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Food Focus May 2006

Trigger happy

NZFSA’s champion shooter and NZ Standards Programme Manager Sally Johnston says the atmosphere at this year’s Commonwealth Games event in Melbourne was “amazing”.

“In Kuala Lumpur in 1998 the New Zealand shooting team were in a satellite village, away from the mainstream events. This time we were in the athletes’ village with everyone else and really felt a part of the Games.”

Sally, who was placed 5th in the women’s 50m rifle three-positions pairs event and 13th in the individual event, told Food Focus: “I’m more than happy with my performance.

“I gave it everything in all my matches. I fought for every point and never gave up.“

All Sally’s scores were above the qualifying standard for team selection, and she held her own in a field that has improved significantly over the past few months. The majority of shooters are borderline professional (many of the Commonwealth nations put $3-4 million each year into shooting).

Sally says she gained some excellent training while in Melbourne and will reap the benefits over the next few months.

She is now looking at the possibility of competing in world cup events in Milan, Munich and the World Championships in Zagreb later in the year.