Craig Henwood’s nerves of steel have been put to the test this week.By Kath Gannaway
COLDSTREAM shooter Craig Henwood will know tonight (Tuesday) whether he will shoot for Australia at the Beijing Olympics.
Henwood, 29, qualified second in the men’s trap to Olympic gold medallist Michael Diamond, edging out Athens bronze medallist Adam Vella by just one shot.
Vella has appealed, disputing the selection criteria.
The stakes are high in what is an incredibly competitive and unforgiving sport.
Practising as usual on Saturday at the Melbourne Gun Club in Lilydale, where he has been a life member from birth, Henwood said he was “pretty confident” his place was secure.
“It should be fine … everything is written in black and white,” he said referring to the selection criteria, but he admitted the appeal had taken the shine off the moment he has dreamed of, and worked for, since he started shooting at 12.
The eliminations have been gruelling – four events starting in Sydney in September, another in December, then the national titles in Perth in January and the last one two weekends ago back in Sydney.
“After all that, one shot is all it came down to. I knew I had to shoot a good score and it turned out I needed to shoot 23 out of 25 hits and that’s what I did,” he said.
“It was a huge relief, especially with the selection running for so long … I’ve had a few sleepless nights in between.”
The sleepless nights have continued with the appeal.
Henwood was bitterly disappointed at missing out on a place in the Commonwealth Games team two years ago and there is no doubt competing against the world’s best at Olympic level is the ultimate dream.
And, he’ll be going for gold.
“I would have to have a hope,” he said.
“I guess one thing I can take out of it is that with Michael Diamond in a team – I’ve beat him at the National titles – and having come in ahead of Vella who has been number one in the world, I’m in there.
“I’m lucky, in Australia, to have two guys of that calibre to train against,” he added.
His strategy is simple. Practice, more practice and as much competition as possible to develop the mental stamina required of a sport which so often just comes down to nerve.
“It’s pretty much 98 per cent mental – just a matter of blocking everything out and trying to forget the nerves,” he said conceding however that he shoots better when there’s a bit of tension in the air.
The schedule, if all goes well tonight, is intense – the World Cup in Beijing next month, another in Texas and a few training camps in the lead-up to the Olympic Games in August.
In a sport, which is generally not “high profile”, Henwood says he has his loyal supporters.
His parents mum Moira and dad Jack, himself a champion shooter, and his employers, Quality Roads.
“It’s expensive and you need a job to pay for it, but you also need a lot of time away for competitions and I’m very grateful to have good employers who have been terrific over the past four years,” Henwood said.
The past week has tested Henwood’s nerves of steel, but, all going well, it may also have given him that extra edge as he sets his sights on the ultimate target.
