GREAT RESULT

Rolleston-based Ewan Bawden, was fortunate to be invited to the 2023 International Shooting Sport Association (ISSF) Down The Line (DTL) Oceania Shooting Championships, which took place in Auckland at the end of April. The team consisted of six juniors under the age of twenty one, one of whom was Ewan’s Lincoln High School teammate Henry Wesley. The team comprised of three people at the Championships, with the others shooting individually.

“Norfolk Island, Niue Island, Samoa, Tahiti and New Caledonia were our opponents. I met a lot of lovely people and made new friends, which improved the overall experience,” commented Ewan.

“The Competition lasted three days. The first day was the Single Rise event, and I was assigned to a three-person team and placed second.

“The second day was dedicated to the Single Barrel competition, which saw me shoot as an individual, and I placed first junior,” Ewan added proudly.

“Day three was Point Score, and I was once again shooting as an individual. I finished third junior in this event. I am extremely delighted to have been able to participate, and coming home with three medals was a bonus.

“I learnt a lot about how other countries have different rules than to how we run our competitions. It was intriguing to see how they arrived and simply got on with the competition, attempting not to become confused by the varying rules. As a result of this experience, I am more aware that paying attention is vital for keeping focused,” Ewan added.

“I was having a terrible run throughout the Point Score event and had two bad rounds out of three. I kept my focus and fought through my disappointment to pull off a fantastic fourth round, which meant I finished third, and I know I can never give up trying. My perseverance paid off, but I must thank my mother Maxine, Henry’s dad Cary Wesley and Henry’s mum Maree Whiteley for their encouragement and support during the tournament. We couldn't accomplish any of these tournaments without the assistance of our parents.

“A huge thank you to Adrienne Goodeve from Bayleys Darfield, the Selwyn Lions, and everyone from the give-a-little page who sponsored me, which I am very grateful for. Thank you, also to everyone who has assisted me in my journey,” Ewan concluded.