Mid Canterbury junior target shooters have their sights on national titles this weekend at the Target Shooting New Zealand Indoor Island Nationals in Whanganui.
Teenagers Madi Tourle, Phoebe McKenzie, Eliza McKenzie, Katelyn Wilson and Nate Woods will represent the South Island competing in junior events.
Success could see them also represent New Zealand later in the year.
Junior coach Bryan Hunter said he had high hopes for the juniors, who are all students at Ashburton College, and believed they had what it took to make the New Zealand team.
‘‘They’re the greatest bunch of kids. They all stand out,’’ Hunter said.
It would the first time at the event for Eliza McKenzie, Woods and Wilson.
Club nights during the week had been used as training sessions as shooters finetuned their skills.
‘‘I am expecting at least five of them will make the New Zealand team, but will allow for the North Islanders, (they) might sneak a couple in.
‘‘They really are a superb group of kids. I have high hopes and I don’t think I’m wrong.’’ In total, 11 shooters from Mid Canterbury are heading to the nationals, competing as part of a 55-strong South Island team against their North Island counterparts.
They all have the chance to be selected for New Zealand.
Target Shooting Mid Canterbury president Nina McKenzie, who is also in the South Island team, said the association had a record number of 11 members competing, and 19 team positions.
‘‘We also have the captain of the veterans team, Gordon Wright, and (our numbers make up) over a third of the women’s team.’’
As part of the South Island team, McKenzie will compete alongside daughters, Phoebe and Eliza, who are competing in junior and women’s events, and McKenzie’s eldest daughter, Charlotte (also competing as a junior).
Charlotte is an Ashburton College alumni. She is in her first year studying in Otago, and now shoots with the East Otago Association.
‘‘Target Shooting Mid Canterbury and Ashburton College can lay claim to half the South Island under 21 (junior) team, which is an enormous effort,’’ Nina said.
‘‘This, I believe, is a record for a school, and definitely a record for our association and possibly many others,’’ she said.
‘‘It can’t be understated how exceptional this is for one association, let alone one school – and is testament to the athletes’ excellence and talent, as well as the coaching teams at the Coronation and Phoenix clubs.’’
Nina said the nationals involved each island’s team, made up of shooters competing in under 21 (junior), women’s; men’s; open and veterans (60+) categories, shoot targets at 25 yards with .22 calibre (smallbore) rifles.
The competition was the pinnacle event of the year for indoor members and it was an honour for shooters to be selected, she said.
‘‘To attend this event you must be selected to an island team (North Island or South Island),’’ she said, which was via a national ranking list collated from four best scores at open championships.’’
- Target Shooting Mid Canterbury South Island team members are: Gordon Wright (veteran captain, men’s and open); Colin Taylor (veteran); Steve McArthur (men’s and open); Sandy Bennett (women’s, veteran and open); Nina McKenzie (women’s); Sarah Clifford (women’s); year 13 student Madi Tourle (junior and women’s); year 12 student Phoebe McKenzie (junior and women’s); year 12 student Katelyn Wilson (junior); year 11 student Nate Woods (junior); and year 10 student Eliza McKenzie (junior and women’s).
