Southland Clay Shooter Reflects On Junior Worlds

• Jack Heslip competed at the Junior World Championships in Lima, Peru, with New Zealand’s team.
• He faced cultural surprises, like chicken gizzards, while adjusting to international competition.
• Heslip's next competition is the Australian Nationals in Sydney, set for January.

Southland’s Jack Heslip, a clay target shooter from Te Anau, recently competed in his first international event at the ISSF Junior World Championships in Lima, Peru. The Northern Southland College student, representing New Zealand, took part in the Olympic trap event, managing to hit 105 out of 125 targets over two days.

Heslip, an Academy Southland athlete, found the experience challenging but valuable. Competing in the muggy conditions of Lima was a stark contrast to life in Te Anau, and the trip was filled with new experiences. "We went out for an evening meal which looked good on the menu. I got Google translate out and it said steak and chips. It looked like steak so I had a bite and it was very chewy. In the end it turned out to be chicken gizzards… turns out I don’t like chicken gizzards," Heslip shared.

Despite some cultural surprises, Heslip enjoyed two days of practice in the competition arena, which marked his first time shooting in an enclosed range. Although he was initially disappointed with his results, shooting 20 out of 25 targets in his first round, he bounced back with an impressive run of 10 consecutive hits. His best round came on the second day when he shot 24 in a row after missing his first target.

Reflecting on the event, Heslip said, “I was a little disappointed as this is below what I normally shoot, I was a few targets off my usual numbers.” However, he gained much from interacting with shooters from other countries. “I got to talk to different competitors from different nations, which is really eye-opening… they have invited me to go and shoot in their country one day.”

Heslip’s next major event is set for January at the Australian Nationals in Sydney, where he hopes to continue building on his international experience.