Braybon new national champ
176 AD Sqn soldier takes trap shoot title

Top shot: Parachute rigger Pte Tim Braybon with the National Olympic Trap Championship medal won in Brisbane last month. Photos provided by Pte Tim Braybon

Winner: Pte Braybon shoots his way to victory

FINISHING a demoralising last place on the first day of competition was enough of a motivator for Pte Tim Braybon, 176 AD Sqn, to fight back and win the National Olympic Trap Championships in Brisbane last month.

Lining up alongside his sporting hero, two-time Olympic gold medallist Michael Diamond, the parachute rigger had a bad first two days, scoring below his usual score.

Pte Braybon said after the first two days he knew he had to get himself back on track if he was to have any success at the three-competition championship.

“I wasn’t sure how things were going to go after the first two days,” he confessed.

“But on the third day with a fresh score line, I shot a personal best of 24/25.”

The shock of Pte Braybon’s score didn’t sink in until he saw on the scoreboard that he was ahead of Diamond by one point, and had equaled Athens bronze medallist Adam Vella’s score.

“I couldn’t stop shaking. Before I came to Brisbane my best score was 23/25, so I was very pleased.”

They were only halfway through the event though, and by the fourth day of competition Pte Braybon was coming a distant second.

“The first placed competitor withdrew, leaving me with the lead. This was when I started to panic,” he said.

“With no mental preparation and a lower grade of ammunition, I just went to pieces in the .nal round and came an equal third.”

Pte Braybon felt angry with himself that evening as he headed back to Gallipoli Barracks.

“I had let myself down, and thrashed it out in the pool that night.”

It was at that point he decided there was no way he was going to leave Brisbane empty handed.

Entering into the second-last day of competition, and competing for the championship title – the National Olympic Trap – Pte Braybon said it was time to be completely focused, motivated and to shoot sharp.

“I wasn’t on until 11am so I had plenty of time to get it right and maintain control for the event,” he said.

“I completed the .rst round with a score of 21. That was OK for the start, but I had to keep my scores in the 20s if I had a chance.

“Round 2 saw me get an 18; not what I wanted but I still had to stay focused.”

Pte Braybon finished the day’s .nal round with another 21, and managing a lead of three shots.

“I left the ground feeling OK, knowing all I had to do was keep a decent score and I would get through,” he said.

“I wanted to stay focused, but I just didn’t get the nerves [under control], and walked away with a score of 17/25,” he said.

He had to come up with the goods and achieve a great score later in the afternoon.

“I went out there fully focused, relaxed and ready, and .nished with a score of 23/25, and a twopoint lead,” he said.

“I was glad it was over, but knew it might be a close .nish. “I .nished with 100 points. The two who were chasing me had a fight on.”

One of his two nearest rivals had to get a perfect score to tie with him, while the other needed a perfect score to win by one point.

“I went and watched them shoot, and knew that all they needed were a dropped target for me to win,” he said.

Pte Braybon isn’t ashamed to admit he was overjoyed when one of his rivals missed.

“The other kept going well and I was dying. If it went down to a shoot off, I felt I would be in deep trouble,” he said.

It wasn’t until his nearest rival Michael Chounding missed two of his .rst 10 targets, that he knew the championship was his.

“As well as the championship, I got the chance to meet Michael Diamond and have a chat, so it was an awesome trip,” he said.

Pte Braybon said he has no intentions at this stage of competing for any future titles.

“I only wanted one national title so I have no idea of what happens next,” he said.

“I’m considering the Nationals down the line in Perth in April, where hopefully I can make an improvement on the bronze in 2003.”