KING Island’s Matthew Archer was among some of the biggest names in shooting and Olympic qualifier hopefuls who competed in NSW for the Australian Clay Target Association’s national championships in very tough and hot conditions.
The prestigious event in Wagga had more than 2000 people from the clay shooting community attend, including some from overseas. Archer was part of the Tasmanian Open Team and came in fifth, while the Tasmanian ladies and veteran teams both finished in sixth place.
ACTA Executive Officer Brett Somerville said the national championships was the cornerstone of Australian shooting.
“This year, the stakes are even higher, with the Paris Olympics looming on the horizon for our very best,” Mr Somerville told Region Riverina.
The three Tasmanian junior shooters took out second place in the National Teams match. Junior MacIntosh Team High Gun winner Lewis Kenny, 16, was selected for the team, which will go to the world trap championships in London representing Tasmania and Australia.
“The next goal for us as a shooting community will be to fundraise to assist Lewis on his quest to represent Australia in London and Tasmania. According to the elders in the Tasmanian veteran team, he will be only the second Tasmanian to make it to this level,” Archer said.