The PWA’s Trap Shooting committee had a very busy year in 2015 – here is a quick summary of the highlights

• “Learn to Shoot” nights, under the lights, began in February and attracted a crowd – many who had not handled a firearm previously.  Tuesday night became a social affair – even the ladies got involved!  The recently acquired generator at the range has allowed the use of the lights – and extended the season dramatically.
• Road repairs to deal with the annual mud hole adjacent to the trap range were urgently required again in the spring.  Gord Menzel, Doug LeBlanc and co. dealt with that over a weekend – problem solved!
• Another spring upgrade to the trap range’s “red shack” turned it into an elegant little building with a wraparound porch and provided room for a concession stand in conjunction with the administration office.  It is truly amazing to watch Dennis Collins and the other tradesmen in our club take on a project – presto it is done!
• The big  “Two Day” shoot in April attracted guests from around the province and some stiff competition for the local shooters.  Rumour has it some of our committee members did not leave the range for the entire weekend – such dedication is rare in this day and age!
• The “competitive” shoots ran through May and June – with Gord Menzel eventually crowned the “A” division champion – with an average score of 23.2 out of 25.  Kota Fukuda won the Junior division with a fine score of 19.8.
• Dennis Pekrul carried on with Tuesday night shoots through the summer when the loggers and farmers were busy with their work.  Attendance was good and those who took advantage of these sessions sharpened their skills – practice makes perfect in this sport too.
• Dennis Collins and his trusty old pump shotgun won both the Wayne Shier and the Ed Bishop Memorial  “championship” shoots in the fall.  These shoots are very challenging, requiring participants to shoot from several unusual/awkward positions – simulating a true hunting experience. Competitors fire a total of 50 rounds and it was no surprise to see Dennis come out on top as he is an accomplished shooter and previous champion.
• The Annual Boxing Day shoot has become a Pemberton tradition and attracts a big crowd every year.  This shoot is described as a “fun” shoot and usually involves the “Annie” rules whereby everyone stands in a line – if you miss the target, the shooter next to you gets a chance to knock you out-last man/woman standing wins the prize.  Heckling is apparently allowed – and everyone has a good laugh.  With a wood stove and a concession stand to sustain the participants the shoot goes late into the day.
• In recent weeks local shooters have ventured south to take part in events at clubs in the Fraser Valley.  One of the highlights has been the participation of the Junior members. Most of these youngsters have come through the PWA “Sharpshooters” program and are a tribute to that effort as well as their parents.  Here are some of the reports we have received and a couple of photos (attached above) of the youngsters in action.  Great to see Doug Gilmore out there with his grandson Sam…

Chad Gilmore, Gord and Justis Menzel, Bryce Ronayne and his nephew Ernie, Stephen Black, Dennis Collins, Lorne Bergen and myself attended the Pitt Meadows Gun Club’s annual New Year’s Day meat shoot. We did quite well as a group bringing home approximately 30 meat prizes valued at $20 each. Our junior shooters impressed the attendees from the lower mainland clubs by shooting in the “A” class all day. They handled themselves exceptionally well, not only with their shooting skills but with their maturity to stand in line with the hotshots and hold their own. They both contributed to the coolers of meat we brought home. All in all a great time was had by all and we expect to bring even more junior shooters with us to next year’s event.   Sandy.

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We went to the Christmas shoot in Langley on December 20th with nearly identical results. The PWA was represented that day by Doug, Chad and Sam Gilmore, Gord and Justis Menzel, Dennis Collins and Lorne Bergen. Again our junior shooters Justis and Sam, shot in A-class and did very well with both boys winning prizes and getting a lot of pats on the back from their much older much more experienced competitors. I did actually take a couple of photos that day and I’ve attached them for you.   Pemberton has the most junior-aged shooters we have seen for a long time and other clubs are pretty impressed with them. Trapshooting is definitely a sport on the downswing (although maybe not in Pemberton) with very few young shooters and the lower mainland clubs love that we have as many as we do and that they come down and shoot so well.   Chad

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Nine PWA members attended a meat shoot in Squamish today and won 21 of 38 shoots. Pictured here are Ben Cumin and Ernie Ronayne with Diamond Head Mountain in the background.   Sandy.