South Canterbury clay target shooter Natalie Rooney is
looking forward to representing New Zealand at the
Commonwealth Games in India. Photo by Sally Rae.
Studholme clay target shooter Natalie Rooney is aiming
for a medal at the Commonwealth Games in India next month.
"Two would be nice," the 22 year-old university student said
this week, during a flying visit home to South Canterbury.
Rooney will compete individually and will also pair up with
Nadine Stanton, of Te Kauwhata, a former Commonwealth Games
gold medallist and Olympian.
While Rooney leaves for India on September 28, she has had
little time to get excited about representing New Zealand at
her first Commonwealth Games.
"I've got too much uni work to think about it yet.
I'm getting excited but I'm also getting a little nervous
knowing everything I have to do to get ready for it."
Rooney's father Gary and brothers Sam, Cameron and William
were all keen shooters.
After watching them compete, she decided to give it a go
about seven years ago.
Being selected for the Youth Olympics in Sydney in 2007 was
the beginning of her trench shooting, having previously only
concentrated on down-the-line.
In 2008, she competed in a World Cup event in Beijing, her
first major trench competition.
That year, she also went to Ireland for the world
down-the-line championships where she won the individual
women's title and was part of the winning team, and she also
competed in the world university games in Beijing.
This year, she has been to the world down-the-line
championships in South Africa where her team won and she was
third in the individual event.
At the world International Shooting Sport Federation (trench)
championships in Germany, she was 23rd out of 72 and was the
top performing Commonwealth woman.
Rooney, who is studying accounting at Canterbury University,
said it was a challenge juggling study with training and
competitions.
While she was looking forward to the opening ceremony, she
will miss the closing ceremony as she is returning to New
Zealand for university commitments.
She is very grateful for the support of her parents, Gary and
Adrienne, who are both heading to India.
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