11th Trans Tasman Duel Down Under
18-21 February 2010

The 11th Trans Tasman Duel Down Under, hosted by The Trail Blazers Gun Club, was hosted at Cowboy Paradise in Hokitika, New Zealand, from February 18 to 21 this year.

A group of six Australian Single Action shooters met up at the Customs office at Sydney International Airport at 6.30am for the usual firearms check and then it was on to the booking line. Landing at Christchurch Airport, all firearms had already been picked up by the Airport Police and after they were inspected, we were out of there, into the hire car for the trip over Arthur’s Pass into Hokitika and then on to Lake Kaniere where we had a house to stay in during the shoot.

On Wednesday, we all headed back into Hokitika for supplies and to look around before we headed out to the range for a welcoming barbecue and catch up with rest of the Australian shooters and the Kiwis who we were going to do battle with over the next few days.

Thursday started off wet, but we shot a three-stage warm-up match, Blazing Irons and Speed events. Thank goodness we had packed our Drizabone coats! On Friday, the sun came out and we shot six really good stages. We had another six more stages on Saturday and then finished up the night with a dress-up in going-to-town clothes and a shindig meal.

On Sunday, an ‘all-in’ shootout was held. Most of the shooters I was with had not seen, let alone competed, in one of these shoots before. The Overall Cowboy Winner was Exford Kid from Victoria and he also took out the shootout. The Overall Cowgirl Winner was New Zealand shooter Sapphire.

Unfortunately, in the end, we lost. Australia ranked 335 points, while New Zealand ranked 329 points, which was close, but not good enough.

by SSAA NSW Single Action Discipline Chairman Dennis Jackson