Junior National Trap Champion Michael McNabb
by Adam Leto
It was about four years ago when an awkward 12-year-old, Michael McNabb, gripped a shotgun for the first time and shot some clay targets. Looking anything but nervous, the youngster knocked off three out of five, leaving the nearby range supervisor, along with various onlookers, impressed. While it was only a short introduction to the sport for Michael, it was enough to draw his interest and combined with an obvious talent, ensured he would return to the range.
“I remember that it was an Open Day and we had a ton of people coming through to try their hand at clay target shooting,” said former SSAA NSW President Bill Shelton. “I was working as a range officer and saw this tall, wide-eyed kid standing in line with his mother.
“He stepped up and shot really well, straight off the bat and you could tell that he had a natural eye.”
It was only later that day when Bill, who has been instructing clay target shooters for more than 40 years, found out that Michael was the son of Paul McNabb, current SSAA Sydney Branch President.
Fast forward to 2008 and the National Clay Target Championships held in Perth. Set among a landscape of mountainous, well-built, middle-aged men stands a teenager conspicuous by his statue and an ability which belies his age. At 16, Michael has come a long way since he picked up a shotgun for the first time, his rapid rise helped by his father, along with the guidance of other shooters such as Bill Shelton, Kevin Perkins and Vince Gatt.
Up against older and more experienced opponents, Michael, a SSAA member since the age of 12, starred at the Perth Nationals, claiming third place in the Junior Olympic Trap competition, second in Junior Commonwealth Trap and taking out the Junior National Trap Championship.
“I was pretty pleased with how I went and I was one of the youngest in the competition, so it was a great experience,” said Michael.
“Heading into the event, I was just hoping to finish in the top four for each competition, so to come away with a first, second and third really exceeded my expectations.”
In addition to being, in some cases, more than three years younger than his junior rivals, Michael’s score of 109 in the National Trap competition also saw him place seventh in the Opens. This is only a handful of targets short of the legendary Michael Diamond, who finished third with a score of 113.
While Michael McNabb openly admits he still has a long way to go before he is at the same competitive level as “champs like Michael Diamond and Russell Mark”, the level-headed teenager is happy to keep chiselling away.
Both Kevin, who was with Michael in Perth, and Bill, agree that although Michael still has a few rough edges to smooth over, success on the international stage is well within his reach.
“He certainly has the ability to go far in the sport,” said Bill. “You only have to look at his scores in Perth - he was only four shots behind arguably Australia’s greatest shooter”.
After briefly trying his hand at rifle shooting when he first got involved with sports shooting as a 12-year-old, Michael, who is also a member of the NSW Gun Club, was soon attracted to the “moving target” aspect associated with shooting clays. The Year 11 student from North Sydney soon learned, however, that being a “precise” rifle shot was not going to help when it came to popping off the flying discs and that a more positive approach was needed.
The results and his rise since have been quite amazing and at the coming Commonwealth Junior Games in Pune, India, for which Michael was selected as Australia’s sole Trap shooter, he has the opportunity to cement his place as one of the country’s brightest up-and-coming stars.
Kevin has seen first-hand how much Michael has matured over the past six months and he attributes Michael’s background and strong upbringing, among other things, as key factors in the youngster’s success. While concentration and focus are important features when it comes to shooting, so too is a willingness to listen and learn, traits which Michael is not short of.
“His attitude to the sport and to other people is really good,” said Kevin. “He listens and he has good manners. I think that’s half the battle”. When you combine that with his obvious ability, then you’d have to say that he will go on with it.
“So far he’s the number-one junior shooter in the country, so he must be doing something right. The most pleasing thing is that he wants to get better and continue to improve.”
Results in 2007 and 2008 not only underline Michael’s potential, but vindicate his mature approach to the sport. Last year, he won the Queensland Junior Titles and the New South Wales Grand Prix Series and finished second at the New South Wales and Victorian Junior State Titles.
“Since I’ve started shooting, I’ve set little goals for myself, just with the aim of getting better each year,” Michael said. “So far I’ve been able to tick them off, but I try not to look too far ahead.”
It must be hard for the teenager not to think about how bright his future in the sport may be, especially when many consider him one of Australia’s best shotgun prospects, with comparisons being drawn with Olympic Gold medallist Russell Mark at the same age.
While, like many junior shooters, Michael does hold ambitions of one day making the Olympics, he understands that the process is just as important as the outcome.
“The ultimate goal, of course, would be to represent Australia and I know that it is not something that will happen overnight and there’s a lot of hard work involved,” said Michael.
“But I’ve been lucky to have my dad, who has been great and lets me do my own thing, but if he sees me doing the wrong thing, he offers advice. Bill Shelton and Kevin Perkins also have a lot of experience and are always willing to help.
“I know if I continue to work hard and listen, that the results will come.”
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