Young shooters take out shield

KORUMBURRA Gun Club juniors Kaelem McCurdy and Alicia McGrath are heroes at their local club after walking away with the South East Zone Teams Shield 2022.

It’s the first time that Korumburra Gun Club has won the converted shield since it’s inauguration in 1991.

The Shield is won in teams of two with competitions held over four rounds, and a carnival across the year.

“Both shot extremely well against tough opposition from metropolitan and rural clay target clubs,” Korumburra Gun Club Secretary Mark Coleman said.

“The current shield has been contested annually since 1991 and this is the first time that Korumburra Gun Club has won the award.”

As Kaelem and Alicia set their sights on the upcoming Victorian State Titles, The Sentinel Times caught up with both to find out how they got involved in the sport and what the shield means to them.

Alicia McGrath – Beretta 687 Silver Pigeon 

15 years old

“I started mid-last year properly,” Alicia explained.

“Dad used to do it, but my uncle currently shoots, and they said, ‘come on, have you go,’ and I followed through with it.”

For Alicia meeting new people and visiting different places are what she loves about the sport.

“I compete most weekends, training at Korumburra and at my uncle’s farm twice a week.

“I shoot Down-The-Line (DTL) and double rise would be my favourite.”

Shooting her Beretta, competing for the shield in 2022 was Alicia’s first time.

“I did all the shoots leading up to it and then the zone shoot before the last round we were in the lead.

“It was luck that we both had good scores that day and got it; I was very relieved, but very excited.”

Setting her eyes on the shield already for next year, Alicia is looking forwards to heading back to Frankston.

“I really like shooting at Frankston – shooting at different places, some are harder, some are easier – it’s got a really nice background.”

Kaelem McCurdy – Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon

16 years old

“I’ve been involved with Korumburra Gun Club for a bit over two years now,” Kaelem said.

“My grandmother, out-of-the-blue, said I know someone from that place, do you want to give it a shot. I gave it a shot and kind of didn’t stop; and I’ve put far too much money into it!”

Competing for the shield came naturally for Kaelem, supported by his grandmother Nikki, and Korumburra Gun Club.

“Mark Coleman, the Secretary for Korumburra mentioned a bunch of competitions I should go to, and my coach, Andrew Brady.

“I want to represent Victoria at the National competition in New South Wales, I want to make the State team, currently we’re in the Zone team.

“(Shooting is) quite satisfying. A lot of other sports require critical skills, whereas shooting requires a lot more discipline and is very much mental; it’s different and unique.”

Shooting primarily DTL, Kaelem did try his hand at skeet for a while.

“There just isn’t as many competitions…

“I always do well at continental, but double rise is the most fun.”

Kaelem also proudly took home the Budge Shield Series Overall High Gun Sash, when Korumburra Gun Club won the Budge Shield for 2021.

“The Budge Shield was my first big win. Winning overall against the adults, it was such a massive thing.

“It ended up in a shoot off, which I was not told was for the final win of the competition; I just shot it for a normal shoot off. Before then I’d never actually won a competition, I thought it was just for the day.”

As for Kaelem’s support at home, though his grandmother may have opened the door, she has not always been an avid supporter of the sport.

“She was a little nervous at first. The entire family has been really surprised that she’s letting me use a 12-gauge shotgun because my uncle was never even allowed to have a toy gun. But she’s been surprised by the whole safety of the sport.”