Clay target shooter Steve Atkins after winning the New Zealand National Championships.
Photo by
Supplied
Echuca Clay Target Club product Steve Atkins turned back the clock to claim his 10th New Zealand Championship at the weekend.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
The Tongala native has a decorated trophy cabinet from his illustrious career in the sport which includes 10 Australian National Trap Championships and 10 New Zealand Clay Target Championships.
The week-long competition ran from Saturday, March 1 to Saturday, March 8 at Waikato Clay Target Club in Hamilton, New Zealand.
Atkins flew home with a bag of championships in his carry-on as he took out the New Zealand National Double Rise Championships, Veterans triples, Veterans double-barrel, Veterans double rise and High Gun National Championship.
He also finished third overall in the New Zealand National Double Barrel Championship.
Atkins conceded that heading into the competition and at this stage of his career, he wasn’t in the best form.
“I am 62 now and I won my first one over there in 1997, as you get older it is a lot harder to win,” he said.
“I probably surprised myself a little bit with that good of a result.
“It is definitely relief more than anything to win another one, I know that I’m not getting any better.
“I’m 20 years past my best and I don’t really expect to hit all the best shots, but I am always trying to do the best that I can.
“To win at that level is a surprise, if someone said to me I’d win before I went over there I’d say I would try, but I’d have to have a good day and luckily that is what happened.”
Steve Atkins in action at the 2024 National Trap Championships in Wagga.
Yet, Atkins acknowledged that his age and experience in shooting gave him an advantage to win over some younger shooters.
“I think the experience of me being in the sport for so long helps a lot because you know how to win and what it takes, you don’t panic,” he said.
“Once I got over there and got to the competition I felt as good as gold.”
Atkins highlighted the strength of the competition in New Zealand and the continued success of the sport across the pond.
“Both here and in New Zealand are both hard to win and requires a lot of focus,” he said.
“It was a really tough competition over there this year, they have some absolutely top line shooters, but they have always had them.
“But now more than ever their outfit is really strong, the current world champion James Sullivan was there shooting.”
Atkins also outlined the current state of the Echuca Clay Target Shooting Club, heaping praise on the development of juniors and female shooters.
“(Echuca) is one of the strongest clubs in Australia and has been since I’ve been around,” he said.
“Between the juniors, women and men competing, right now, it is in the best position it has ever been in.”
Atkins and members of the Echuca Clay Target Shooting Club will be heading to the Australian National Titles next month which will be held in Perth.
24°C