Local shooters blast to the top

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 389, 4 June 1991, Page 1

Local shooters blast to the top

Two Waimarino shooters are basking in the glory of having won prizes in the recent World Speed Shooting Championships in California. Alan Foster recently returned from representing New Zealand in the States with victory in the amateur speed shotgun shoot against. 30 other competitors and 3rd place in the amateur rifle shoot. He also achicved a creditable 98th place out of 250 in the hard-fought handgun event. His team-mate, Ohakune policeman Larry Meredith, who only began speed shooting 12 months ago, took away second place in the law enforcement class of the shotgun competition. The event was held at Lake Piru, north of Los Angeles. It was the third time Alan had competed in the event with the first pay-off in terms of not only placings but prizes. He took away a shotgun and a rifle and a spot prize of reloading equipment. His teammate Larry came away with a shotgun for his efforts. Larry said he had taken the trip for the experience and didn't expect a win. "We were fairly com-

petitive considering the amount of time involved in practice," said Alan. "As you'd think most of the Americans spend a lot of time on the range. But we're up with the play now."

Alan was on a roll and it continued through to a recent championship competition in Wanganui, the River City Speed Shooting Championships 1991. He took first place in

the hand-gun event, but with real style - taking not just the fastest overall time but winning all eight stages of the competition as well. If that wasn't enough he took out the shotgun

shoot after that, in a 22 shooter man-on-man knockout competition. The event attracted 50 shooters from around New Zealand including all the top North Island competitors.