World eagerly awaits - Teenager in best form of three-year career
The Weekly, Page: 24, Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Teenage shooting sensation Jake Mackenzie is expected to be named in the national 5-stand team by the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia after placing fifth at the national titles at Lake Macquarie last weekend.
Mackenzie had what he described as his best shoot on the clay target range for either 5-stand or field and game, the two disciplines he has concentrated on in his brief three-year career in the sport.
At Lake Macquarie on Sunday he achieved a perfect score in his third round of 25 targets on the day and said it was the first time he had achieved this feat.
His perfect 25 followed an almost perfect second round when he finished with 24 on his way to finishing with 90 targets out of a possible 100 for the day.
“Conditions were perfect on Sunday after Saturday’s shoot that was held in sunny conditions with a slight breeze,” Mackenzie said.
On Saturday MacKenzie was placed fifth for the day when he shot two rounds of 21, a 23 and a 19 on his way to 84 targets on a day when the top score was 90.
Thirteen squads of five contested the nationals at Lake Macquarie and his two rounds on Sunday placed him in the top five open shooters at just 16 years of age in the country.
He has been ranked fourth among the names forwarded to the SSAA for confirmation to represent Australia at the world championships to be held at Hamilton, New Zealand in September 2010.
Other members of the team are Grant Powell (NSW), Paul McGowan (WA).
Peter Hall (Vic) and Kevin Raymond (NSW) who had to survive a shoot-off to take out fifth place.
At Lake Macquarie Mackenzie impressed 5-stand enthusiasts with his style (the way he holds the gun) and sportsmanship.
The teenager, who is described as easy to watch and has good techniques ‘ will now concentrate on the field and game discipline with the state championships to be held at Mudgee on September 5 and 6.
“My goal is to win the field and game state junior title and gain a junior spot iii the state team at my home range,” Mackenzie said.
“If I do that I will head to Geelong for the nationals in October and will be out to gain one of the three junior spots iii the national team.”
If successful at Geelong, he will then shoot at the World Championships to be held at Warnambool in November.
Mackenzie said he was fortunate that his parents were able to help with the cost of his sport.
“Cartridge costs alone are generally at least $150 for a weekend shoot like the one at Lake Macquarie,” he said.
“In addition you have nomination costs, travel costs and accommodation - Lake Macquarie was what I call a one thousand dollar weekend.
“I am fortunate that my cartridge supplier, Express, gives me support with discount for bulk buys of cartridges and the State NSW Sport and Recreation Department recently awarded me a $600 scholarship.” He said his major influences in the sport were local Field and Game enthusiast Stephen Payne and former Mudgee junior shooting talent Dan Baskerville.
Home > Media monitoring > 2009 > World eagerly awaits - Teenager in best form of three-year career