And soon I was moving up in the class, which depends upon the shooter’s average, so for the 16-yard classification, which is the singles, 97 per cent and over is AA, 94 per cent and under 97 is A, 91 per cent and under 94 is B, 88 per cent and under 91 is C and under 88 per cent is D.” Trap shooting can be done in three categories, the singles, which is the 16-yard range, where the shooter hits one target, the doubles, which is the same distance, but in this case the shooter is aiming at two targets and the averages are lower compared to singles to be in a particular class, and finally the handicap, which has three shooting ranges 1821.5 yards, 22-24.5 yards and 25-27 yards. In 1972 Docherty won the city championships in Edmonton. At that time he was in B class. “The win did a lot to boost my morale, and I suddenly started shooting more and practiced longer hours because I wanted to move up in my class,” said Docherty. “And soon all the hard work paid off and I was in the top class, AA and competed in that class in the Alberta provincial singles.” Docherty has won the Alberta provincial singles three times so far, with a perfect 200/200 twice and 195/200 the third time. “It would have been great to score a perfect the third
Moush Sara John/Weekender reporter
Robert Docherty, one of the longest-serving members of the Stettler Trap Club poses with his trap-shooting gun, while his trophies and medallions decorate the wall behind him. time around too, but I remember how windy that day was and it was no good,” recalled Docherty. Discussing the state of trap shooting in Stettler, Docherty feels trap shooting being an expensive sport weans away youth and young adults to more mainstream categories, with more visibility. “It is not easy to keep up with the sport, which you might say is true for any sport, because you have to invest time and resources,” said Docherty. “But with trap shooting, the ammunition can be very expensive, and one can’t deny it is an expensive hobby.” Docherty is a skilled trap
shooter, reflected in his many 100 straight pins. “Each event has 100 targets, and I try to shoot them straight, get them all in, and so far I have done a good job, I think,” said Docherty, laughing. Reflecting on one of his favourite events, Docherty reminisces about the time he went to Vandalia, Ohio at the 100th anniversary of the grand American. “There were 5,000 shooters and the shoot went on for two weeks,” said Docherty. “It was great fun because there were 150 traps, and that is colossal!” Docherty feels however, the sport has evolved and come a long way from the
Moush Sara John/Weekender reporter
Robert Docherty won the annual Cliff Kane memorial trap-shooting event at Vernon, British Columbia in 2010, after being tied at 96/100 with five guys. At the shoot-off Docherty scored a perfect. days when there would be kids referred to as ‘pullers’ engaged in manually pulling the targets, to the now stateof-the art voice-activated automated machines that can load up to 400 targets at a time. “It’s incredible how technology has changed the way targets are pulled,” said Docherty. “Now there are automated machines, which you
speak to and the sensor will activate the target, which is usually made of clay and are about four inches in diameter and about three-quarters thick.” Docherty wishes to continue trap shooting as long as he can. “I love the sport, so I think I will continue trap shooting and going out every week to practise.”