The Goulburn Clay Target Club is no different to any other club, Mum or Dad has an interest in the sport and participates weekly or monthly and the kids are dragged along in spite of the heat or the cold.

Somewhere along the way when little Johny or Suzzie grows big enough they are given a go and hey presto a second set of equipment is needed along with double the costs etc.

Normally at this point there is a hidden talent unearthed and Mum and Dad then play second fiddle to the up-and-coming star. This has been happening for years and will continue to happen for a long time to come. I bet when Joe Mooney decided to drag his son Cooper along there was no thought given to what this will eventually cost him or whether or not young Cooper will like it.

A guess would be made that no thought was ever given as to whether or not Cooper would be beating his Dad and many other club members on a regular basis, certainly at such a young age.

On Sunday the weather was perfect for penguins at the South Pole. Only the foolhardy braved the elements of which the Mooney duo will be counted. When most were rugged up in front of the fire with a hot cup of chocolate, Cooper was doing what he has been doing for a while now, beating many triple and quadruple his age.

Even though Cooper won two of the three events on offer in “C” grade, his scores were high enough to have taken out most grades on the day. Cooper’s consistency sets him aside along with the modesty you only find in good country kids, I’m sure his grades will rise along with his confidence.

Big Joe (Dad) is a man of few words however the look in his eye every time Cooper wins, tells the story of a very prouder father. The main event, the point score championship, had local Leon Cuzner in his own league easily taking out the trophy with 143/150, an outstanding effort in near hurricane conditions.

Leon’s quiet demeanour in no way portrays his ability to consistently break targets in all conditions, having recently received his favourite gun back from a small maintenance operation, he will now be unstoppable.

Rain hale or shine, the Goulburn Clay Target Club is operational and will have a practice shoot under lights next Tuesday at 6pm. The next competition day (100 targets point score) is Sunday August 14th with cash prizes and trophy’s up for grabs. For further information Leon Cuzner can be contacted on 0428 382 995.

Full Results

20 Tgt D/B C/D: AA: 1st L Cuzner 19/20 2nd G Crisp 17/20 A: 1st N Privett 20/20 2nd G Kazolis 19/20 B: 1st I Crisp 19/20 2nd B Roberts 18/20 C: 1st H Kliemyer 16/20 J Hutchins 16/20; 50 Tgt P/S C/S: O/A: L Cuzner 143/150 AA: 1st G Crisp 130/150 2nd P Papps 101/150 A: 1st D Price 139/150 2nd N Privett 131/150 B: 1st B Roberts 126/150 2nd I Crisp 109/150 C: 1st C Mooney 127/150 2nd J Hutchins 123/150; 15 Pr D/Rise C/D: AA: 1st L Cuzner 23/30 2nd P Papps 16/30 A: 1st G Crisp 22/30 2nd G Kazolis N Privett 21/30 B: 1st B Roberts 19/30 2nd R Hill 18/30 C: 1st C Mooney 22/30 2nd P Edwards 19/30;