Issue 1,226
Local News for Local Communities
Friday 27th March 2026
Phone: 03 318 7450 | Email: info@malvernnews.co.nz | Web: www.malvernnews.co.nz Got something Newsworthy? Let us know too!
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Darfield Duck Race Page 2
Malvern Collie Club Annual Dog Trials Page 10
Darfield Premier Cricket Team Page 12
SUCCESS AT WORLD CLAY TARGET CHAMPIONSHIPS Darfield local Joshua Smith, recently tested his skills against elite international competition at the NZ National Clay Target Competition and the International Clay Target Shooting Federation (ICTSF) World Down-the-Line (DTL) Championships. Hosted by the New Zealand Clay Target Association and the Canterbury Clay Target Club in Christchurch from 7–17 March, the event brought together top shooters from around the globe for a week of highstakes competition. For 16-year-old Joshua, the experience was a masterclass in the mental fortitude required for the sport. "Shooting is a very unforgiving sport, and 90 percent of it is mental," noted his mother, Rebecca Smith, who stood by him throughout the ten days of competition. "We had many highs and many lows, but his father, Heath, and I couldn’t be more proud of the way Josh listened and learnt. Like any
teenager, he had moments where he thought he knew best, but he had the respect to take advice on board, and we are so proud of his progress." Josh’s performance at the Nationals was nothing short of dominant in his category. He earned a medal in nearly every event he entered within his grade, including a firstplace finish in the NZ Ball Trap Championship. His consistency across the week saw him crowned the C Grade High Gun winner for the NZ DTL Nationals with an impressive score of 404. The challenge intensified during the World Championships, where Josh showed immense grit. After finding himself in fifth place, he dug deep to stage a remarkable comeback, eventually securing the C Grade World Bronze Medal. Over the course of the competitions, he maintained a 91.5 percent shooting average, a feat that has seen
Darfield local Joshua Smith. him officially regraded to B Grade. Josh, who has been shooting on and off for about three or four years, and after a significant break has found a new passion for the sport, credits his father as his primary inspiration. With his
recent success fuelling his ambition, he has already set his sights on his next milestones. "My goal is to hit A Grade by the end of the year and win at least one A Grade title," he said.
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