Air Force Cadet Top Shot
By Andrew Bonallack, Porirua News
Shooting the bullseye "just happens" for Cadet Under-Officer Deahne Peach.
Underofficer Deahne Peach
The Air Training Corp cadet from Papakowhai is the top rifle shooter among New Zealand’s Navy, Army, and Air Force cadet forces.
U/O Peach, 19, has earned her unit—41 (City of Porirua) Cadet Squadron—the David Culverwell Memorial Trophy, in the Wallingford shooting competition last year. The unit has only just received the trophy recently, although her result was confirmed in December. There had been some debate over a minute fraction of distance in her results, but her score came back as a 98 out of a possible 100 points. U/O Peach learned to shoot with antique and weighty .22 rifles over a 25-yard range, and admits she still prefers them over the modern lightweight rifles. "I’ve been shooting since 2004, but I’ve never won this before," she said. "I scored 25, 25, 24, 24. It’s hard to explain, when the target is right in the middle, you squeeze right then. It just happens for me." Because the prize is an actual rifle, albeit mounted with a plaque, it cannot sit exposed on a shelf, but is stored away safely.
Congratulations U/O Peach! You have done your Squadron and the Royal New Zealand Air Force proud. Editor