Will Isaacs, left, and Oscar Karpinski. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
SHOOTING
Kuranui students Will Isaacs and Oscar Karpinski will be shooting for honours at the national secondary schools clay target championships in Hamilton in September.
Isaacs and Karpinski qualified for the nationals after competing in several competitions over the past year.
“There are six or seven shoots in a year, and you have to do three shoots to get selected for nationals,” Isaacs said.
“I started the sport because we live on a lifestyle block, and dad and I did some shooting off the bank and I really enjoyed it.
“We looked into it and found out I could do clay target shooting as a sport, so I gave it a go.”
The two students will shoot in various styles over the three days, including down the line, single rise, and single shot.
Their hope is to get a full team of five students to represent the school because they are currently shooting as a composite squad.
Karpinski is an exchange student from Germany and staying with the Isaacs family.
He is enjoying his first taste of non-traditional sports.
“Will and his dad shoot as a hobby, and I tried it and really enjoyed it. Then we found out we could enter the secondary school nationals.
“I always look forward to the competitions and practices. It’s been good because I’m not really into sports.
“I’ve tried football, basketball, everything, but clay target shooting is just something different,” Karpinski said.
Kuranui’s principal Simon Fuller is delighted to see the two students engaged and excelling in a variety of opportunities.
“One of our college goals is to have students engage in their passions and interests.
“Our students who are involved in kart racing and clay target shooting are doing just that.
“They are representing our college with mana, while following their passions.
“We are encouraging our students to put their interests forward to the college so we can work with them on supporting their unique endeavours,” Fuller said.
