SportS
Team of The Year
Last years Sports Team Of The Year has begun
preperation for another busy year with the
ultimate goal of retaining the prestigious
Andrew and Faulkner Sheid. Last year this
was contested by all South Island Associations
in the match held in Nelson last July with
Marlborough taking it out. With last years
sucessful campaign in the lead up to the
tournament including a clean sweep of all
repersentive matches, this put them in the
best stead to be honoured as Marlborough’s
No 1 team.
The Marlborough smallbore team comprised: Regan Cowe, David Dick, Richard Sampey
(captain), Richard Evans, Bill Stevenson, Kim Bishell, Bradley Palatchie, Glenn Harris,
Rex Schroder, Simon Senior, Jason Henry, Val Wadsworth. Peter Webster was the manager.
Their nomination was sponsored by Smart Alliances Ltd.
The Marlborough Smallbore Shooting
Associaiton has been around since 1953. The
sport has proven very popular over this time
with long time members and up and coming
talent making up the three local clubs in the
region. The suceess of the repersentive team
last year shows the calibre of talent that is
being produced in our region.
Val Wadsworth, member of last year’s
winning team and current represented, says
“Achieving good results on a competition
day is really a team effort, we were lucky
that when competing for the shield, every
member of the team was on their best form.
It’s a very mental sport and if everyone is
performing then it’s a great day. Just because
there is one bad shoot doesn’t mean that we
have lost – so good consistent shooting is the
goal. Everyone has an off day, as a team we
just need to support each other and keep the
comradery and morale up, that’s what makes
a successful team!”
The Andrew and Faulkner Sheid compeition
is the pinnacle of South Island team
shooting and it is only the seventh time
that Marlborough have won the trophy in
its 60-year history. In addition to this, the
Marlborough team successfully defeated
Nelson in its other two representative
matches of the season - the DB Seddon Shield
and the Hadfield Shield.
“Marlborough is a small association
compared to other region” explains Val,
“which means we don’t quite have the
depth of rep selection as other teams. So
for us to come out on top is an even better
achievement”.
The small bore season runs between April
to September which can involve practicing
2-3 times a week, sometimes more. With
the Andrew and Faulkner Shield clearly
in their sights in July, club members are
practicing intently with experienced and up
and coming shooters all pushing for a spot
on the Marlborough rep team with the hope
of keeping the shields proudly displayed in
Marlborough. Good luck team.
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