This year, 26 district sporting legends are being inducted to the hall of fame, honour roll and junior honour roll categories in the Greater Shepparton Sports Hall of Fame. The News is featuring stories on each of the inductees in the lead-up to the induction ceremony on August 6. Today News reporter Aydin Payne speaks to Xavier Russell, who is being inducted to the junior honour roll.
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Called up to the shooting station, Xavier Russell loads his Blaser F3 shotgun and begins his routine.
He has done this tens of thousands of times before.
His eyes begin to narrow in concentration and his breathing slows to a point of calmness.
But he is alert and attentive.
His mind is clear of all thoughts, but he knows he must accomplish the task before him.
Whether it be at the local clay target clubs, or on the international stage at the EJ Churchill shooting ground in England, the Mooroopna teenager is in his element.
One last breath in.
He is ready.
Exhale.
Bang.
The result is near on the same each time: A successfully destroyed clay target.
With an extraordinary talent, there is no wondering why Russell is ranked third in the world for juniors in sporting clay target shooting.
There is, however, a sprinkle of disbelief upon discovering that this incredibly skilled sporting clay shooter is yet to reach his 20th birthday.
Even more so when you consider he began his foray into competitive clay shooting at age 14.
It was there, on a trip to one of the local shooting grounds with his grandpa, Doug, that Russell uncovered his love for the sport.
“My grandfather took me out to a few practice days when I was 14. After that I started shooting at competitions about once or twice a month,” Russell said.
“And then, halfway through Year 9, I started shooting every weekend and competing on Saturday and Sundays. It's pretty much been like that for over three and a bit years.
“It's been pretty full-on, attending club competitions each weekend, but I love it. It's a great way to occupy my weekends.
“I've made a lot of great mates out if it. I enjoy going and competing and catching up with all the friends I've made over the journey.
“I've enjoyed travelling around. It's taken me to a few countries now and all over Australia.
“You see a lot of different places that you might not have had the chance to (otherwise).”
Russell has displayed a skill level beyond his teenage years, something that is highlighted with his rapid rise up the ranks.
Shortly after jumping into the sport, Russell attended his first national event in 2016.
He may not have got the chocolates that time out, but he wouldn't have to wait long for his first national title, which came in 2017 at age 15 in Geraldton, Western Australia.
Asked if there was a moment of realisation about how seriously talented he is, Russell was unable to pinpoint a time.
Hard to do when your list of accolades are as extensive as his.
Russell boasts a jaw-dropping 23 titles already, with 10 national, 10 state (including two in New Zealand) and three international titles next to his name.
But his dominance on national soil is remarkable.
Russell possesses a junior national title in all four of Australia's sporting clay target associations — Sporting Clays Australia (SCA), Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia (SSAA), Field and Game Australia (F&G) and Australian Clay Target Association (ACTA) —a statistic that not many have the privilege of holding.
However, chief among his accomplishments are his two world title bronze medals that he claimed in 2019 when representing Australia.
Russell placed third in the Junior (under-21) category at the World English Sporting Championships in Ireland, and a week later claimed another bronze medal when the Australian junior team placed third at the FITASC Sporting World Championships in England, where he placed 11th in the individual competition.
“I think my third place finish at Ireland in the World English Sporting for juniors and my third at the Sporting World Championships are two that stand out the most,” Russell said.
“And there's been a couple of national events that come to mind too.
“It's pretty unreal to wear the Australian colours and represent your country.
“When you realise only a handful of people get to do it, it's pretty special.”
And he now has another achievement to boot.
Russell will be inducted into the Greater Shepparton Sports Hall of Fame junior honour roll next month.
The humble teenager, who was not expecting the recognition, was happy to be inducted.
“I'm pretty pleased about it, it's come as a bit of a surprise really,” he said.
“I didn't think I would be nominated for it and it never crossed my mind before now.
“I'd like to thank my mum (Wendy) and dad (David), as well as my grandfather (Doug). They have been the three who have pushed me and supported me along the way.”
But for all of his wonderful highlights, unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic has brought a halt to Russell being able to add more.
Now nearing the top age in the junior category, Russell's attempts to improve on his bronze finish at world events have been dashed last year and this year.
Even the youngster's hectic competition schedule has somewhat diminished.
“It's slowed down a bit . . . I only get out once a week now, if I'm lucky,” Russell said.
“It's been pretty rough, actually.
“(Coronavirus pandemic) has put a stop to a lot of the competitions that I had planned to attend.
“The Oceania Championships in New Caledonia and the world titles in America were both cancelled last year.
“And this year's world title in Hungary is off the cards as well.
“I've made the junior team for those two world events. It's pretty upsetting.”
But that competitive edge inside all great athletes continues to simmer away.
He craves for a return to international competition.
He yearns for more stamps to be added in his passport.
And above all else, he longs for a return to see old friends.
“Yeah, it does (motivate me). I'm pretty keen to do my best and try make the junior team in my last year before making the jump to open age,” Russell said.
“I would like to win an overall national title and then hopefully one day win the world title outright.”
More on the Sports Hall of Fame
Third induction ceremony of Greater Shepparton Sports Hall of Fame stars looms large on the horizon
Sports Hall of Fame - Sam Brown
Sports Editor