Te Anau's Jack Heslip has finished fourth in the junior men's Olympic trap final at the world championships in Germany, capping a season spent living in a caravan in Wales to stay on the European circuit.
The 19-year-old, who grew up on a farm in the Hokonui hills and learned to shoot doing pest control with his father, told What's On Invers he was one of only two shooters in the eight-man final who were not funded athletes.
"I am not a fully funded athlete like in the final in Germany," he said in the article, published today.
Heslip based himself in Wales from April to September, working at campsites and shooting grounds to pay his way and competing across the United Kingdom and Europe. The approach paid off: as well as his fourth placing at the worlds, he won the Junior World Ball Trap title in the UK this year.
He has now been selected in a three-person New Zealand junior team to take on Australia in Sydney in mid-January. After that he plans to return to Wales for another six months on the European circuit, with Junior World Cups and the Junior World Championship as the targets.
Heslip's shooting began at the Balfour Gun Club at age 11 through Northern Southland College. From Year 9 to Year 13 he competed at Southland, North Island and South Island, and New Zealand secondary schools events, and in 2021 the Olympic trap nationals were held on his home ground at Balfour.
He is coached by David Baker, who has guided him through several titles, with Steve Robinson also part of his coaching team. His first world championships was in Peru, followed by Germany and Italy.
Olympic trap is one of the most demanding clay target disciplines, with targets launched at high speed from unknown angles. New Zealand has a strong tradition in the sport, and Southland's rural gun clubs at Balfour and elsewhere have produced a steady stream of national representatives.
Heslip said the backing from home mattered. "I am super grateful for all the support that I get from my hometown," he told What's On Invers.
