I grew up spending Saturday afternoons at Trentham Rifle Range, the well-known range in Wellington NZ. My father, Tom Prichard, had been involved in all aspects of the sport since he was a young man, so it was no surprise when I followed him into Target Rifle shooting. I joined the Karori Rifle Club in 1968 and was the first female member of the club.
I started target shooting with a No1 303 with a blade sight and a tin hat aiming mark. My coach was Harold Tattersfield (Tatts) who was very patient. When I didn’t do well, he would politely blame the rifle and bring out another from his collection. Maybe it was the fit.
It was interesting to make a list of the various rifles I have used over the years.
I have used a Tikka, a No. 4 (needed at Bisley for the long ranges), a Winchester in the Palma Match in Camp Perry, an Omark, an Angel, a Neilsen, an RPA, a South African Musgrave and finally a Millennium. I have two Millennium barreled actions which I interchange into the same Robertson stock. I have used Millenniums since 2001, always with Kreiger barrels, which have always shot well.
I still use a central sight and was the first shooter to use a John Copper front tunnel. Prior to that I used a Tiger front tunnel from Canada.
My shooting began on Trentham range, then ten years later I married Tony McGuigan, moved to Sydney and Anzac Rifle Range became my home for shooting.
They were two very different ranges which have both seen major changes over the years.
My favorite ranges include Trentham, Wellington, NZ, as that was where I had my first success. It is always rewarding to have read the wind conditions and manage a respectable score in difficult conditions.
Anzac Rifle Range in Sydney has usually been kind to me, although I’m never as sure with the right wind as opposed to the wind coming in from the ocean. What an amazing setting for a rifle range. I also enjoy shooting at the McIntosh Rifle Range in the ACT. The concrete mounds are great. The wind is not always kind, it can be very challenging. I especially like the Grand Aggregate badge, with the McIntosh Coat of Arms. That is an inspiration to shoot well, to concentrate and fire a perfect shot every time over five days.
Naturally my father was the greatest influence on my shooting. As well as being a top shot he was a highly regarded coach. He was also very involved in administration. He was on the Executive of the Wellington Rifle Assn for almost 30 years and Treasurer for most of that time. He was the Chairman of the NRANZ for 7 years and retired due to ill health. He was a Life member of several organisations; Karori RC, Wellington Rifle Assn, NZ Shooting Federation and NRANZ.
I had only been shooting for a short time when I was selected in the first International Ladies team, a match held in SA on the Dean Rifle Range in 1972, New Zealand versus Australia. Our team was made up of B & C Grade shooters, so the scores weren’t that great, and the NZ team trailed a long way behind the Australia Ladies, however it was the beginning of a great competition between the two countries to be held every two years.
It was at that competition that I met Helen Griffiths, and we have been friends for 50 years. We all received a trophy to commemorate the event, and I still have mine, so in fun I recently offered it to the Australian Ladies Museum.
Two years later in 1974 the match was held at Trentham with Viv Collings as the NZ coach who mastered the wind in her usual calm way and NZ recorded a win. In 1976 the teams competed in the match in Sydney, but due to rain the match was cut down to 2x600m.
The match continued for many years.
1972 Adelaide South Australia Rep NZ
1974 Trentham New Zealand Rep NZ
1976 Sydney NSW Rep NZ
1979 Trentham New Zealand Rep Australia
1980 Brisbane Queensland Rep Australia
1983 Trentham New Zealand Rep Australia (then retired)
The NRANZ always invited the NZ Ladies Team to shoot alongside the NZ Open Team when there was an international team visiting. That gave me the experience at the highest level of team shooting. Viv Collings was an expert coach in dealing with the tricky Trentham wind. She was the wife, the mother of six, and a mother-in-law to numerous Ballinger Belt winners. Because of these matches the NZ selectors were able to see what I was capable of in a team situation, and in 1976 I was selected in the NZ Open Team, to go to Bisley, England, to Connaught in Canada and Camp Perry in USA for the Palma match. I was the first female to be selected in a New Zealand Open Team. I was especially proud as my father was the Master Coach.
The tour was a great experience, especially the Palma match when we used rifles issued by the host country. That was a huge challenge as we experienced several technical issues with these rifles, especially the back sights. Rubber bands came in very handy.
1978 I shot in the NZ Open Team versus Canada at Trentham NZ in January, my last major shoot representing New Zealand before my move to Australia.
1978 I married Tony and moved to Sydney; a big life change however I had many Aussie shooting friends and began my 40 plus years shooting at Anzac Rifle Range in Sydney.
I joined MNBRC 27th July 1978.
That was quite an achievement as in the club record book there is a note that states: “It is a senseless waste of ammunition to allow women to shoot.”
However, I did join the club and was made very welcome and was extremely proud to be a member. It was a club made up of champions when I joined, Captain Ken Lee, Frank McDermott, Andrew Powell, Graeme Berman, and Tony, so the standard was set very high, a goal was to improve every week. I have shot in some talented teams, however when I joined Mosman-Neutral Bay RC their No1 Grade team at the time, was made up of some of the top shots in Australia. We had 4 Grade teams, and it was a challenge to work your way up and eventually, I made the No.1 team. Team shooting is a special event, whatever the level of competition, and I have always enjoyed the special camaraderie of a team.
In 1997 it was an honour to be selected in the NSW State Team.
NSWRA STATE TEAM CAP (Baggy Blue) NO: 397 1998 to 2014 (11 occasions)
Shooting member 1998 to 2006
Manager 2007 to 2014
4 winning Merrett Teams & 5 Winning Sweet teams
The coaches who have really inspired me are Viv Collings, my NZ coach, Spencer Dunstall who was a top wind reader and had a wonderful coaching manner and Tony McGuigan, as his technique is allowing the shooter to continue to shoot in their individual style and stop them if there is a wind change or other issues. I much prefer this to get ready, go on.
I coached the New England Girls School (NEGS) target shooting team for several years. The girls shoot alongside the GPS teams in July every year. I was made a Life Member in appreciation for the work I did with the team. They had very old gear, however, managed to improve their skills despite this and on occasion scored higher than some of the boys from the elite schools. An interesting aside is that The Armidale School has gone Co-ed, so in fact there is a female shooting in this male dominated event. Shock, horror!
INDIVIDUAL SHOOTING
My individual shooting all came together in 1974 when I made the final fifty as a B Grader. It is the goal of all NZ shooters to make the final. In the 70s there were around 400 shooters. Although this was not my first competition, it is the one I remember most, making the final 50, competing for the Ballinger Belt (the winner of the Queens). I then made the final over the next 3 years prior to moving to Australia. When the entry numbers used to be high, the top fifty shooters then shot off at 900 yards. The score from the previous ten matches is brought forward and added to the score in the final. This has never really been adopted in Australia however it was a huge event at Trentham. If you didn’t make the top 50, it was an honour to be asked to score. The scorers would get dressed up in their blazers and felt very important. Sadly, in more recent years the final now consists of a much smaller number.
Memorable results include:
1994 1st Sydney High School Prize Shoot
2002 1st North Sydney RC B H Wilmot Shield
2006 1st Rail & Tram Inst RC
2007 1st Rail & Tram Inst RC
1999 Represented Australia in 3rd Commonwealth Shooting Federation Championship vs ENG, JER, SCO, NIR. at Trentham NZ. AUS Team included: Helen Griffiths, Rob Sandland, Wendy McGuigan. (Article in Australian Target Rifle Magazine No 25 Jan/Feb 2000).
2000 During the Queens at Trentham I had the best day ever, finishing on 50.10 at 900 to have a daily aggregate of 200.31. It was a personal achievement as they do not have daily aggregates in New Zealand. Keith Pugh from GB was my scorer and he was so excited for me, as we had met 24 years ago on my first trip to Bisley in 1976. I had several trips to Bisley and finally won a badge in 2000.
Queens Badges 43
Lead Up 22 Included No. 1 badge in WA
Grand 17
The question regarding special shooting feats by others that you have witnessed is an easy question to answer.
In the NSW State Team in Brisbane 2006, at 1000 yards, the final range of the Merrett, the scores were so close. Wendy Moon was last down; we needed V bulls. Her sighters were V5. Cut them, said the Captain!! Wendy Moon shot a couple of bullseyes, then under a great coach, Steve Negus, proceeded to fire brilliantly, V bull after V bull. The team watched holding their breath, but there was no doubt as she was an amazing team shooter, with a great coach and they brought us home to win the Merrett match.
So much has changed since I took up target shooting.
Rifles – From military style to custom made rifles
Ammo – Military ammo, factory ammo and now handloads.
Targets – Manually marked targets to electronic targets.
Competitors – In our sport men and women compete equally. From being a sport of general older gentlemen, the sport now attracts young shooters, many who are following older family members into the sport and achieving great success.
Regulations – Rifles need a permit to acquire and strict regulations from the firearms registry and the NRAA. Not the case 50 years ago.
Paperwork – Everything now involves heaps of paperwork.
Storage – From rifles being kept in a shed or wardrobe to securely locked in a safe.
New Disciplines – F Class was introduced and developed into several different categories.
Travel – In the early days I travelled with my father by plane from Wellington to the South Island. He had his rifle in a canvass bag, sitting between his legs during the flight. Now rifles must be checked, paperwork inspected, and the owner questioned on varies topics relating to their firearm. On some occasions this runs smoother than other occasions.
Dress Code – Early 1900 photos show shooters in collar and tie and a tweed jacket and hat with their club hat band. Now most target shooters wear tailor-made jackets and specially designed caps.
Ear Protection – A piece of cleaning rag known as “4 b 2” did the job. Now there are very sophisticated earmuffs with sound control.
Public Attitude – In the early days, target rifles were not thought of as a threat. Now public awareness has changed, and it is up to the members now to dispel these attitudes. The National Teams especially from Commonwealth countries are all made up of a variety of members, men and women, university students, tradesmen, executives, disabled, doctors, lawyers, retirees, farmers and many other roles. They are teams of law-abiding people who love their sport.
Tradition/History – A number of rifle clubs are now well over 120 years. The Sydney Rifle club was founded in 1844 and is still very active with members achieving success in various competitions. In the early days most clubs were set up to teach firearm skills to civilians planning to enlist. They made our history. Now we must preserve that history.
ADMINISTRATION
MNBRC (formed in 1915)
Approximately 50 members.
Club Captain 2001 – 2016. 14 Years First Woman Captain.
Made Life Member in 2011
Made President of the club in 2017. First Woman President.
I was inducted into the Women’s Hall of Fame in Alice Springs in 2002.
“First female member of Mosman-Neutral Bay , (1978) and First female Captain in clubs 87-year-old-history.”
Participated in the Sports Management Development Program as part of the 2003 Women’s Sport and Recreation Administration Scholarship Program.
MDRA
Approximately 300 members.
President (Working position) 2006-2014. 8 years. First Woman President.
Made Life Member 2015.
The MDRA executive committee was incredibly supportive and achieved several big projects.
- Major work on refurbishing target frames.
- Moving from manual targets to electronic targets.
It must be mentioned in recent years the MDRA have progressed to a point that electronic targets are used for the NSW Kings, with a group of tireless members maintaining all the targets to a high standard.
The range itself is now a showcase due to another group of extremely hardworking volunteers and the spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean.
NSWRA
Assistant to CEO 2012 – 2016.
General office duties.
Processed State Affiliation Fees.
Assisted in planning of the NSWRA Championship, contacting donors, preparing the Championship book, and processing entries.
Working in the office during the event and preparing for and assisting with the Prize giving, which was always an impressive event.
During my time in the office the NSWRA was still fighting to keep the range. NSWRA had been fighting this for many years.
On May 3rd, 2016, The NSWRA signed a lease with the Commonwealth Department of Finance. The NSWRA announced that the future of the Anzac facilities and ranges has been secured for the next fifty years. Also, the NSWRA have been successful in ensuring that the all-important “Relocation” clause that was the significant insurance in the original Licence for Anzac has been included in the new lease.
NRAA
The Australian Bicentenary Full-bore Rifle Championships 1988. I assisted Anne Kelly, the entry coordinator, with processing the entries from Australia and other shooters from all over the world. The trophies for the individual shooters were outstanding, the daily aggregate trophies were won out right and the prize money for first place was $25,000.
OLYMPIC GAMES SYDNEY 2000
I worked as a volunteer at the International Shooting Complex and at the Athlete’s Village. My role was in the Information Centre at both venues assisting team officials on any issues they may have in relation to shooting. I worked with people from overseas who had also volunteered. One amusing thing took place at the Athlete’s Village. I saw someone who I knew but couldn’t place where I had met her, play group, school, netball etc. She was talking to a group of people so I didn’t interrupt. As I was telling my co-worker it suddenly dawned on me, it was Princess Anne.
Unfortunately, I have not been able to shoot since 2022 due to shoulder problems which I hope will soon be resolved. However, I am still attending State Championships and on occasion I have assisted in the office, in the stats room and even as a fast walker (not a runner) collecting cards. This is my way of continuing to be part of the sport I love and have spent almost all my life somewhere on a rifle range. It is a unique sport. Where else would you find such an amazing variety of people and the connection rifle shooters have all over the world, and most importantly, lifelong friends
14th December 2024
