By MARC MCGOWAN
CLAY targets have replaced ducks, deer and rabbits in Yering shooter and Olympic aspirant Jack Wallace’s firing line, but he is enjoying just as much success.
Wallace, 17, has just returned from Grenada, Spain, where he captured a silver medal in the Junior Men’s Trap event at the International Shooting Sport Federation World Championship this month.
The Lilydale High School student shot a perfect score in the final round of qualifying to not only be one of six to advance to the semi-finals, but also propel himself into medal contention.
“I was nervous in my last qualification round because I knew I needed to shoot a perfect score to get in,” Wallace said.
“I was equal fourth going into the last qualification round. There were three above me on 97 (targets) and I was on 96 with a couple of others and there were a few on 95.
“I needed 25, or 24 at a minimum. It feels good knowing I can do it.”
Wallace entered the semi-finals in second place – hitting 121 of 125 targets – and booked his spot in the gold medal match against Irishman Ian O’Sullivan with a 13/15 success rate in the next stage.
O’Sullivan won gold by two targets, 13 to 11, relegating Wallace to silver, which was still easily a career highlight for the three-time national champion.
“It was a little bit of a surprise, but I’ve put a lot of hard work into it and I was in good form beforehand,” Wallace said.
“It all comes down to the day, like weather-wise and that, but it’s all the hard work you put in beforehand that helps.
“The last few months since May, when I went to Germany, I started to build for this and have been shooting some pretty big scores.”
The best indication of what Wallace was capable of at the world championships was his third placing against open competition at the International Grand Prix in Azerbaijan last month.
His next goal is to take out a fourth national championship and defend his Junior Men’s Trap title at the Shooting Australia Youth Nationals in December.
“I hope I can make the Olympics (for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games), but I need to keep shooting well and consistently,” he said.
“We have a couple of shoots around Australia next year and I’m ranked third and shooting well enough to, hopefully, go to world cups for the open team.”
Among his Australian rivals are dual Olympic gold medallist Michael Diamond and Olympic bronze medallist Adam Vella whose scores he equalled in the qualifying rounds at the ISSF World Championship.
Wallace, who trains alongside Vella, shoots a minimum of twice a week between the Lilydale Melbourne Gun Club and Frankston Gun Club under coach Greg Chan.
He has come a long way since his father Rick, who used to shoot competitively, brought him down to the gun club as a 12-year-old.
“It’s a little bit different (hunting to target shooting), but I caught on pretty quick,” Wallace said.
“It just comes with practice. Duck shooting and targets are pretty similar. You have to have a bit of a keen eye.”
