Echuca’s Harry Mulvahill (right), who took out a number of junior categories and Dean Rumbel at the State Trap Carnival. Photos: Aidan Briggs
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
The 2024 Victorian State Trap carnival was an impressive one for the Echuca contingent, Echuca Clay Target Club representatives picking up several state titles on their home ranges.
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The results were highlighted by club veteran Steve Atkins, who added to his impressive career resume with two titles.
Trevor Dehne takes aim.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Atkins kicked off proceedings on Thursday, taking the champion of champions event outright over the initial 125 targets.
Atkins hit 124 of 125 targets, beating out four shooters on 123, including Olympian James Willett.
Steve Atkins took home two championships at the state carnival. Photo: ECTC
He then followed up on Saturday with a win in the single barrel championships.
After shooting 50 of 50 in the initial round, Atkins required 13 more consecutive hits to separate him from the three other perfect shooters.
The North-East zone team.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Aiden Calleja was also a double title winner, successfully defending his sub-junior single barrel crown, while also grabbing the sub-junior champion of champions title.
Calleja hit 114 of 125 targets in the champion of champions shoot, with a two-shot gap to his nearest rival.
Steve Patrick (third), Zak Biggin (second) and Trevor Dehne (first) were the place-getters in double rise B-grade.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
He took the single barrel championship with 45 of 50 targets, three clear of the rest of the field.
Peter Attard is the state double rise champion out-shooting a quality field including Olympian Mitch Iles, Attard hitting 48 of 50 targets with Iles in a four-way tie for second.
Aiden Calleja defended his sub-junior single barrel title at this year's event, also winning champion of champions. Photo: ECTC
Up and comer Harry Mulvahill starred at his first state titles, winning the junior double rise and junior double barrel championships.
Mulvahill was also edged out in a shoot-off in the junior handicap event.
Harley Ash, Arianne James and Hunter Ash.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Echuca’s high performers will now represent Victoria at the national titles in Perth.
The blue ribbon event of the meet, the open double barrel, was won by Jamie Dunn who required 411 consecutive targets to beat out Mitch Iles.
Top shooters battled across four days of events.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
The event drew around 380 competitors and their families to the twin towns.
“It’s fantastic for the town,” club president Nick Dean said.
“Those 380 shooters, have partners and family and there's thousands of people just wandering through the site out there.
“They have the trade displays and everything open on the weekend and a couple of thousand people at any one time out there.”
Victorian Clay Target Vice-President Travis Williams said the event was a success, even though poor weather impacted shooters on the opening days.
“The weather conditions weren't in our favour, which made for some lower scores for the first couple of days,” he said.
“We were happy with the numbers, and we look forward to next year conducting a bigger and better competition.”
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