Jeremy Kent can claim to be the best sporting clays shooter in the country following his win in the Australian championships at Windamere Shooting Complex on Sunday.
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The Mount Gambier shooter held his nerve to win the national title by one target from Victorian pair Chris Brown and Blake Nankervis.
Kent has been shooting for 25 years and has represented South Australia and his country but rates the weekend’s victory as the “high-gun” of his career.
“I’ve been chasing this one. It’s the best one,” the 36-year-old said.
“Being a national champion and beating the best in the country. You’ve got the best shots in Australia here.”
Kent shot 209 out of the 225 targets at an percentage of 92.88 per cent.
He watched on nervously as the scores came in but managed to hold on for his first national title.
Brown and Nankervis finished on 208 targets each and had to a shoot-off to determine who would finish second and third.
After four stages, both shooters remained levelled and had to go into a sudden-death situation.
Brown managed to hit all of his targets while Nankervis missed one. Brown finished second and the Geelong shooter was third.
Kent said the three-day shoot was tough.
“It’s pretty hard work, shooting 75 targets each day. By today it was the hardest just to keep pushing on [because of the mental aspect],” Kent said.
“First day I shot 70 and I knew I had to shoot 70 every day. The second day I shot 71 and today I shot 68.
“I was a bit down today but it was just enough to win by one target.
“I think [winning] it was more to do with fatigue of the other boys.”
John Younger (205) and Daryl Fleming (204) finished fourth and fifth respectively in the open category.
Brisbane’s Dale Whiting won the A-grade division with a score of 194. Second was Stephen Norris (185) and Mark Reynolds was third on 183.
Matthew Howard won the B-grade titles with a score of 167 from Thomas Jenkins (165) and Mark Cain (156).
C-grade went to Craig MacPherson on 145 with Wendel Litchfield (135) and Victor Smith (129) occupying the minor placings.
Ron Rhook won the veterans with a total of 197, Neil Peat was second on 186 and John Leach third on 185.
Barry Jane took out the super veterans on 182 with John Torrensan (174) and Bryan Rafferty (172) behind.
In the women’s competition, Renae Birgan took home top gun honours with a total of 189 followed by Kelly Norris (182) and Brittany Cole (175).
The juniors competition was close in both categories.
Jeremy Paglia (191) won by a shot from Adam Shale (190) in the juniors division with Cameron Kivenen third on 185.
There was a shoot-off for the sub-juniors division, which was won by Mark Du Rose (171) from Bryce Paglia (171) and Reece Cain (165)