Trans Tasman New Zealand 5-Stand Championships
3-5 September 2010
Waikato Gun Club, Hamilton, New Zealand

Members of the SSAA Graded Team after winning
the SSAA Trans Tasman Graded Team Shield,
including Gary Turley, left, Michael McDonald,
Amy Buys, Doug Brenton and David Douglas.


Michael McDonald in action with his Beretta
self-loading shotgun - a common sight at New
Zealand shoots, where they are used by at least a
third of all competitors.


Open Team member Grant Powell swings onto
a diving battue target. The SSAA’s two Shotgun Teams competed successfully at the New Zealand National 5-Stand Championships with the Australian Graded Team winning back the SSAA 5-Stand Shield and the Open Team narrowly missing out on the McGowan Trophy.

The three-day shoot was held at and capably run by the Waikato Gun Club, near Hamilton in New Zealand, where eight different 5-Stand layouts had been prepared. New Zealand has recently adopted the FITASC version of 5-Stand known as COMPAK. While most of the rules are the same, COMPAK is shot with squads of six shooters and all targets are set to pass through a 25x40m area directly in front of the five shooting stands. The Aussie visitors quickly adjusted their shooting styles and equipment for these types of targets, most of which were in close and fast. The host club did an excellent job of setting the targets on the eight layouts, with all targets being different and many, quite difficult, even though they had to pass through the defined area in front of the shooters.

The Championships were attended by 120 competitors that included the 10 members of the two SSAA Shotgun Teams and four individual SSAA members. The weather conditions were variable, with competitors often experiencing ‘four seasons in one hour’, as can be expected at that time of the year in New Zealand. The Championships comprised the North Island and New Zealand COMPAK Championships, with 300 targets over three days.

The overall winner of the North Island and New Zealand Championships was Mark Vassey with scores of 93/100 and 188/200 respectively. Mark is one of the world's best Sporting Clays shooters and has recently emigrated from the United Kingdom to New Zealand.

In the NI Championships, SSAA Veteran member Doug Brenton's excellent preparation paid off, with a superb score of 90, just three targets from the winner Mark Vassey. Doug easily won the Veterans and B Grade trophies.

Other SSAA members on the winners’ podium included David Douglas (C Grade), Amy Buys (Ladies) and Jacob Mackenzie (A Grade).

The New Zealand Championships saw Jacob Mackenzie become the top SSAA competitor, with an excellent score of 170/200. He was followed closely by Grant Powell (168), Kevin Raymond (166), Reno Morganti (163) and David Douglas (162). Overall, Jacob came second in A Grade and the Juniors, while Kevin placed fifth in A Grade and David first in C Grade.

At the conclusion of the Championships, the New Zealand and Australian Teams shot-off for the Trans Tasman Trophies. The Open Team comprised Grant Powell, Kevin Raymond, Jacob Mackenzie, Reno Morgantiand Michael Ling. After a full round of 5-Stand for each team, the New Zealand Team narrowly won the McGowan Trophy, 108 points to Australia’s 96 points.

The SSAA Shotgun discipline supports a Graded Team of up and coming competitors to compete at these Championships. This year's team comprised Michael McDonald (A Grade), Gary Turley (B Grade), David Douglas (C Grade), Amy Buys (Ladies) and Doug Brenton (Veteran). After a full round of 5-Stand, the Aussie Team emerged victorious, winning 93 points to New Zealand’s 86 to win the SSAA 5-Stand Graded Team Shield.

All SSAA competitors enjoyed and benefited from the experience of international competition, while many developed and renewed friendships with many of the other Sporting Clays shooters present.

by SSAA Shotgun National Discipline Chairman Warren Brown