Sharpshooters and gun hawks braved heavy rain and cold temperatures on the weekend as they took to the shooting range to compete at the Golden Clay Target Shoot competition.
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Now in its fifth year, the Golden Clay competition pitted some of the best sharpshooters from Queensland and New South Wales against each other at the Moree Clay Target Shooting range.
Around 70 shooters turned up to the two-day shoot, a short dip from the projected 120.
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“Numbers were down, and I think that reflects what’s happening around the area with the drought. And the rainy weather on the weekend also would’ve kept a few travellers and campers away,” sharpshooter Dimity Boydell said.
Though, the predicted downpour of rain managed to hold off last Saturday for the first round of the competitive shoot.
Henshall claimed the Namoi Trophy after shooting all 149 targets and Mitchell claimed the 50 Target Single Barrel Trophy after shooting 52/53 targets.
Brad Henshall took out the Golden Clay after he claimed the SB Western Zone Night Championship and shot 28/29 targets. It is the fourth time Mr Henshall has claimed the coveted prize.
“Mr Henshall won the golden clay three times in a row, before somebody else won the golden clay last year,” Boydell said.
Though, the calm weather and warm temperature didn’t last long and gave way to heavy rainfall during the second round of the shoot on Sunday.
“It was pretty horrible and miserable. The rain affected the performance of every shooter,” Boydell said.
Despite the less-than-ideal conditions, Moree’s shooters kept to good form.
Richard Shelton scored the silver clay target for A division in the High Guns with 305/325 targets shot. Theresa Montgomery scored second place in the A division for the Tom Boydell Trophy after she shot 144/150 targets. Boydell claimed fourth place in the Frank O’Neill Trophy with 47/51 targets shot.