Cadet Tucker Sharp, 13, son of Tom and Shelley Sharp of Carlyle, has recently seen success competing in the Stage 2 Cadet Biathlon hosted in White City on Nov. 8 and is now off to the Saskatchewan Provincial Biathlon in February held at Camp Saskadet.
In the Junior Division (12-years to 14-years-old) Tucker in fact achieved first place overall finishing with a time of 19 minutes and 59 seconds, with the second place finisher earning a time of 20 minutes and 14 seconds.
While at a regular parade night, Tucker’s interest was piqued in the biathlon when a sign-up sheet was provided for anyone interested.
“I like running in cross country and in this I would get to run and shoot,” Tucker explained. “The next stage we cross country ski, so we have the skis out and will hopefully get to go to a groomed track soon because the skis are a little bit different than cross country skis because these are for speed skiing; you have to kind of skate with them.”
“I’m excited because I’ve never really skied cross country or [downhill].”
Right now Tucker is working on his conditioning and using his arms to help pull him when he’s skiing.
The competition in White City focused on running and shooting, however, which allowed the avid cross country runner to excel.
“You had to run one kilometre, shoot five targets, run another kilometre, shoot five targets, and finish with another kilometre,” Tom stated.
The range near White City was likened to running through Saskairie, filled with hills and difficult terrain.
“Running the first kilometre and then shooting was easier, after the second kilometre I really had to work on controlling my breathing and if you can’t control your breathing then you have to pay attention to the sway of the gun and have to shoot while swaying,” Tucker explained.
“There’s a certain point to that you can no longer run, you have to walk to the gun, and then when you’re finished shooting you have to have the clip out, the bolt pulled back, and the safety on. You have to prove it’s safe.”
While competing Tucker said there are scouts who are watching for the targets, called turkeys, that are hit and don’t go down. Each turkey missed is a 30 second penalty and Tucker did well taking down six of 10 targets in his heat.
Hitting the targets may become a little more difficult at Provincials Tucker stated: “We were just using air rifles at White City, but the next level we’ll be skiing and using .22s. Winter breathing can be harder to control and .22s have a little more recoil than an air rifle.”
The third stage of competition will have cadets using a .22 Cal Anschutz biathlon target rifle, while the .177 Cal Daisy Air Rifle had been used for the competition in White City.
As a junior and it being his first year, Tucker, competed on a team of three from the Moose Mountain Air Cadet squadron. While competing as part of the team, however, Tucker proved himself a competitor and actually earned a spot going to Provincials as an individual with his performance, while the team itself placed 6th overall.
“We knew he did well,” Tom explained. “But the computers were down there so we were emailed the results after and found out he had finished first as an individual out of everyone in his age category. I was a little surprised just because you don’t expect someone in their first year, for the first time competing to place first. You expect that first year for them to do well and for it to be a learning experience, but I’m very proud of him.”
The learning curve for Tucker was the shooting portion of the competition. He had been introduced to fire arms before, but had never used a peep site before which is the usual for this competition.
The Sharp’s were appreciative of the Bow Valley Air Cadets out of Oxbow who have a range for air rifles and an instructor for fire arms who will be working with Tucker and Flight Sergeant Michala Linklater (of Redvers who has also earned a spot at provincials) out of Estevan with the .22s.
Provincials will be held Feb. 6 to 8 at Camp Saskadet near Kelvington.
“It will be a lot of fun!” Tucker exclaimed.
This is Tucker’s first year in Air Cadets and he has been enjoying the opportunities it has presented him with. Acknowledging how the program teaches responsibility and respect, while he has also been able to try new things like the biathlon and learn survival skills.
