Shooting
THE Northam and Districts Gun Club held its 50th Avon Valley Trap Carnival over the weekend of July 25-27.
Friday's 60 Target Medley event kicked off the carnival in fine sunny weather.
With a very respectable score of 99/100, Allan Hocking took out the event's major prize sponsored by Betta Home Living Northam.
Saturday saw the start of the high gun program and with rain forecast for the day; everyone was keen to get started while the weather was fine.
The program began with a 30 Target Medley won by Bruce Hooper with 75/75.
This event was proudly sponsored by Fenwick Farm Suffolk and White Suffolk Stud with trophies from Mitre 10 Northam.
The Roy Holtfreter Memorial Trophy is a 50T Double Barrel event which demonstrates some excellent shooting every year.
This year was no exception with Western Australian Gun Club member Jason Oliveri and Duncan Burnett participating in a great shoot-off with Oliveri winning the inaugrual trophy generously sponsored by Better Wear Welding.
Northam members finished strongly with Jamie Dadd taking first in the B Grade and local junior Tom Richards winning C Grade.
Brief periods of rain challenged shooters in the last event for the day, a 25T Continental Single Barrel event.
Although the major prize eluded the locals, they were well represented in the graded prizes with Brian Warrener placing second in A Grade, Jamie Dadd placing another first in B Grade and Ashley Guthridge picking up a first in C Grade.
The event winner was Anthony Burnard from Peel and Districts Gun Club.
Presentations and an evening meal saw members, visitors and past club members join together to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the carnival and celebrate the efforts of the past members and committees that made the club what it is today.
The final day of competition contained three events, beginning with a 25T Continental Double Barrel, a graded cash divide event which saw 18 shooters sharing the cash prize pool.
The highlight event was the 50T Continental Point Score State Title sponsored by the Shire of Northam.
The weather was cloudy with occasional sunny periods and the odd shower which made for challenging shooting conditions.
Local, Jamie Dadd who has excelled considerably in the past few months, stunned everyone with a tidy score of 148/150 to secure his first open state title.
Sandra Moffatt from Wagin took home the women's state title trophy, Tim Catling won veterans state title and Declan Foley won the juniors state title.
The carnival concluded with a demanding 25 Pair Double Rise in which Oliveri blitzed the competition with a well shot 49/50.
Avon Valley Trap Carnival overall High Gun Trophy, donated by Minprovise, was won by standout shooter Oliveri who narrowly missed out on the 2013 High Gun.
Boyup Brook member Amanda Finn shot consistently throughout the carnival and received the Ladies High Gun.
The Veterans High Gun was decided after a competitive shoot off. Robin Bailey shot well and took the title and trophy, donated by Bushy Tanks, from Northam's Arthur Ward and Katanning's Tim Catling.
The 2014 event proved a very successful carnival with 80 shooters competing over the weekend.
The Northam and Districts Gun Club thanked all the sponsors for supporting this local sporting event.
