Pembina Triangle Trap Club shooters turned in impressive performances at the Manitoba Junior Shotgun Association Provincial Championships on June 21 in Brandon, with several athletes earning podium finishes against competitors from across the province.
Members of the Pembina Triangle Trap Club who competed at the provincial championships, left to right, Travis Giesbrecht, Kevin Giesbrecht, Karissa Giesbrecht, Addy Shepherd, Kevin Brown (coach), Bella Orchard and Alex Orchard. Missing from the photo is Rob Wiebe
The championship attracted 40 shooters from Virden, Brandon, Portage la Prairie, Lundar, Winnipeg and the Pembina Triangle region. Participants competed under sunny and breezy conditions.
Leading the way for the Pembina Triangle contingent was 17-year-old Karissa Giesbrecht, who captured the Girls 16-18 Junior Ladies provincial championship with a score of 72.
The victory was especially meaningful for Giesbrecht, who had finished runner-up in the division in each of the previous three years. She placed second with scores of 86 in 2024 and 82 in 2025 after winning the Novice Ladies title in her first year of competition in 2022 at just 13 years old.
This year, Giesbrecht finished six to seven targets ahead of the second-place shooter from Winnipeg to claim her first provincial title in the division.
Now in her fifth year of trapshooting, Giesbrecht credits practice, a positive attitude and strong mental preparation for helping improve her game.
Her provincial championship also earned her free targets and shells for the 200-bird Saturday Singles event at the Manitoba Trapshooting Provincial Championships, scheduled for Aug. 21-23 in Winnipeg. The event is expected to attract 10 to 15 competitors from outside Manitoba, including shooters from Saskatchewan, Ontario and the United States.
With one year of eligibility remaining in the 16-18 age category, Giesbrecht will have an opportunity to defend her title next season.
Other local shooters also found success at the provincial event.
Addy Shepherd earned first place in the Girls 12-13 Novice division, while Bella Orchard placed third in the same category.
Alex Orchard added another podium finish, placing second in the Boys 14-15 Novice division.
Coach Kevin Brown said Lundar has traditionally enjoyed strong results at the Junior Provincials, and this year six Pembina Triangle athletes represented the community at the event.
The results highlighted the continued strength of the Pembina Triangle Trap Club as local athletes continued to make their mark on the provincial stage.
