Bellbird’s Nathan Blackburn outperformed shooters with Olympic experience to win the 25-metre standard event at the National Pistol Championships in Perth late last month.
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Blackburn, who turned 20 last week, is still eligible to compete as a junior for one more year.
He wasn’t selected in the NSW senior team for the nationals, but as he had travelled all that way he decided to contest as many events as possible.
While he didn’t fare as well in the junior events, he shot a score of 562 in the open 25-metre standard pistol to finish three points clear of second place.
The field included past Olympians David Chapman and Bruce Quick, as well as Blackburn’s brother Blake, who was recently selected for the Rio Olympic team (in the 10-metre air pistol).
The 25-metre event is not currently an Olympic or Commonwealth Games discipline.
Regardless, Blackburn has his sights set on the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, focusing on the 50-metre event.
