The way Calin Mischewski prepares for a clay shooting competition is to train regularly and “try not to miss on the day”.
It was clearly paying off for the Hauraki Plains College year 11 student, who competed at the New Zealand and South Island DTL Secondary Schools Championships in Christchurch from September 28 to September 30.
There he claimed three gold and two silver individual medals, as well as a silver medal with his Hauraki team.
Calin told The Profile, on day one, as part of the South Islands DTL Secondary Schools Championships, he snapped up a silver in the single rise competition, where he shot 25 targets and was allowed to use both shots in his gun.
He also clinched a gold in the point score competition, which was where he could use both shots but would get more points if he hit the clay with his first shot, he said.
On day two, as part of the New Zealand DTL Secondary Schools Championships, Calin won gold for the New Zealand Single Rise Championship, and silver for New Zealand Point Score Championship.
And on the final day, Calin secured gold in the Fish & Game Regional Event Individual Boys HOA across the single rise, point score and single barrel, he said.
“I was really happy with the highest overall [score] across the three events on the third day,” he said.
“I didn’t miss a target all day.”
But it doesn’t end there.
The Hauraki clay shooter was part of a team of five who took out a silver medal in the South Island Points Score Teams Open event.
The team worked hard all year and was really happy to get a team placing, Calin said.
“Getting a team medal at this level means all five shooters in our squad had a great shoot.”
But Calin also managed to reach another significant milestone at the event.
“When you are a member of the New Zealand Clay Target Association (NZCTA), which is the governing body of Clay Target Shooting, you can achieve long run badges.”
Calin said it was when the shooter hits a certain number of targets without missing.
“It has to be at an official shoot,” he said. “You only apply for that badge once.”
While the young clay shooter already had his 25 and 50 long run badges, he managed to achieve his 75 and 100 long run badges at the event, he said.
But his inspiration came from previous team mates who had now left his school, such as Ashling Welch, he said, who shoots sporting clays, which was another discipline, at a national level.
“I also have an ongoing friendly rivalry with my Dad, Daniel Mischewski.”
Calin said his dad shot skeet, another discipline, for the New Zealand junior team “back in the day”.
For those wanting to get into clay shooting, Calin’s advice was to head along to the Thames Clay Target Club and “have a go”.
DETAILS: Search for Thames Clay Target Club on Facebook.
