Maxwell (20), a third year geology student at the University of Otago, is the only Otago member of the nine-strong New Zealand junior team.
He was taught to shoot at the age of 4 by his father, Keith, who was a keen target, rabbit and deer shooter.
Maxwell, who comes from a lifestyle farm at Roxburgh, first competed in clay target shooting at the age of 12 and has been trying to make the world championships team for the last four years. New Zealand sends a team to the world championships every two years.
‘‘I just missed out by one point two years ago,'' he said.
Maxwell was a non-travelling first reserve in 2006. He now has his chance.
‘‘It's taken time for it to sink in,'' he said. ‘‘My family and friends were more excited than I was.''
But Maxwell is more excited about next month's duck shooting season, when he will take up his favourite spot in the Maniototo.
The New Zealand team will have a shoot-off in Ireland to decide the ranking order for the team at the world championships.
In clay target competition, a shooter gets three points if he or she hits the target at the first attempt, two on the second and no points for a third attempt.
Maxwell was of a slight build and did not enjoy games like rugby and football when growing up.
But shooting was different.
‘‘It is not a challenge against another competitor but against yourself to beat your previous best score,'' he said.
Maxwell was encouraged to excel in the sport by both his parents. Barbra, his mother, competed when she was in the air force.
Maxwell's early success came at a young age. He was runner-up in the New Zealand secondary schools single barrel championships in Christchurch at the age of 12.
His best junior performance was at the national championships in Hamilton three years ago, when he came second in the single barrel event.
