Rigger takes double gold

Giving it both barrels: Following his success, Pte Timothy Braybon is taking aim for more gold.

Inset: The happy winner proudly displays his medals and shotgun. Photos by Pte Clay Marks

By Cpl Andrew Hetherington

A PARACHUTE rigger from 176 AD Sqn out-shot the opposition to win two gold medals at the National Olympic Trap Championships at the Sydney International Shooting Centre in early January.

Pte Timothy Braybon said he began training daily for the event on December 30 last year. Initially he found the intensity of the training a challenge.

“The speed of the [clay target] traps had been increased to 110km/h, up from the usual 100km/h,” he said.

“I had no idea the speed had been changed; I just thought I was beginning to lose my edge.”

Pte Braybon said his first gold medal win in the competition, the men’s Australian Clay Target Association Olympic Trap, was a surprise to him.

“To my shock I was the winner, I just about jumped out of my skin,” he said.

“When I went up to receive my medal, I was very surprised with the result and thought a mistake had been made [with the score].

“I had won by three shots but I did not know.”

The second gold medal Pte Braybon won was the Commonwealth Olypmic Trap event.

Pte Braybon said he had to win this competition in a shoot-off.

“Victorian shooter Nick Papadatos and I had a score of 99, which meant a shoot- off was needed to determine the winner,” he said.

“In this shoot-off we only had one cartridge to use instead of the usual two in the gun.

“Nick missed his shot and I hit mine, determining the winner of the title.”

Pte Braybon said he now plans to compete at the National Down the Line Trap Championships at Wagga in April.

“After that I plan to compete in the ADF Clay Target Championships at HMAS Cerberus in October with the Army shooting team,” he said.