Evidence does not appear to be available to disclose the date of origin of the New Zealand Gun Clubs Association, but old records do show that the association was functioning in the year 1899. Since that date the association had administered the trapshooting sport in the Dominion and, like most shooting bodies, has experienced its ups and downs. During the early years of the century the sport was mainly confined to the shooting of trapped live birds, especially pigeons. Although scores registered at the 1899 New Zealand pigeon championship have not been recorded, the event was held at Petone and won by C. L. Mackersey. Pigeon championships were the only live-bird national events held until 1911, when the first sparrow championship took place. This match, shot at Christ-church on 6 July 1911, attracted an entry of 31 shooters and resulted in a win for 16-year-old Donald Fraser, of Hororata. Prior to the introduction of the national sparrow championship, the first clay-target championship was held at Dunedin on 5 June 1908 and was won by the versatile Duncan Fraser (father of Donald), who won other national titles in 1906, 1909, 1911, and 1920. In these early days clay-target shooting was not so popular as live-bird competition, the entry for the 1908 single-rise clay-target championship being only 13.
The headquarters of the association in its early years were situated at Wellington, where the secretary-treasurer, N. Von Sturmer, resided, but with the appointment of J. W. Cassin as secretary-treasurer about 1907, the offices were moved to Christchurch. In 1955 when W. H. Stewart became general secretary, the headquarters of the association moved to Dunedin. The report presented at the 1904 annual general meeting, presided over by T. M. Wilford, M.H.R., showed that 43 gun clubs throughout New Zealand were affiliated to the association. The association finances were considered good, there being a credit balance of £13 10s. 1d. in hand after making provision for all outstanding liabilities. Already it was being mentioned that pigeons were becoming scarcer and dearer. Shooters were permitted to shoot under assumed names, provided the name was registered at a cost of 1s. Well-known shooting names, such as “Starlight” (E. P. Graham, Dunedin), “Blue Rock”, and “Moonlight” appeared in press reports of the day.
Annual tournaments were conducted until 1915 when, because of the First World War, the association went into recess until 1919. During these years, however, interest in the sport was retained by clubs conducting minor competitions as circumstances permitted. The year 1920 found the association in good heart once again with T. Parker as president and W. Cecil Prince as secretary-treasurer. Already the Parliament of the day was debating the abolition of live-bird shooting and the name of D. F. Dennehy is frequently commended in old records for his work in fighting this threat to the sport. The other matter which concerned the association's council at the time was the rising cost of ammunition, which was a handicap to the progress of the clubs. This problem has remained to the present day.
1924 proved a milestone in the association history. After serving as an executive officer for several years, A. N. “Alby” Turner of Christchurch was appointed general secretary. He held this office for 31 years, during which time he saw the association grow from strength to strength. Not only was he an able administrator, but he was also a fine shot, his best effort being a South Island title.
During his long term of office A. N. Turner served under the following association presidents: Messrs E. F. Stead (Christchurch), A. Dobson (Auckland), E. Groome (Otane), D. F. Dennehy (Christchurch), T. S. Harrison (Methven), R. S. Taylor (Christchurch), and T. M. Glenn (Hamilton). Following the increase in popularity of the sport, L. E. Pole (Ngongotaha) was appointed North Island secretary in 1949. On his retirement in 1957 I. D. Jack (Hamilton) was appointed to this position.
The sport of trapshooting is now administered by the council of the association comprising the president, North Island vice-president, South Island vice-president, five members representing the North Island, and five members representing the South Island. Ninety-four gun clubs throughout the Dominion are affiliated to the association and membership, which is approximately 2,500, is evenly spread throughout the country, the interest in the sport being strong in all districts.
The association's official magazine, Gunshot, launched in 1958, is sent quarterly to all members of the association; it has also a considerable circulation overseas. The association recently affiliated with the Olympic Shooting Federation of New Zealand and it is hoped that New Zealand trapshooters will in the future compete in the Olympic and British Commonwealth games.
Although some individuals have competed in overseas competitions previously, New Zealand did not really enter the international field until the Dominion first entered a team in the 1953 international match for the Mackintosh Trophy. This postal match is open to all countries in the British Commonwealth. Participation in this event has given New Zealand shooters a high international standing. After an unsuccessful début in 1953, they won the Mackintosh Trophy in 1954 and held it until 1957 and then registered a further success in 1961. Australia, the present holders, have won this competition on six occasions, England and New Zealand following with five wins. Canada was successful in 1960.
The first official trapshooting team to leave these shores travelled to the 1960 Australian championships held at Surfers Paradise. During this tournament the first Australia v. New Zealand teams match for the T. M. Glenn Cup was held, this first event resulting in an exciting tie, both teams registering 118 targets out of possible 120. This annual event is held in each country in alternate years and to date the score is even, each country having had two wins. Members of the 1960 team were Allan Brown (Lauder), captain; R. G. Brown (Anama); B. G. Begg (Darfield); J. McKenzie (Seaward Downs); J. R. Thomson (Rotorua); and H. C. Walker (Hakataramea). During the 1960 Australian championships, J. McKenzie (Seaward Downs, Southland) one of the best shots New Zealand has produced, brought further honour to his country when he became Australian champion of champions. McKenzie was the reigning New Zealand champion of champions at the time. H. C. Walker won the 1963 Australian champion of champions title. J. L. Thomson took the 1964 Australian Trophy National Championships.
The abolition of live-bird shooting in 1954 saw some of the interest go out of the shotgun-shooting sport, particularly for the older shooters who frowned upon the “clays” as poor substitutes for the “lives”. Prior to the cessation of live-bird shooting, the national championships had to be held in winter months when the birds were more plentiful. From 1955 onwards, when the national championships were restricted to clay-target events, the New Zealand tournament could be held in better weather, with the result that entries in the major events have increased considerably. Record entries for the four main championships have been: single rise (266), double rise (189), skeet (111), and single barrel (224).
Although skeet-shooting competitions began in the 1930s, its popularity has increased considerably since live-bird shooting was abolished. Skeet, which is a Scandinavian word meaning “shoot”, was first introduced about 35 years ago and is the name given to a “gun game for game guns” which was evolved in the United States primarily to enable keen game shots to keep in practice during the off season. Since that time skeet has been modified and improved in various ways and is now a rapidly growing and highly competitive sport in its own right in many countries. During 1961 New Zealand teams shot in the first overseas postal teams match, mainly against United States teams. Although the Dominion's representatives have not yet registered any major success in this annual event, participation in this match has certainly placed this country firmly on the clay-target-shooting map.
Since long-run trophies were first issued in 1955 to shooters registering consecutive breaks of 50, 75, and 100, the numbers of awards have been as follows: 50 – 843; 75 – 355; and 100 – 244.
Trapshooting certainly caters for all ages of sportsmen, as is evident from the number of youths, some still in their early teens, who have achieved considerable success. At the other extreme many successful competitors are definitely in the veteran class. That grand old shooter, the late James Hayes, of New Brighton, made shooting history when, at the Waihora Club on Boxing Day 1960, he celebrated his one hundred and first birthday by breaking a clay target.
by William Houston Stewart, General Secretary, New Zealand Gun Clubs' Association, Dunedin.
| 1899 | C. L. Mackersey |
| 1900 | J. Peat |
| 1901 | C. H. Chavannes |
| 1902 | E. H. Eccles |
| 1903 | E. P. Graham |
| 1904 | G. Rutherford |
| 1905 | T. Parker |
| 1906 | Duncan Fraser |
| 1909 | H. Price |
| 1910 | A. D. Fraser |
| 1911 | H. Collins |
| 1912 | J. White |
| 1913 | W. Woolven |
| 1914 | H. J. Nitz |
| 1915 | G. McIlwrick |
| 1919 | J. Casey |
| 1920 | G. Bruere |
| 1921 | A. Dobson |
| 1922 | C. Truscott |
| 1923 | L. P. Hughes |
| 1924 | W. A. Parsons |
| 1925 | E. Groome |
| 1926 | R. Arnst |
| 1927 | A. Dobson |
| 1928 | R. Arnst |
| 1929 | H. Clinch |
| 1930 | M. Pratt |
| 1931 | N. Bossad |
| 1932 | S. Anderson |
| 1933 | H. Clinch |
| 1934 | R. S. Taylor |
| 1935 | D. Ewing |
| 1936 | I. G. Watkins |
| 1937 | J. B. Thomasen |
| 1938 | C. E. Brown |
| 1939 | D. P. North |
| 1940 | E. A. Wasbourne |
| 1946 | M. F. Russ |
| 1947 | E. K. F. Cameron |
| 1948 | D. P. North |
| 1949 | D. P. North |
| 1950 | M. Pratt |
| 1951 | D. P. North |
| 1952 | J. Brightling |
| 1953 | D. P. North |
| 1954 | R. Maher |
| 1911 | A. D. Fraser |
| 1912 | E. R. King |
| 1913 | W. Meagher |
| 1914 | S. G. Coulter |
| 1915 | L. P. Hughes |
| 1919 | E. Groome |
| 1920 | C. E. Brown |
| 1921 | A. Dobson |
| 1922 | H. Clinch |
| 1923 | L. McKelvie |
| 1924 | J. Gorton |
| 1927 | H. Best |
| 1928 | W. Patterson |
| 1929 | H. Grennell |
| 1930 | R. Arnst |
| 1931 | S. G. Glennie |
| 1932 | S. Anderson |
| 1933 | M. Pratt |
| 1934 | C. Seddon |
| 1935 | M. Pratt |
| 1936 | R. S. Taylor |
| 1937 | D. P. North |
| 1938 | L. Lemon |
| 1939 | F. W. Brightling |
| 1940 | A. P. Chamberlain |
| 1941 | A. Stead |
| 1946 | M. Pratt |
| 1947 | B. Clinch |
| 1948 | J. Brightling |
| 1949 | D. P. North |
| 1950 | T. W. Elliott |
| 1951 | D. P. North |
| 1952 | J. McKenzie (Southland) |
| 1953 | B. W. William |
| 1954 | T. Everett |
| 1953 | E. Green | 288 × 300 |
| 1954 | C. F. Gunn | 100 × 100 |
| 1955 | C. Hartley | 100 × 100 |
| H. C. Walker | 100 × 100 | |
| 1956 | C. Hartley | 197 × 200 |
| R. W. Gunn | 197 × 200 | |
| 1957 | C. Hartley | 299 × 300 |
| 1958 | J. R. Thomson | 288 × 300 |
| 1959 | L. W. Kerr | 300 × 300 |
| 1960 | G. W. Shaw | 293 × 300 |
| 1961 | A. J. C. Donald | 300 × 300 |
| B. Williams | 300 × 300 | |
| 1962 | C. Hartley | 300 × 300 |
| 1963 | G. F. Messenger | 299 × 300 |
| 1964 | B. J. Anderson | 299 × 300 |
| 1965 | W. T. Morton | 299 × 300 |
| A. N. Turner Memorial | |
| 1957 | S. R. Marston |
| 1958 | J. Newton Thomas (Australia) |
| 1959 | J. C. Streeter |
| 1960 | J. McKenzie |
| 1961 | N. Bossad |
| 1962 | J. McKenzie |
| 1963 | J. R. Thomson |
| 1964 | C. F. Gunn |
| 1965 | J. McKenzie |
| 1908 | Duncan Fraser |
| 1909 | Duncan Fraser |
| 1910 | J. Simpson |
| 1911 | Duncan Fraser |
| 1912 | E. R. King |
| 1913 | R. Buick |
| 1914 | A. Gardiner |
| 1915 | E. R. King |
| 1919 | J. Jones |
| 1920 | Duncan Fraser |
| 1921 | D. McLachlan |
| 1922 | A. Dobson |
| 1923 | H. Clinch |
| 1924 | R. M. Gray |
| 1925 | H. J. Nitz |
| 1926 | E. Landsell |
| 1927 | H. Quarterman |
| 1928 | A. Thian |
| 1929 | E. Groome |
| 1930 | S. Anderson |
| 1931 | M. Pratt |
| 1932 | R. Arnst |
| 1933 | I. G. Watkins |
| 1934 | H. Grennell |
| 1935 | C. Seddon |
| 1936 | J. Donnelly |
| 1937 | E. Groome |
| 1938 | C. Webber |
| 1939 | D. W. Davison |
| 1940 | T. A. Clouston |
| 1941 | E. C. Thomasen |
| 1946 | J. Dobson |
| 1947 | E. K. F. Cameron |
| 1948 | E. Benton |
| 1949 | D. P. North |
| 1950 | M. Otway |
| 1951 | W. L. Brinkworth |
| 1952 | J. W. McKenzie |
| 1953 | D. Mitchell |
| 1954 | L. Lanauze |
| 1955 | W. L. Brinkworth |
| 1956 | J. McKenzie (Southland) |
| 1957 | B. W. Williams |
| 1958 | B. C. Begg |
| 1959 | J. G. Streeter |
| 1960 | Allan Brown |
| 1961 | R. James |
| 1962 | C. Hartley |
| 1963 | W. J. Pritt |
| 1964 | G. V. R. Read |
| 1965 | R. Gray |
| 1940 | H. Grennell |
| 1941 | W. Oates |
| 1946 | L. Kerr |
| 1947 | K. Prentice |
| 1948 | E. Cooke |
| 1949 | D. P. North |
| 1950 | E. Green |
| 1951 | E. Benton |
| 1952 | J. Dobson |
| 1953 | D. Wareham |
| 1954 | R. W. Gunn |
| 1955 | B. G. Begg |
| 1956 | B. G. Begg |
| 1957 | S. R. Marston |
| 1958 | S. R. Marston |
| 1959 | J. C. Streeter |
| 1960 | T. A. Everett |
| 1961 | N. Bossad |
| 1962 | C. K. Lane |
| 1963 | C. Hartley |
| 1964 | C. F. Gunn |
| 1965 | C. F. Gunn |
| 1937 | L. A. Caldwell |
| 1938 | A. E. Robinson |
| 1939 | A. E. Robinson |
| 1946 | J. Stiven |
| 1947 | C. J. Malzard |
| 1948 | C. J. Malzard |
| 1949 | D. Wareham |
| 1950 | B. W. Williams |
| 1951 | A. D Taylor |
| 1952 | L. C. Horne |
| 1953 | D. Wareham |
| 1954 | D. Wareham |
| 1955 | D. P. North |
| 1956 | L. G. Taylor |
| 1957 | J. McKenzie (Southland) |
| 1958 | D. G. Wareham |
| 1959 | J. McKenzie |
| 1960 | D. G. Wareham |
| 1961 | J. McKenzie |
| 1962 | A. J. C. Donald |
| 1963 | J. McKenzie |
| 1964 | J. R. Thomson |
| 1965 | B. Clinch |
| 1964 | J. McKenzie |
| 1965 | M. Fuller (Sydney) |
| 1965 | A. W. H. Walker |