The weather may be poor this weekend but it has been splendid the last week for the start of the school clay target shooting calendar.

It was an early start with a 5.30am meet and for our squad in the school van last Sunday to travel to Oreti Beach home of the Southland Clay Target Club and first intercollegiate competition of the season. 

It was a big weekend of travel for some of our boys who had travelled to Alexandra the previous day to represent Otago Boys' playing rugby. We have a new squad combination for 2022 as Henry Sim, our captain, left school last year. Experienced and talented shooters George Scurr and Jack Small left at the end of term one. Isaac Ottrey and Will Scurr have been pulled into 1st XV rugby for now. It was the start of representing Otago Boys' High School in shooting for Darrius Rogers Year 10 and Dustin Young Year 9 who are both new to school but not new to the sport.

We were encouraged, fed and supported by our clay target families who joined us. Mr Bill Mc Kinley who coaches our boys at training each Wednesday travelled with us to this event and was impressed with our boys both with their shooting and spirit on what was a long but successful day.

Southland Intercollegiate Squad:
Nicholas Sim, Ollie Nicholson, Shamus Young, Ben Kinney, Darrius Rogers, Hunter Burgess, Ben Roy, Jackson Stevens and Dustin Young.

Results:
Darrius Rogers
2nd Single Barrel Junior
2nd Single Rise Junior

Nicholas Sim
HOA Trophy
1st Skeet Senior
2nd Point Score Senior

Otago Boys' were placed second overall for the day, ten points behind Northern Southland College who took out first placing.

Interschool against Southland Boys' High School Wednesday, 18th May
Mr Bill McKinley once again gave of his time to provide the opportunity for our boys to compete against Southland Boys' High School on Wednesday morning on the main trap at the Dunedin Club which is not the one we normally practice on.

With new squad members on both teams, it was the first interschool experience for the season. The boys were encouraged by some parents and even a special grandmother who came to watch. 

The final score was OBHS 379  SBHS 315. 

Interschool team:
Nicholas Sim, Ollie Nicholson, Shamus Young, Ben Kinney and Darrius Rogers.

Our school season in this sport leads to the Southland and New Zealand Secondary School Clay Target Championships in Christchurch in October. There is going to be a few thousand kilometers between now and then. It has started well.