The Rooney family, from Waimate, competed in the South
Island clay target championships in Waldronville at the
weekend. From left: William, Sam, Natalie and Gary. Photo
by Jane Dawber.
A family that shoots clays together, stays together,
Commonwealth Games competitor Natalie Rooney says.
Natalie was in Dunedin over the weekend to compete in the
South Island clay target championships and she did not come
alone.
Most of her immediate family made the trip south from
Waimate.
Her father Gary and brothers William (16) and Sam (25) were
in tow.
The 22-year-old did not shoot as well as she would have liked
but still won the ladies' events and finished third in the
ball trap.
And any disappointment was soon forgotten with her family
there to support her.
The Rooneys, it seems, stick together and when Sam, who needs
a wheelchair to get around, took up the sport in high school
the rest of the family followed .
"It was one of the few sports he could do and from there
everyone kind of followed," Natalie said.
Natalie was hoping to medal at the Delhi Games but missed out
on a podium finish.
She also teamed up with Manchester (2002) gold medallist
Nadine Stanton in the pairs event.
They finished just outside of the medals in fourth place.
The University of Canterbury accountancy student has moved on
from the disappointment and is looking to the future.
She plans to continue competing on the circuit and hopes to
qualify for the London Olympics in 2012.
Canterbury shooter Gavin Searle was the best shooter during
the tournament.
The New Zealand high gun won the ball trap on Friday and
followed that success with wins in the single rise and double
rise on Saturday.
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