Not a year has gone by and Tapanga Turner already is breaking targets and turning heads. Turner began competing in trapshooting in February.
In August, the 14-year-old LaHarpe girl shot in the Grand American World Trapshooting Championships in Sparta, Ill.
Last week, Turner “dominated” the sub-junior division of the 2010 Missouri Fall Handicap in Linn Creek, Mo. Even after missing two of her events because of food poisoning, Turner claimed the high all-around award buckle for the division.
She broke 359 of 400 targets to earn that award. Turner also won five events — 200 singles, breaking 97 of 100 the first go-around and 84 the second day; and handicap, where she broke 97 of 100 clay pigeons, earning her a punch.
“That means I get to move back a yard from the target when I shoot. Getting punched is a good thing,” Turner said. “I was shooting from 18 yards now I’ve earned 19.”
She said the farthest away from the target in handicap division is 27 yards. Turner said she liked shooting from farther back.
Turner also won two events of doubles, where two targets are sent at once for a competitor to shoot. She hit 92 of 100 one session and 85 of 100.
“It was windy and cold plus my gun wore down be the end of the competition,” Turner said.
“It was fun and a really good experience. I got to shoot against some very good shooters. There were a lot of girls competing.”
The Missouri Fall Handicap is one of the largest trapshoots in the United States. Competition ran from last Monday to Sunday.
Turner competed in her sub-junior division from Wednesday to Sunday.
“The targets were coming out faster as the competition went on. I liked that. I get bored and it keeps me sharp if the targets are fast,” Turner said.
Earlier in the fall, Turner competed in the Kansas Fall Handicap and won two sub-division events.
Turner is a freshman at Marmaton Valley High School. She said she was still determined to get trapshooting as a school sport at MVHS and other area high schools.
“Man, Lindenwood University was at the Missouri Fall Handicap. That’s where I want to go to college. They are very good in the sport,” Turner said.
Lindenwood University is at St. Charles, Mo., and has a competitive clay target team, which has won seven consecutive national championships at the ACUI Intercollegiate level.
For Turner, it is “back to practice and get ready for February when competitions begin again.”
Turner tags targets at Missouri Fall Handicap
