Normanton Gun Club celebrates 40 years with anniversary event

There was a huge rollup for the May 25-26 event.

By North West Weekly

40th Anniversary Double Barrel winners Dan Beard, Alan Birch, Steve Baynes, Brian Harrison and Clayton Cusack with sponsor Tuff Tyres FNQ representative Kevin McHardie.

Normanton Gun Club has celebrated its 40th birthday in style, hosting shooters from across the country over two days of competition (and a fair bit of socialising).

With some free advertising from local “celebrity” Dean Reeves, who produced another colourful social media video to promote the event, the Normanton Gun Club ended up with 131 shooters from 33 clubs for the May 25-26 event.

“Hosting a two-day annual clay target carnival takes a lot of hard work,” said Rowena Draper, who has become the club’s unofficial publicity officer from her base in Atherton.

“When the club is located in the Gulf, the logistical challenges rise to a whole new level.

“Clays, ammo, food, participants, even much of the volunteer army … everything has to come from a long way away.”

Draper praised president and secretary, Wayne “The Gulf Grey” and Diane “Nanna” Reeves for their efforts as well as son Dean, daughter Cherie and grandson Cody, who were assisted by a dedicated band of long-time supporters to make the celebration shoot a highly memorable one.

“Although the club has approximately 56 members, many of them do not live locally,” she said.

“Remote club members and their families travelled to Normanton weeks ahead of time in order to help with preparations.”

First time shooters to Normanton found that each of the five layouts had a different feel.

The striking pink and blue paint job on the trap houses, a legacy from the club’s fundraising efforts for breast and prostate cancer, was just the beginning.

OVERALL HIGH GUNS

Open: Ricky Jones (Broken Hill) 310/315 targets

AA: Clayton Cusack (Condamine) 309/315 targets

A: Benji Micallef (Burdekin) 303/315 targets

B: Diane Reeves (Normanton) 289/315 targets

C: Daniel Beard (Atherton) 284/315 targets

Junior: Riley Zarb (Mackay/Sarina) 299/315 targets

Ladies: Kristin Williams (Atherton) 286/315 targets

Veterans: Kim Nealon (Wagga) 305/315 targets