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Friday 25th March 2022
DAYLIGHT SAVING ENDS Don’t forget to put clocks back 1 hour, on Sunday 3rd April! (3am will become 2am)
Phone: 03 318 8186 / 021 0818 3828 Email: admin@darfieldcollision.co.nz 1 Cardale Street, Darfield
• Specialising in farm & trail bikes • Service & repairs on road bikes &
small engines • Supply parts for most makes & models
6 South Terrace, Darfield (Next to Bridgestone Tyres) Ph 03 317 9521 Mob 027 373 9215 challismotorcycles@gmail.com
Open: Tues - Fri 8am - 5:30pm Sat: 9am - 3:30pm
HOPING TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS Local shooting enthusiast, Heath Smith, Smith has a real passion for Clay Target Shooting. His interest in the sport started when he helped out in the trap house, when he was about 13 years old in Kaikoura, allowing him to have a few goes at the end of the day's shoot. Fast forward some years to 2011, he won the Ross Shield at Darfield Gun Club, shooting a possible score of 50/50, and he has had the bug ever since. He now shoots at the highest level in both Provincial and National competitions. In 2018, Heath made the New Zealand Open Team, shooting 100/100 towards the team score. He then took a break for a year as life was a bit busy with work commitments (hunting tour guide), etc. 2020, saw the arrival of the Covid pandemic, meaning the borders closed, allowing him more time to focus on Clay Target Shooting again. Recently, Heath won three North Island titles in the Skeet, Ball Trap and Triples events. His passion for the sport doesn't finish with competing. Heath’s son, Josh (12), attended his first competition last Sunday, “He really enjoyed it and shot well, I really like sharing this sport with my son and found it was a great father, son activity,” Heath commented proudly. Clay Target Shooting is a great sport for the whole family (10-12 years old is a great time to start) whether you are wanting to compete or just enjoy the sport.
People wanting to try Clay Target Shooting can attend ‘have -a-go’ days or touch base with a local club. Under the guidance of a licensed Gun Club member you will be supplied equipment to start with (just wear smart, casual clothing and closed in footwear). Gun safety is paramount! A full safety briefing will always be given to any new individuals before any shooting is undertaken. There is a grade for everyone, AA, A, B, C, including Juniors, Veterans and Ladies. “The Ladies' division was created to encourage women’s participation in the sport, and it would be nice to see more ladies giving it a go,” Heath added. This sport creates a great father-son or mother-daughter opportunity. Some of the disciplines available are: • Skeet: a shooting sport in which a clay target is thrown from a trap to simulate the flight of a bird. With Skeet, the shooter is presented with targets from both a high and low trap house. • Down-the-line (DTL) or Trap Shooting: is derived from the shooting of live birds originally hand thrown. In the most simple of the modern event, targets are thrown 48 metres across varying angles from a single trap above ground level 15 metres forward from the shooter. The targets are normally shot between 30 and 40 metres from the gun.
Ball Trap: uses a single oscillating trap in a trap house, which is below ground level that throws a target approximately 75 metres with a varying elevation of 1 to 4 metres above ground level. • Sporting: traps are set out in various positions and simulate game bird shooting as if live in the field, these are set targets that come towards you, along the ground and cross over pairs. Junior Shooting and School Team Shooting is also very popular throughout New Zealand. There can be anywhere between 300400 competitors at the School Trap Nationals every year, and competitors compete as individuals and for their School Teams. Local Farmer Warren Wright, Wright Chairman of the School Shooting Association, has been involved in and coached in the Junior Shooting Programme for many years and would be a great person to talk to if you would like any further information regarding this: 021 343 700. Heath is keen to give back to the sport and help promote it. He is happy to talk to anyone keen to have a go, or you can contact one of the below clubs to arrange to head along and try Clay Target Shooting. •
Johnny Sharp (President of the local Darfield Gun Club), all contact numbers, shoot dates and results can be found on the club’s Facebook page: Darfield Gun Club. Heath Smith (Canterbury Clay Target Club) 027 288 9259, or contact details can be found on the website: www.cctc.co.nz, or on their Facebook page: Canterbury Clay Target Club.
Big brand Stocktake Sale on now! Buy 1 get 1 half price on selected Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus car tyres. Buy 3 get one FREE on selected Bridgestone 4x4 and van tyres, and selected Firestone car and 4x4 tyres. Valid until 5pm, 31 March 2022, T&Cs apply.
6 South Terrace, Darfield
P: 03 318 8201 M: 027 434 0060
Father and Son duo, Heath and Josh smith.
Heath Smith with a cup he won recently for Clay Target Shooting.
