A very Successful 2011 Victorian Trap Carnival at Echuca

With severe storms, gale force wind, and heavy downpours through the earlier days of the week, the weather gods must have decided to relent for the Victorian State Trap Carnival held at the Echuca Clay Target Club on the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 11th, 12th, & 13th of November 2011. The shooters were blessed with a perfect days for clay target shooting on Friday and Saturday, and although light cloud and a mild gusty wind on Sunday was a little annoying, the incoming rain fortunately held off until presentation time.

Over 320 competitors, most with family members accompanying them, made for a very large crowd of onlookers, especially at shoot off times, which really added to the carnival theme, especially with many sponsors and retail tents erected along the shooting complex. The Echuca ladies committee were kept very busy, feeding and watering so many people, and everyone was extremely grateful for the magnificent job they done.

Included in the opening ceremony was an induction for Echuca Clay Target Club member, Jon Whittakers into the VCTA Hall of Fame, and also Jack “Calrossie” Sutherland, posthumously, into the VCTA Hall of Fame, grandson, Mr Gary Sutherland received Jacks certificate and spoke on his behalf. Also a Special Award to Echuca’s, Steve Haberman, for shooting a 50 pair straight in the Olympic Double Trap in the Singapore Open in 2011. And Euroa member John King was presented with a Life Membership to the VCTA North East Zone.

Beaufort member, Jack Mathey, was presented with a Life Membership in the Victorian Clay Target Association, and, Jim Shepherd, was also presented with an induction into the VCTA Hall of Fame, for his tireless administration into the sport, Jim is a Maryborough member.

Event One, was a Victorian State 25 pair Double Rise Championship, and Little River Gun Club member, Marc Crimmins, allowed only one of the fifty targets to escape, and with no one able to match that effort he became the Overall Winner due to his magnificent 49/50 score. Local member, Steve Atkins, who usually shines in this difficult discipline had to settle for 2nd in AA grade, shooting a 57/60 score. Bill Iles a Hay NSW member shot a 47/50 to win the Veterans medal , Echuca’s, Emma Cox, shot a 46/50 and that earned her the Ladies medal, and Melbourne Gun Club member Jack Wallace won the Juniors medal by shooting a 55/60 score.

Event Two, a 50 target Victorian State Handicap, and after a shoot off lasting just 22 targets Mornington Clay Target Club member Daniel Cleary, hit one more target than Phillip McGrath, a Spring Bay club member who dropped his 72nd target to collect the 2nd place cash which was a very healthy $1000, 00. Daniel Cleary having shot his 72nd target proudly put his hand out for the First Place Sash and cash which was a magnificent $1500.00 dollars. James Hayden a Noorat Gun Club member shot a 64/65 score to claim 3rd place, Mildura member Frank Dimasi shot a 55/56 to pick up 4th place cash, and Hobart Gun Club member Christopher Jenkins shot a 54/55 to claim the 5th place prize. Ian Holt from the Colac Gun Club shot a 55/56 to claim the Veterans medal, Werribee’s Tracey Barton won the Ladies medal with a 51/52 result, and James Hayden also won the junior’s medal with his well shot 64/65.

Event Three, a 50 target Victorian State Single Barrel Championship, and on this day Werribee members were unbeatable taking out this and the next event. Mathew Cocks survived the Shoot off to score an excellent 82/82 and that earned him the Overall Winners Sash and trophy, John Duryea a Hay NSW member dropped his 82nd to become the 1st in AA grade winner on a score of 81/82. Ian Dickins from Colac shot an 48/50 score and that gave him the Veterans medal, Sandra Ellis a Spring Bay member picked up the Ladies medal by shooting a 53/54, and John Duryea easily took out the Junior’s medal when he had shot a 50/50 score.

Event Four, was a 50 target Victorian State Double Barrel Championship, and although the shoot off lasted long enough to have to be finalised on the Sunday morning, it again was a Werribee member, Nathan McDonnell, who survived all others to win the Overall Winners Sash and trophy having shot a very healthy 389/389 final score. NSW Gun Club member Arty Del-Ben dropped his 389th target and that gave him 1st place in AA grade with his score of 388/389. Morwell GC member Andrew Brady dropped his 354th target earning him 2nd in AA, and Echuca member Steve Haberman let his 351st target go to claim 3rd in AA grade with a 350/351 result. Bill Iles again claimed a Veterans medal with a 119/119 result, and the Ladies medal went to Morwell GC member Meagan Boast with a 70/70 score. Juniors medal was claimed by Ethan Brindley with a 108/108 result.

Finally Event Five, a 50 target Victorian State Points Score Championship, and this day was different from Friday and Saturday, having plenty of cloud patches, and varying gusty wind, it was to be expected that the scores were not going to be as impressive as in the previous events. 165 points was all that Werribee member Chris Brown had to shoot to beat off the last contender, Cosgrove shooter, Russell Felmingham, who dropped his last target entirely, giving Chris the Overall Winners Sash and trophy with a 165/165 result. Russell Felmingham had to settle for 1st place in AA Grade, with his score of 162/165. Again, Bill Iles, collected the Veterans medal with a 161/162 score. Helen Overton from the Brewarrina Clay Target Club shot a 186/189 to secure the Ladies medal, and John Duryea picked up the Juniors medal with a 148/150 score.

Overall Results. Totalling the actual events, targets and points, gave Little River GC member, Marc Crimmins, the honour of being the Overall High Gun Winner with a score of 341/350, congratulations and well shot Marc! Marc received his red, OA HG Sash, and gold Badge, Also he was presented with an OU shotgun by Nathan McDonnell, representing the Sponsors, Spartan Global, and his name will be recorded on the perpetual, John Bryant Cup, with a smaller keepsake to take home.

John Duryea shooting for the Hay NSW GC totalled 340/350 and that earned him the AA Grade Overall High Gun Sash. The A Grade Overall High Gun Sash was won by Colac member Sarah Holt, Sarah totalled a 368/390 score after an interesting shoot off. Bailey Vogelzang a Mansfield member claimed the B Grade Overall High Gun Sash with his 319/350 total, the C Grade Overall High Gun Sash was taken by Michael Hopkins a Wonthaggi member with a score of 305/350. Bill Iles put his name on the Veterans Overall High Gun Sash with a score of 337/350, the Ladies Overall High Gun Sash was captured by Sarah Holt who shot extremely well for the entire carnival, Sarah’s score was 333/350, the Junior Overall High Gun Sash was claimed by John Duryea another shooter performing so well this year, shooting a 340/350 score.

Teams were decided throughout the carnival with some shoot off’s required and the following is how they ended up, starting with the Postal Teams.

Victorian State Postal Teams are:
Open Team. David Nielsen, Craig Fitzgerald, Andrew Brady, Geoff Aston, Chris Brown, Sox Pilipasidis, Nathan McDonnell, David Fenn, Geoff McLean, Stephen Atkins, William Woodward, Robert Collicoat, Steve Haberman, and finally, last but certainly not least, because he also claimed the Team High Gun Sash, Russell Felmingham.

Ladies Team. Lauren Duthie, Penny Smith, Brittany Sinclair, Vilya Vogelzang, Sarah Holt and Emma Cox, who also put her name on the Team High Gun Sash.

Junior Team. Jack Wallace, Penny Smith, Thomas Allen, Matthew Downes, Rhys Eeles, and finally Team High Gun winner, David Fenn.

Veterans Team. Team High Gun Sash, winner, Chris Carrol, Jon Whittakers, Ron Hounsel, Ron Garth, John King, and Ian Holt.

Victorian State Shoulder to Shoulder Teams. To represent Victoria at the 2012 Trap Nationals are as follows,
Open Team. Russell Felmingham, Dave Nielsen, Robert Collicoat, Sox Pilipasidis, Steve Haberman.
Ladies Team. Sarah Holt, Brittany Sinclair, Emma Cox.
Junior Team. David Fenn, Jack Wallace, Penny Smith.
Veterans Team. Chris Carrol, Jon Whittakers, Ron Hounsell.

An extremely successful Trap Carnival with high nomination numbers, good shooting and good reports of satisfaction on the way the program was run. The Grounds were a picture, and a big testament to how much work the Echuca Clay Target Club members have put in, during the previous weeks to get them to that standard. With all events except the Double Barrel finalising on the day, it was very easy to see the advantage of being able to run a full ten traps for the Carnival.

A big thank you must go to the State Committee for their effort in organising and running the program, and also to Frank Auditore for his management of the computer system. Someone that must be thanked must surely be the shooters themselves, who enable Trap Carnivals like this to actually function, by entering nominations, and travelling to the location.

A very big thanks, and good shooting, for the rest of this year and into 2012.