COLERAINE’S Josh Vickery had never entered a side-by-side shotgun shooting event before the Field and Game Australia National Titles held at Tahara earlier in the year, but that didn’t stop him claiming the first prize trophy at his first attempt.

Vickery decided to enter the event and he needed to use his grandfather’s gun to shoot with as he took on the best from the rest of the Nation.

The event was staged at the Tahara Recreation Reserve with up to 200 entries for the Side-by-side event alone as each shooter was put through four rounds with 25 shots in each round.

Vickery would go on to finish with a score of 87 targets hit from his one hundred shots to claim the national title.

Vickery will now defend his hard-won title at the next national titles in Seymour in 2023, although there doesn’t appear to be any other events in this discipline between each staging of the titles.

Having started shooting at Coleraine Field and Game back in 1995 at the age of 12, Vickery was involved every weekend through to the age of 17.

Around that age he decided that there were other things to focus on and he didn’t take the sport up again until four or five years ago when returned to the Coleraine club in earnest.

When the club won the right to stage the titles, he decided to enter the side-by-side event to give it a go, which meant he needed to use his grandfather’s gun.

Having won the event, he not only received a trophy but also a brand-new side-by-side shotgun which means his grandfather’s gun will no longer be needed to defend his title next year.

“Some see the event as a novelty, but it’s hard work and I’m really glad I entered,” Vickery said.

“Having shot every weekend from the age of 12 through to when I was 17, I was using a standard under and over gun such as is seen in the Olympics.

“I will continue to shoot in the under and over shotgun events, but I will definitely be defending my title next year.”