A sailor has helped Australia clinch silver at the International Clay Target Shooting Federation’s 8th World English Sporting Championships in Canada.

Starting strong, Chief Petty Officer Steve Atkins, of HMAS Albatross, topped the leader board in preliminary events and earned two individual gold medals in his class.

His focused fire continued into the main event, where he successfully hit 158 out of 200 targets, clinching a gold medal in his class and contributing to Australia’s second-place finish overall.

Chief Petty Officer Atkins said the event was a major highlight of his sporting career, with demanding targets set in a complex, natural environment.

“Competing on the world stage alongside competitors of this calibre was a superb experience and highlights the opportunities available for ADF shooters to compete at the elite level,” he said.

“It also highlights the value of the ADF Clay Target Association's annual championships in identifying and developing emerging talent.”

The World English Sporting Championships are one of the most prestigious international sporting clay events, this year attracting more than 600 competitors.

The English Sporting discipline involves competitors firing at six or seven successive pairs of clay targets per stand, thrown from varying angles, distances and speeds across 30 stands over two days.

Chief Petty Officer Atkins was selected after winning his first national title at the Australian Clay Target Association National Championships in 2024.

Lieutenant Commander Dennis Walsh, of the Maritime Warfare Centre, was also selected for the World English Sporting Championships as a reserve.

Chief Petty Officer Atkins competed in the NSW State Titles days after returning to Australia, and was selected for the NSW State Sporting Clays team to compete in the National Championships in November.

At the ADF Clay Target Association championships held September 14-21, Chief Petty Officer Atkins won the High Gun award for skeet (322/350) and sporting clays (188/200).