Among those taking aim at the Phoenix Target Shooting Club’s schools’ and junior championships on Sunday were Jack McIntosh and Shania Harrison-Lee. Photo Robyn HoodThere seems to be no stopping Shania Harrison-Lee on the range at the moment.

The top young Ashburton shooter added yet another title to her growing collection at the weekend, taking out the Phoenix Target Shooting Club’s Junior and Schools Championship, held at the West Street range they share with the Coronation Target Shooting Club on Sunday.

Phoenix Target Shooting Club club captain Andrew McKenzie said the event was effectively organised as a practise event for three of Ashburton’s top young shooters, who are preparing to head to Wellington at the end of this month for the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ shoulder-to-shoulder match.

And they couldn’t have asked for a better showing, with the three who are off to the national event finishing in the top three individual spots, and taking out the team trophy.

Harrison-Lee, Emma Smith and Charlotte McKenzie formed the Ashburton College Angry Birds team and they topped the team standings at the end of the day with a total of 875.41.

In second spot was the Team JJAM (under the umbrella of Target Shooting Mid Canterbury), on 829.19.

That team was made up of Jack Jones and Jack McIntosh from Ashburton College, Amelia Swan from Mount Hutt College, and Madison Tourle from Ashburton Intermediate.

Third spot went to the St Jo’s Pros, with three St Josephs School youngsters – Kate McIntosh, Phoebe McKenzie and Eliza McKenzie – combining for a team score of 730.05.

When it came to the individual standings, Harrison-Lee finished on top of 297.18, with Smith second on 294.18, and Charlotte McKenzie third on 284.05.

Club captain Andrew McKenzie said as well as giving the Ashburton College trio competition heading into the national event, the championships were also a good chance for juniors to experience shooting in team matches.

By Erin Tasker © The Ashburton Guardian - 18 September 2019