When he took first place at the World Clay Target Shooting championships in the United Kingdom last week, James Sullivan was one of the few people around him with dry eyes.

“Everyone was pretty tearful, but I was really in the zone. I was in a pretty solid mental state,” says the Te Puke teen – who at age 17 is the youngest winner of the International Clay Target Shooting Federation World DTL title.

James is now back on his family kiwifruit orchard in Paengaroa after taking out the open grade – making him the youngest ever to do so – and the junior title.

Up against 483 competitors from around the world, James shot 299/300 targets and tied with Daniel Price from England; and after shooting a further 75, he went on to win the title, three points ahead of his nearest competitor.

“It was a massive thing. I shouldn’t really have won because he had it in the bag,” James says. “I was in the lane next to Daniel so I saw him miss his fourth target. I kept calm and cool and ‘parked the bus’ and ended up shooting perfectly. I’d been expecting to take a placing, so to win was pretty amazing.”

His home club had been watching with increasing excitement as James moved from sixth place on day one, to third on the second day and then into the top spot.

Over the moon

“We’re absolutely over the moon,” says John Beaver from Whakatane Clay Shooting Club. “We’re a small club and James has been with us since he was 11 years old, so we’re all thrilled for him.”

NZ Clay Target Association executive officer Adrienne Sears described it as a remarkable achievement for a person so young.

“James’ win at the 2024 World Championship is truly outstanding.

“He competed against the best from around the world and achieved both the juniors’ winner for shooters under 21, and the overall winner. James has worked hard to achieve these results and is a regular competitor both at local and national events.”

Up against 483 competitors from around the world, James went on to win the open title. Photo: John Borren.

James started shooting when he was in primary school at Te Puke small bore rifle range and transitioned into shotgun shooting in 2018. Target practice at home also served as pest control, keeping down the number of rabbits on his family’s rural property.

Every week

“It took me about a year to make any sort of movement in the sport,” he laughs.

He then rose through the ranks of top shooters taking out both the North Island and South Island Secondary School Championships in 2022. Last year James won all three South Island, North Island and the NZ Secondary School Championships.

He was awarded the 2023 DTL Long Run award in March for shooting 451 targets straight, plus the NZCTA DTL Shooter of the Year for 2023 for winning three provincial titles, one provincial High Gun, two Island Titles, one Island High Gun, three national titles runner-up placings, and the World DTL Junior runner-up title.

“I’ve shot every week this year, so I’ve put in a lot of hours,” says James. “It takes a lot of concentration to be able to focus when you’re shooting – especially when it’s for something meaningful like a title.”

James will get to defend his title on home ground in 2026, when the world championships are held in Christchurch. “I won’t let any pressure get to me. Shooting is 90 per cent mental grit. I just go in there, aim at the targets and treat it as just another shoot.”

- SunLive