PAUL Johnston is president of a sports association and he’s talking about the association’s “come-and-try” days, which have been a raging success. Kids and parents alike have walked away happy.
It may come as a surprise, though, that it’s the Australian Skeet Shooters Association.
Johnston is clearly excited when talking about his passion. “We hold these come-and-try days on the first Saturday of every month,” he says. “They’ve been a huge success, and we’re booked out five to six months in advance.”
He says that while it isn’t as popular as the other target shooting sports – trap and sporting clays – skeet shooting is growing.
“Skeet shooting, while it’s under the banner of the Australian Clay Target Association, has a much smaller representation,” he says.
“That’s why we decided to form a group to give ourselves a collective voice. Our membership started with four and now we’re up to between 80 and 100.
“Trap and sporting clays are gaining immense popularity in this country. Sporting clays in particular, which is simulated game-shooting, has enormous membership.”
Johnston says that as enthusiasts of the sport, sporting shooters are constantly trying to break the stigma that “guns are bad”.
“People have done terrible things with guns,” he says. “There’s the general stigma that guns are bad and the topic is taboo and it shouldn’t be.
“But we’re slowly turning that stigma around and skeet shooting is a very social sport. We get a lot of mums and dads and kids who come and try it and they walk away with a completely different opinion.
“This is something you can do as a family, from 14 until you’re 90 if you want.”
Johnston’s love affair with the shoot began when he was nine.
“I started with my father and uncle, out shooting rabbits, quail and ducks,” he says.
“I was introduced to the sport when I was 14 and absolutely loved it.”
After being involved for more than 30 years, Johnston’s experience and expertise has seen him make friends in the US and UK, Germany, South Africa … “Name a country, I’ve got a friend there,” he says.
The World Skeet Shooting Championships, in San Antonio every October, are a highlight on Johnston’s calendar.
“My wife and I both shoot and I really enjoy competition,” he says.
Asked about his success rate, he bursts into laughter and says: “Put it this way, the thrill of competition keeps me coming back. I’m okay. But I’m yet to walk away with one of the big titles.”
The try-outs are held at 9am on the first Saturday of every month at the Melbourne Gun Club in Victoria Road, Lilydale.
Details: visit myassa.com.au
