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Terang shooter James Hayden is a triumph away from cementing his reputation as the best junior marksman in Victorian clay target circles.
James, 17, justified a 1300-kilometre round trip to Wagga Wagga by winning two classes at the New South Wales championships on the weekend.
He fired 339/350 to claim the junior high gun event, which encompassed his double rise, single barrel, double barrel, points and handicap scores.
His handicap effort of 73/73 — which included hitting 23 consecutive targets in a shoot-off — also earned him top honours in the section.
James, a Noorat Gun Club member, said the handicap title was more treasured because of the calibre of shooters he was up against.
But the junior title was his major goal entering the weekend.
He also claimed the junior honours at Australian championships at Wagga Wagga in April and will contest Victorian championships at Echuca in November.
“I’ve competed up (in New South Wales) the last three or four years, haven’t really won anything,” he said.
“I won the sub-junior high gun three or four years ago but that’s all I’ve won up there.”
James, whose list of achievements also include last month’s south-west zone school titles, said committing time to shooting was the key to his success.
“It’s just practice. You’ve got to put the time into it. I shoot every week pretty much, every Wednesday night and most weekends,” he said.