The Beacon: Although you’ve won many plaques at provincials and Atlantics, is there anything you, for the lack of a better term, regret?
Mr. Molloy: I packed up trap shooting in 1972 because of financial commitments, and I was sorry for that, because I was shooting well. I bought this house and land in 1972, and was married for about five years. When I bought the house, money was tight, but I was sorry for leaving trap shooting then, because I was at the top of my game. Friends of mine, like the great Pat Wall and those fellows, they were coming up and stayed on, but I got out, and I often wondered how far I would have went.
The Beacon: You still manage to go to the Gander Rod and Gun Club and hit the majority of your targets. You must have been quite the shooter when you first started shooting trap.
Mr. Molloy: I won the doubles championship years ago when I was a young fellow with a Wingmaster 870 Pump Action. It’s downstairs now on the wall as a matter of fact. I was young and had eyes like a cat. They’re using automatics today, or an over/under, so you pick up the gun and all you have to do is pull the trigger twice. In my case, I had to shoot, pump the gun, and shoot again. But when I was younger, I was so quick I could use that gun as fast as I could use an automatic.
The Beacon: After all these years, does trap shooting still have that same impact on you that it used to?
Mr. Molloy: As far as I’m concerned, when I go to the range to shoot, I’m competing against one person, and that’s me. It’s just me and the target. My eyes aren’t as good today as they were years ago — I remember a time when I could probably pick off 99 targets out of 100 — but I still find it a fascinating sport.
The Beacon: The Gander Rod and Gun Club had a scare a while back, and came close to closing its doors. Did anything similar to that happen in the past?
Mr. Molloy: The Gander Rod and Gun Club had its ups and downs. We just got rejuvenated a little while ago, and we were able to form an executive. But I remember shooting trap back in 1970, and going to these competitions, but suddenly trap shooting died out. I was out of it for 10 years or so, but then it came back, and I was rejuvenated again. Trap shooting died down again in 1985. Some people moved, and others passed away. In 1995, trap shooting in Gander was rejuvenated thanks to the efforts of Bernie Burgess and Dillon Driscoll. I give them full credit for getting things going again that year.
The Beacon: It’s been fascinating talking about your history of trap shooting, Mr. Molloy. Can we still find you at the range here in Gander?
Mr. Molloy; I hate to say it, but it’s a fact, I’m 76, and sad to say, especially this year, the targets are getting smaller and I’m shooting further out. Am I capable of getting good scores? Yes. I shot 23 out of 25 the other day, but in the meantime, I find that I lose focus sometimes. I got my eyes checked recently, and there’s a few little cataracts forming. There are no supermen — age is taking its toll. There’s a possibility that the upcoming Atlantics could be my last. I’m not giving up trap shooting, but I might have to give up competitive shooting. I’ll always be at the Rod and Gun Club to pass on my expertise to the young people shooting trap. I love running trap, and I love being at the club, so I’m never getting out of it.
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