Brett Worner - 2009 WASA Junior Sports Star Awards winner
by senior correspondent Jennifer Martens
Since 1988, the Western Australian Shooting Association (WASA) has been recognising outstanding ballistic achievements at its annual Sports Star Awards night. It is the only state or territory in Australia to have an award dedicated solely to the ballistic sports. The awards night is open to members from the SSAA, as well as many other associations, including the Western Australian Small-bore Rifle Association, Western Australian Rifle Association, Western Australian Clay Target Association, Western Australian Pistol Association, Western Australian Field & Game Association, Archery Society of Western Australia, Australian Bowhunters Association and International Practical Shooters Confederation.
Each association is allowed to nominate one person for each of its four categories: Veteran, International, Senior and Junior. One person is then chosen as the overall winner for each division.
Winning the title of Junior Sports Star for 2009 was 17-year-old SSAA member Brett Worner. Brett was nominated for his outstanding achievements in Lever Action and Field Rifle in 2008 and 2009.
Brett says the win has been the highlight of his sporting career. “When they read out all the other nominees, I didn’t expect to win because they were all so impressive and most had international titles. When I heard my name, I was very shocked,” said the AA Grade shooter.
His record-breaking win (he beat his old record by 20 points) in the Junior Open Division at the 2009 WA State Lever Action Championships helped him clinch the award, as did the gold medals he won in both the Junior Classic Calibre and the Junior Revolver events. In the Open Class (Senior Division), he placed 11th overall.
At the 2008 WA State Field Rifle competition, in which there were 66 competitors, Brett finished an impressive 10th place in the Open 2-Gun Aggregate, 15th in the Open Rimfire event and 11th in the Open Centrefire event. Against his peers, he claimed three gold medals - the 2-Gun Junior Aggregate, the Junior Centrefire and the Junior Rimfire.
At the 2008 and 2009 National Lever Action Championships, he was the only junior selected to compete in the open team events. At the 2008 Nationals, Brett shot a 48.1 out of 50 on his nominated target in the Sitting Unsupported Position.
Since September 2008, Brett has won just about every junior competition in which he has taken part. His goal for 2010 is to win the Senior Division of the State Lever Action Championships held in June.
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