Kelvin Gutsell is no stranger to international and national tournaments, and the Mataura Gun Club member recently ventured over the pond for another big show.
At the World Skeet Championships, held in San Antonio from September 26 to October 4, the talented shooter took aim at 600 targets over the week period.
Gutsell shot a remarkable 591 out of 600, winning the title of best in the world for his age bracket, No1 skeet veteran in the world.
The competition was split across four different categories and gauges, and Gutsell swapped gauges throughout the day.
His skills were tested to their limits with the double sections, with twice as many targets flying through the sky for him to quickly gun down.
The conditions in the States could not have been more different from Mataura, Gutsell lining up under the hot Texas sun beating down at 35°C-40°C every day.
However he had trained for this and said most of the sport was not won from the business end of the gun, but in the mind.
"Clay target shooting, 80% of it is mental management.
"The rest is training, practice, fitness, but you’ve got to be focused and concentrating.
"You’re giving your absolute focus for about 10, 15 seconds," he said.
Pre-shot rituals were a must, and Gutsell said he did not sweat the small stuff as the days were long and the targets would not stop flying.
"Whatever happens, whatever result, it’s fine.
"If you miss one, it’s fine. Your mental preparation, it overcomes any negative thoughts.
"You just move on and prepare yourself for the next one. You can’t do anything about it," he said.
Gutsell is now ready to represent New Zealand once again in the sport.
The Glen Trophy was up next for the dead-eye Mataura Gun Club member, where he will compete with the New Zealand team against the Australian team, which he called a very high level competition.
One thing is for sure, if Gutsell is lining up to aim, it is a bad day to be a clay bird.
