Southland Sport
Te Anau sharpshooter Jack Heslip has been part of an historic win at the Australian national clay target championships.
The ILT Academy Southland athlete, who made his world junior championship debut last year, was selected in the 2025 ISSF junior team by the New Zealand Clay Target Association.
Despite trying conditions, including intense thunderstorms in Sydney during the lead up to the main event at Cecil Park, Jack finished as the fourth placed junior at the Commonwealth Competition held on the eve of the nationals.
On the opening day of the national championships he produced a steady performance with three scores of 23 for a total of 69 targets out of 75.
The following he shot two perfect rounds (25 from 25), the only New Zealand junior to record a perfect score, and equalled his personal best competition total with 116 from 125 targets.
That result saw him finish runner up in the Junior Under 18, Junior Under 21 and A grade categories, and seventh in the open grade.
It also helped the New Zealand team finish 16 targets ahead of their Australian counterparts, winning the Jack Calrossie Trophy for the first time in decades.
“(There were) lots of positives and some things to work on,” Jack said.
“This has been a wonderful experience and some new friendships made.”
Jack is grateful for the support of his parents, ILT Academy Southland and the Sid Slee Trust.