Aurora cadets hit the mark at provincial competition

May 5, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Jake Courtepatte

Five local residents from 2799 Queen’s York Rangers Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps combined for the best score at the Central Ontario marksmanship championship last weekend, besting over three-hundred other teams.

Warrant Officer Ethan Hoyes led the way with a gold medal performance in the Individual Open category, while Maya Neumann achieved her own gold medal in the Individual Junior category. Their efforts, combined with that of Nicholas Ertl, Tyler McKechnie, and Emily Woodhouse, effectively ranked the Aurora-based unit first overall out of a field of 318 units across Ontario.

It was the first provincial title for the unit since 2010.

The cadet marksmanship program is based upon Olympic-style competition, with the focus on teaching cadets the proper use and safe handling of firearms.
Air rifle training is an activity that builds confidence, self-discipline and respect through a progressively challenging, gender-neutral recreational sport.

Cadets fire air rifles at a distance of ten metres from the target, shooting from both the prone and standing positions.

“The revitalization of the Air Rifle Championship series expanded the number of teams that competed in the Stage 2 qualifying round, which effectively increased the level of challenge across this year’s regional competition,” explained Captain Christopher Barron, Common Training Officer for Central Region Cadet Support Unit. “We have seen some very impressive results across our teams and look forward to the National Championship.”