Sixteen-year-old Georgia Rogers only picked up a gun three years ago, now she’s preparing to head to Canada next year for the World English Sporting Championships.
“Dad said to me I should find a sport for the Olympics,” she recalled.
“Shooting is not the first sport you think of when you think of an Olympic sport.”
“We saw there was a come and try day at the Beaudesert Sporting Clays. I did two come and try days and decided to try a competition to see how it went.”
It went so well she got her gun licence and first gun six months later and has been out training every weekend since.
The Year 11 Tamborine Mountain State High School student qualified second in a team of three ladies for Canada after competing in the Australian Clay Target Association event held in Wagga Wagga in October.
The three-day event consisted of three different shooting events to qualify for the Australian team, and she placed third overall in ladies and juniors.
“It was very overwhelming at first when they said my name,” she said.
“We got jackets fitted to wear in Canada and everyone was telling me to get my passport sorted.”
“It was super exciting to know I will be shooting for Australia and have the opportunity to go overseas for the first time.”
Georgia said Tamborine Mountain State High School has been very supportive and recognised her achievements, awarding her a medal for competing at national levels and giving her time off school to compete in her events.
She competes for Sporting Clays Australia and will be representing Queensland in Victoria over a four-day shoot at the end of November competing in the lady’s section.
Georgia said the sport is male dominated and she is the only female under 21 in Queensland.
“Most people are super supportive and look out for me,” she said.
Securing sponsorship has also been critical and she’s very grateful to Mark Farrow from Sight and Scope Training in Canungra who helped her get her safety course for her shooter’s license.
She is hoping to secure more sponsors to get to Canada next year.
