“Winning,” he said. “Beating the best of them.”

The answer may have been said with a laugh, but Gary knows he could well be up there at the point end of the International Clay Target Shooting Federation world championships in Ireland later this month.

He’s been there before.

Last time the championships were held – in New Zealand two years ago – he finished third in the veterans’ class.

Gary won’t be the only Noorat representative at the championships, with his nephew James Hayden set to make the journey to Ireland’s Esker Shooting Grounds for his first appearance in the junior class at the event.

The pair earned their selection after a strong showing at the Australian Clay Target Association national championships earlier this year.

They took out the family Deauville doubles together, with Gary also winning the veterans’ single barrel class, while James received the gold medal for the All-Australian trap team.

It was a successful national championships for the Noorat Gun Club, which produced a number of winners.

Sam Clifford and Paul Grainger won the Deauville Doubles, while Matt Molan won the junior trap championship.

The top five grade shooters, as well as the top three in the juniors, ladies, veterans and super veterans classes earned a spot on the Australian team for the world championships.

Clay target shooters will be tested with 100 targets a day over the three-day event, with the best scores out of 900 at the end crowned winners.

The championships will run from July 21-23.