A couple of weeks ago Tapanga Turner was introduced to the Register’s readers as a young lady on target in her first year of trapshooting.
Turner competed in the 2010 Grand American World Trapshooting Championships in Sparta, Ill., last week.
“And learned a lot,”Turner said of her experience at the largest trapshooting range in the nation. “It was really a great opportunity for me to meet and watch a lot of quality shooters.”
Turner said she did “fairly well,” breaking 896 of 1,000 targets for the week of shooting.
Turner, 14, has been shooting competitively since March.
“The people there were so nice and helpful. Those I shot against really encouraged me. They were impressed how well I was shooting in my first year in the sport. One older gentleman pulled me aside after watching me shoot a round and helped me on my stance.
“That’s what’s great about the sport.”
As a competitive person, Turner said she was disappointed in not winning a division.
“But I loved being there. I shot pretty well in all three divisions (singles, doubles and handicap) and my confidence is up. I met a lot of high school students shooting for their high school teams.
“That’s what I’d like to see happen here in our area. I urge our area high schools to offer trapshooting as a competitive sport. It teaches respect for others and self-respect.”
Turner said she plans to compete in the Kansas Fall Handicap trapshoot and the Missouri Fall Handicap. She also said the Lone Tree Gun Club at Elsmore is open to anyone wanting to enjoy the sport of trapshooting.
Turner not just a shot in the dark
