Issue link: http://ssaansw.uberflip.com/i/597702
Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (NSW) Inc. 8 SSAA National Sporting Clays Championships NSW shooter beats the odds to take gold More than 60 of the best sporting clays shooters in the country took part in the 2016 SSAA National Sporting Clays Championships. The Championships were hosted by SSAA NSW Griffith Branch and took place at their Dave Wallace Range on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October with competitors from Sydney, Young, Canberra, Temora, Bermagui, Cobram, Narrandera, Melbourne, Hay and around the Griffith area. The competition consisted of 200 clay targets set up on two unique and challenging sporting clay courses by the local members. The resulting course had an excellent variety of different targets, truly worthy of a National Championship. The Griffith range is quite unique in that the clay targets are thrown down, up and along the cliff faces as well as having competitors shoot from towers. In the end it was a local shooter from Griffith, Shaun Krzus who emerged as the SSAA National Sporting Clays Champion. Shaun was involved in a motorbike accident which resulted in a broken elbow, this setback restricted his time at the range and enjoyment of the sport of shotgun. However his guts and determination, combined with his local knowledge saw him shoot a score of 155/200 targets to claim the gold. Close behind in second place and just three targets off was another Griffith shooter Frank Tagliapietra on 152. Greg Allen rounded off the top three with a score of 148. In the Ladies event, it was a one-two by Hay shooters with Jan Jacka, 97 targets, just beating Mikayla Macartney on 96. Brandon Gugliemino from Griffith was the most impressive junior with a great score of 141 targets. The Championships would not have been possible without the generous sponsorship from Casella Wines and Liftek as well as Spartan Global, a major importer of clay targets and ammunition. Yoogali Primary School P&C Association provided some delicious catering, thanks to them and all other volunteers. AA Grade: Shaun Krzus (Griffith) 155, Frank Tagliapietra (Griffith) 152, Greg Allen (Griffith), 148 A Grade: Angelo Salamon (Griffith) 141, Peter Jacka (Hay) 137, Alf Gugliemino (Griffith) 135 B Grade: Grant McMillan (Griffith) 135, Peter Rea (Temora) 131, Reno Morganti (Sydney) 129 C Grade: David William (Young) 110, Rafe Toscan (Griffith) 106, Wally Pilosio (Griffith) 93 Ladies: Jan Jacka (Hay) 97, Mikayla Macartney (Hay) 96, Michelle Craig (Bermagui) 82 Veterans: Milton Cartwright (Temora) 144, Frank DiFiore (Griffith) 141, Bryan Hoyland (Cobram) 139 Juniors: Brandon Gugliemino (Griffith) 141, Sebastian Zanotto (Griffith) 118, Adrian Depaoli (Griffith) 94