Sport + Motorsport
Mataura Gun Club’s Alex Smith will have about 1000 targets to contend with as he looks to take on the world’s best in Texas later this month.
The 17-year-old from Menzies College is already on his way to San Antonio where he has his sights set on the World Skeet Championships, running from September 26 to October 4.
Across the mini-Worlds, which precedes the main event, and the World Championships, Alex will face about 1000 American skeet targets as part of the New Zealand open team, alongside his coach and team mate Kelvin Gutsell.
Along with temperatures between 30-40degC, it’s an exciting challenge for the ILT Academy Southland Foundation Year athlete.
Travelling in from the family farm at Redan, near Wyndham, Alex has made the most of the nutrition, mental skills and strength and conditioning support provided by the two-year programme.
“I’ve been trying to take in all the information from Academy Southland that I can and just breaking targets really,” Alex said of his build up to his second overseas assignment.
“Nutrition and hydration have been key, along with getting more confident with my mental skills, since the name of the game is about mental focus and management. It’s been great having access to the gym and just having all the support I need to make it possible.”
Alex won the high gun title as the best overall shooter at the Australian skeet championships in Perth in April, in what was his international debut.
He has a clear idea about how to take that form into the world event.
“As long as I break one target at a time and not get overstressed I’ll be happy as. You can’t worry about the end score,” he said.
“Not putting too much pressure on myself over the first few days and then just getting used to the heat and not being afraid.”
Alex joined the Mataura Gun Club about four years ago, linking with Gutsell a year later as he progressed from down the line intercollegiate meets into skeet.
“My parents and grandparents have always been very supportive of me. It’s been the same with my coach Kelvin, he’s taught me all the tips and tricks, and then there’s the people in the shooting community.”
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