 |
By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
National Geographic photographer William Albert Allard
with the CABA Distraptions Elizabeth Russell, Lacey
Lane, Laura Beth Fowler, Rachel Chandler, Samantha
Doster, and Mallory Martin.
NASHVILLE - From the local high school to glossy
magazine pages, the CABA Distraptions are making a name
for themselves. Throughout the week, these ladies are
students in high school, excelling academically,
athletically, and socially. On the weekends of late,
they have been the subjects of photo shoots for national
and international magazines.
While many students have excelled as trap shooters, the
McKenzie teams have taken the sport to whole new level.
The local program continues to bring notoriety to the
sport.
Since the inception of the Scholastic Clay Target
Program, McKenzie shooters have garnered state and
national championships, invitations for three students
to participate in the Junior Olympic Development Camp in
Colorado, a feature on the all-girls team in Field and
Stream, and coming next spring, a feature on the ladies
in National Geographic and in the fashion pages of
Beretta USA sportswear catalog.
William "Bill" Albert Allard, a photojournalist with
National Geographic for 42 years, completed the first of
two photo shoots of the Distraptions on September 2 and
3 at the Governor's dove hunt in Nashville, Thomas "Bub"
Edwards' farm in Henry County, and in McKenzie, where
they met at the high school and later had lunch at the
local Mexican restaurant. Allard will return to McKenzie
in January for two to three days to complete the shoot.
In a proposed 30-page layout, consisting of 15 pages of
photos and 15 pages editorial, Allard plans to include
the girls in a story about hunting in the U.S.
Allard is a renowned photographer and writer. His works
including photos and stories from around the world and
books, including Portraits of America, Vanishing Breed:
Photographs of the Cowboy and the West; A Time We Knew:
Images of Yesterday in the Basque Homeland; and American
Cowboy in Life and Legend.
Carson Rider in Beretta wear poses for Beretta
USA magazine. |
 |
The subjects of his McKenzie assignment included: Laura
Beth Fowler, Rachel Chandler, Samantha Doster, Lacey
Lane, Mallory Martin (a Union City girl now shooting
with the McKenzie team), Linley McClain, and Elizabeth
Russell, whom he interviewed more extensively, according
to team coach Lance Rider.
"He said the girls were a delight and very natural,"
said Rider of Albert.Allard conducted a search to find a story about females
in hunting and ran across a story about the Distraptions
in The Jackson Sun, written by Lindsey McDonald.
On the weekend of the September 9 and 10, the ladies,
along with Carson Rider, modeled outdoor fashion wear
for Beretta USA's spring 2007 catalog. At the Tennessee
Clay Target Complex in Nashville, photographers Ira
Wexlar and John Overton and a videographer photographed
the McKenzie youths in different outerwear. Early
morning models included Candice Ridley, Elizabeth
Russell, Linley McClain, and Lacy Lane. Mid-day models
were Samanta Doster and Rachel Chandler. Afternoon
models were Laura Beth Fowler and Carson Rider. The
video will air as small segments on the program "World
of Beretta" on The Outdoor Channel.
Laura Beth Fowler, Rachel Chandler, and Samantha Doster
model for the Beretta USA fashion magazine and the
Beretta World TV show on The Outdoor Channel.
When the McKenzie teams competed in the national
competition in Illinois, St. Louis' Channel 4 news
videoed a segment on the McKenzie teams during the
national competition in Illinois. Outdoor Life Network
came to a practice in McKenzie and then followed the
Distraptions in Illinois for a video special scheduled
to air later.
Laura Beth Fowler said everyone at the national
competition referred to the Distraptions as "The Beretta
Girls." The ladies are the official representatives for
Beretta at special events, including those at Bass Pro
Shop in Nashville. The ladies were pictured in the
international Beretta magazine for 2006.
Between photo shoots on September 9, the models did some
shooting of their own competing in the Tennessee Autumn
Festival, which included some 227 competitors of all
ages.
Brandon Sellers, Carson Rider, Clint Beacham, and Luke
Anderson with their trophies during the Amateur Trap
Shooting Association's Tennessee Fall Festival.
Linley McClain holds her championship trophy from the
Tennessee Fall Festival.
Elizabeth Russell with her two trophies from the
Tennessee Fall Festival. |
|
In Class A competition including all ages, Clint Beacham
claimed the championship with a score of 199 of 200
targets; Linley McClain claimed the championship in
Class D with 189 of 200 targets; Carson Rider claimed
the Junior Champion title (ages 16-21) with 199 of 200
targets; Brandon Sellers and Luke Anderson claimed the
Sub Junior Championship and Runner-Up respectively for
ages up to 15 years. Brandon shot 195 of 200 targets and
Luke 193 of 200; In the Handicap, Clint Beacham won the
championship for all ages in the 22 to 23.5 yard; and
Linley McClain won the championship for all ages in the
19-21 yard with Brandon Sellers winning the runner-up
post. Elizabeth Russell won Sub Junior Champion in the
Handicap with 91 of 100 targets.
Heading to Colorado
Lacey Lane and Carson Rider will train at the Jr.
Olympic Development Camp after being selected from a
potential pool of 8,000 SCTP participants. Carson Rider,
a senior, son of Lance and Hollye Rider, and Lacey Lane,
a sophomore, daughter of Bill and Veda Lane, were two of
only 12 chosen to participate. Tennessee has the most
participants at four, half of whom are from McKenzie
with the other two from Murfreesboro and Dyersburg. The
two will travel to Colorado this week.
Carson and Lacey have participated in the national
Scholastic Clay Target Program since its inception in
McKenzie four years ago. They follow in the footsteps of
Samantha Doster of McKenzie who participated in the
Development Camp last year.
Carson is the state SCTP champion shooter and defended
that title at the national shoot. He tied with four
others in the first round with 197 targets of 200. In
the shoot off, he earned a perfect score to defend his
title.
Each applicant's shooting abilities and written essay
were reviewed. They started with a potential pool of
8000 SCTP shooters and narrowed it to just 12, age
14-20. "They didn't say how the selections were made,
but they're looking for good students and good citizens.
They want good ambassadors," said Rider, who was chosen
to serve as a coach during the 2005 training camp.
They will train and sleep where the Olympic athletes
train. Each day will be a regiment of working on
shooting techniques. If chosen to represent the United
States, they could travel the world competing. Carson
shoots a Beretta DT10 and Lacey, a Beretta 682 Gold. |
|
