Bill Dutton, Submission
The Hudson Fish and Game Club Junior Rifle team kicked off its 2026-2027 Season in earnest in September.
The team started off the season with the NH State Outdoor Three Position State Championship on September 12. This event involves shooting smallbore rifle at a distance of 50 meters (reduced to 50 yards) with 40 shots each in the Kneeling, Prone and Standing positions. Joey Dehney of Pelham NH took the top Overall and State OPEN/Junior Resident champion trophies with a score of 1006 out of a possible 1200. Colson Kehoe of Pepperell MA was 2nd and Reagan Pelletier of Dracut MA was 3rd.
The follow week the team hosted the 12th annual Junior Rifle Clinic on September 16-17. The clinic teaches firearm safety, marksmanship and a 20 shot fun match on the team’s electronic targets at the end of the second day with prizes for the top three shooters. It was lightly attended with only 4 signed up but the quality of the juniors was high. Lilly Robitaille of Dracut was 1st with a score of 166. Steve Hanscom of Derry NH was 2nd with a score of 160 and Riley deLacoste was 3rd with a score of 150.
Several members of the team travelled to Plymouth NH for the ‘Plymouths of the World’ match which is shot remotely at clubs around the world located in the town of Plymouth including countries like England, Australia and New Zealand. The match is a 60 shot prone match shot at a distance of 50 meters. Team coach Bill Dutton of Derry NH was top NH shooter with a score of 581. Amelia Daniels of Dracut MA was 2nd with a score of 570. Colson Kehoe was 3rd with a score of 568.
The team then wrapped up its outdoor match season with the NH Outdoor Conventional Prone Championship on September 26. The match was lightly attended as well perhaps out of fear of the Nor’easter that threatened the region. The day was almost entirely dry as the threat of heavy rain stayed just to the north and south of Hudson for the entire match. The prone match consists of shooting 40 shots at each of the various distances in the prone position, 50 Yards, 50 Meters (reduced to 50 yards), the ‘Dewar’ match is a 50 and a 100 yard target and finished up with the 100 yard match. Jack Daniels of Dracut MA was the top overall shooter with a score 1586 (out of 1600). Joey Dehney took the second overall and State Open Resident champion with a score of 1566. Robert Lynn, State Rep from Windham NH and former Chief Justice of the NH Supreme Court took the 3rd overall spot with a score of 1560. Of note was newcomer Jaxson Gibbons Bruce of Nashua was the State Junior Resident champion with a score of 1478.
If you are interested in learning more about the HFGJRT program you can inquire at www.hudsonfishandgame.com.
