Clayton’s a shooting star
Clayton Anderson has done it again!
Having been an award-winning shooter over his career, and recently winning Commonwealth titles in Echuca with his father Rob, he’s only just landed back in Australia. Clayton has just finished a 22-day whirlwind competitive tour spanning Spain.
Having been a competitor in the shooting sport for decades, he turned his hand at this particular discipline in 2013. Competing against hundreds of competitors in the various competitions, his lowest placing was a very impressive 15th. Competing in the various competitions alongside nine other Australians, he was very proud to have achieved the highest result amongst them.
His first stop was World Championships, shooting in the Helice discipline, or ZZ as known in Australia. With this discipline, you must stop the target in a 21-metre boundary, from where it is launched at similar speeds to an Olympic trap target. Orange or red targets are equipped with two propeller-like ‘wings’ so they fly erratically out of the trap, much like a live bird. Competing against between 140 and 160 shooters from across Europe and America, he placed sixth overall.
His second competition was the American VIP shoot, which is limited to 200 competitors from across America and Europe. He placed eighth overall in the competition, which ran over four days. Then, he moved on to the King’s Cup, a Spanish-run event. Clayton competed in his first Kings Cup in 2018, and finished in fourth place. This event featured real pigeons, a practise which is illegal in Australia. Competing in multiple events, and against over 590 competitors, he ran 15th overall.
Gold cup saw Clayton placed fourth over the same number of competitors. At the end of the seven days combined competitions in the event, he ranked ninth, over 650 total competitors.
Clayton’s 22 day shooting pursuits were in exclusive invite only competitions. He plans, finances pending, to return to America and Madrid next year, to take another shot at the Gold and King’s Cups, and hopes to come home with the gold.
“It’s a rich man’s sport,” Clayton said with a laugh. “I enjoyed my travel and the competitions immensely, and hope to next time better my results.
“Long, tiring and expensive, but very worth it.
“The chance to come up against a great bunch of international competitors, and meet many new people has truly been a highlight.”
He now plans to continue Australian competitions for the near future, as time permits.
Congratulations, Clayton, what a feat and although you did not come home with the cup, your prowess in the field is evident. Well done! We are sure you will come home with the gold next time!
