Clay shooting: College team shoot to glory
Clay shooting continues to grow in popularity at secondary school level and Tauranga Boys College is at the forefront of the sport's development in the Western Bay.
This year the school's team won the prestigious Super Eight competition for a record sixth consecutive time against the highly rated Gisborne, Hamilton, Hastings, Napier, New Plymouth, Palmerston North and Rotorua boys' schools.
Coach Ben Tuck says it is a record to be extremely proud of.
"No other school has come close in shooting results, with the next best winning three titles.
"That is now three under the previous coach, Grant Castles, and three under me," Tuck said.
"It is probably down to a bit of a sporting culture that the whole school has got, not only in shooting. I am also there for the boys and I have seen the development in them through sport. I am getting the results through being a coach and a caregiver to them."
The Tauranga Boys six-man team also had their best-ever performance at the recent national secondary schools clay target competitions, held in blustery, difficult conditions in Christchurch.
The team finished third in the points score section and second in the team postal shoot but the undoubted individual star of the team and the nationals was Brody Clark.
The 17-year-old finished the tournament with a perfect score of 90/90 to become the high gun New Zealand secondary schools champion. He won one other national high gun title plus swept the South Island Championships, picking up two prestigious high overall titles.
Tuck says Clark has a big future if he sticks at the sport and may well be shooting for medals at the Olympics in four years.
"Brodie has been shooting in the senior team now for four years and he is just a natural. He has a keen eye and just loves the sport and that matters.
"But we had to get through to him in the end that natural ability does not make you a winner so we have worked hard with him about his approach to the target and being professional in everything you do. He came through as team captain this year and lifted the whole team. He has a big future and I know that one of our New Zealand coaches has his eye on him for some Olympic-style training if Brodie has the time.
"He could easily be an Olympian if he puts his heart and soul into it."
Another to achieve personal milestones in Christchurch was Thomas Darling from Katikati College, who won the South Island championships high gun with a score of 88/90.
This was his first full year of clay target competition and his performance was even more impressive in the trying, windy conditions he battled.
Team Results
Brody Clark, Scott Wagstaff, Nikolai Smith, Tom Martin and Glen Lynn - third, New Zealand secondary school points score team match
Brody Clark, Scott Wagstaff, Tom Martin and Glen Lynn - second, New Zealand secondary school team postal shoot
Individual result - Brody Clark
Third, eastern regional teams match
Second, New Zealand secondary school team postal shoot
Champion, North v South open teams match
High over all South Island secondary school single barrel champion
High over all secondary school points score champion
High gun secondary school champion over all NZ DTL events
High gun secondary school champion over all NZ events, including skeet
