Sport
27 October, 2025
Southern Queensland Schools Trap Carnival
Friday, 17th October saw a dozen keen shooters from Clifton State High School make the trek to Goondiwindi for an early start for Saturday’s Interschool 105 shot clay target event.
Shooters were competing against schools from across the Downs and as far north as Kingaroy and Nudgee College, Brisbane.
The weather was balmy all morning, gently warming to a top of 36 degrees in the afternoon.
Event 1 was a 25 shot Double Barrel event.
Event 2 was a 25 shot Single Barrel event.
Event 3 was a 25 shot Target Point Score (3,2,0).
Event 4 was a 30 shot Continental medley consisting of 10 shot Double barrel, 10 shot Single barrel and 10 shot point score.
“All students shot really well throughout the day, it was fairly hot and competition was pretty fierce but they didn’t let that worry them, they weren’t intimidated by the A and AA grade shooters who were there, they just stuck to what they know and really stood up…..” school shooting
co-ordinator Brendon ‘Thorpy’ Thorp said.
“Year 12 student Jackson May was our best shooter on the day, with Alex Atwell (yr 11) a close 2nd.
“3rd place went to Year 9 student Beau Taylor and 4th place went to Year 7 student Jo Browne who had an absolute blinder.
“There’s no age categories, they just throw them all in together which can be a bit intimidating for the Year 7s and 8s… but instead of clamming up, they rose to the occasion and really stood up… it was an absolute credit to them.
“The monthly practice shoots they’ve been attending at the Clifton Benchrest Rifle Club are really paying off.
“For the first time we took a Junior secondary (yr 7-9) girls team of four shooters across to make a team and I think they surprised themselves and everyone there when their scores were all up there at the end of the day, trailing very closely behind the boys,” Thorpy said.
Best female shooter taking out the Ladies High Gun sash and $100 cash was none other than our own Rory Knudsen (Yr 9).
CSHS’s Rachael May (also yr 9) and Emily Van Tuinen (yr 8) both received the coaches award for ‘Most Promising Shooters’ on the day for their shooting style, discipline and composure.
“The way in which the students carried themselves throughout the day, the way in which they competed and behaved and conducted themselves throughout both the practice shoot on the Friday and the comp on Saturday was just commendable,” Thorpy said.
Clifton Benchrest Shooting Club Vice President Ash Brown said CSHS is the only State School in Queensland to have a weekly shooting program.
“When the High School students who have been through our 12 month long shooting program go away to events like this, it’s just fantastic to see that all the hard work is paying off,” Ash said.
“It’s one thing for the students to win an Interschool shoot at our club, their home club, but as we know, to travel away and do that in unfamiliar territory is admiral.
“I’m just really proud of the program we have in place in conjunction with the high school and it’s just great to see the students being recognised and reaping the benefits.
“CSHS placed second in the schools category overall on Saturday which has given us the chance to now go and shoot down in NSW at Tamworth on 7th November at the Northern N.S.W Interschool shooting carnival.
“That’ll be awesome to head down to Tamworth and see how good the competition is and how they go down there,” Thorpy said.
He said special mention goes to new Principal Ros Hibberd for her support in the school’s shooting program and also the Clifton Benchrest Shooting Club for training the kids and getting them prepped and ready for that level of competition.
