Shooters from across the Western Plains converged on Coonamble Clay Target Club for a weekend on the range at the 2024 Golden Grain Shoot.

About 45 shooters came from clubs including Brewarrina, Lightning Ridge, Narrabri, Cobar and Warren for the competition on 13 and 14 April, which debuted in 1994.

Shooters classed lowest to highest from C, B, A to AA shot clay disks flung from the 'traps,’ which sat a minimum 15 metres from the firing positions.

Warren’s Charlie Banks took 1st among the AAs for the 45-target 18-metre Medley, scoring 73 out of 75 points.

Coonamble's Greg Smith took 1st place for the As in the same category, scoring 72 out of 75 points.

Brewarrina A-shooter Colin Betts shot a perfect score of 25 in the 25-target 15-metre Single Barrel, where shooters had a single shot to hit disks launched one at a time.

Brewarrina AA Max Betts won among his grade with 26 out of 30 points in the 15-metre Double Rise, where shooters fired at 30 disks launched two at a time.

Narrabri B-grader scored highest out of the ladies throughout the competition with 262 out of 280 points. Five women took part in the shoot, including two from Coonamble.

Cobar’s Aiden Barraclough scored highest in the juniors with 242 points, while Max Betts took out the veterans category with 245 points. 

Clubs enjoyed calm shooting conditions on Saturday. PHOTO: River McCrossen

Coonamble Clay Target Club Secretary, Kim Peters, said there was a wide range of winners "across the state."

"There was one called the Random Winner. In each grade, people that haven't got a prize go into the draw, and there were only 17 shooters that didn't win a single prize for the weekend," Kim said.

"It's nice to see that stuff's spread across shooters and clubs.

"We had a number of shooters being in Coonamble for the first time, which is lovely. We love seeing new people. We're a very social club."

The comp's only missed one year due to COVID in 2020, according to Coonamble Clay Target Club life member Rick Murray, although he said this year was a “bit light on numbers.”

“I think it’s just a sign of the times. A lot of shoots are way down on numbers. We’re lucky at Coonamble Clay Target Club, their numbers are still pretty well up compared to other clubs,” Rick said.

“Things have tightened up a little bit. 

“Financially, the shells got a little bit expensive. And then the travelling, accommodation, a lot of chaps bring their caravans and things like that. It’s just one of those things.”

Coonamble and Orange shooters also faced off that weekend in an inter-town competition to take home the Fire and Ice Shield. 

“‘Fire and Ice' they call it, because it’s very hot here,” Rick said. “And of course it’s so cold down there."

“Whoever shoots the best scores, they take the trophy back home.”

This time it was Orange who won the bragging rights.

Orange Clay Target Club brought nine shooters, including two AAs and three Cs, to Coonamble’s six. The local club had three AAs, although none of them reached a 1st or 2nd place.