Ashburton target shooter Nate Woods is aiming to one day compete overseas as he takes a place in the sport’s New Zealand men’s and open teams.
The 16-year-old earned selection to the teams for the first time while competing as a South Island team member at the prestigious 2025 North Versus South Inter-Island match, hosted recently by Nelson.
‘‘I’m actually really stoked. It’s a lot of hard work that finally paid off,’’ Nate said.
He also made the New Zealand junior team, of which he was also a member last year.
He said it had taken much discipline and practice to make the new selections.
Physically, he practices by shooting in the Coronation Target Shooting Club indoor range on West St.
Mentally, he practices by reading books which had many a tip when it came to the art of ‘‘mind over matter’’.
‘‘Shooting is a mental struggle with yourself, comparable to golf,’’ Nate said.
‘‘It’s just having your process and getting your process right, because every shooter has a specific routine they follow. It’s learning you are in control.’’
He credited his head coach at the Coronation shooting club, Bryan Hunter, with his success.
‘‘He’s taught me everything I know.’’
Hunter returned the compliment, saying Nate was easy to coach.
‘‘His success at the sport is due to his diligence and practice,’’ Hunter said.
Nate plans to keep firing away at the sport. He said ever since starting, at the age of 13, he had dreams of competing overseas.
He hopes to ultimately represent his country at the Oceania and even the Olympic Games.
He has already competed as a member of the men’s, open and junior teams, representing New Zealand at the North versus South competition following the teams’ selection events.
The scores are for a shoot against a Great Britain team, which shoots early next year during their season.
It is following that the teams will find out whether or not New Zealand won.
