Errol Mann shot his way into the Proteas National team earlier this month when he participated in the national trials for field target.
The competition was held at Krugersdorp’s Nomads Airgun Club and the national team will now prepare for their trip to the 2016 World Field Target Championships in Portugal.
The competition will be held from 16 to 20 August.
Field target is a sport where participants use an air rifle and pellets to hit a metal target ranging from eight metres to 50 metres.
It is the second time Errol has made it into the national team in 11 years since he has participating in the sport, proving the talent pool in the country is high.
His first time was in 2012 where he finished the world championship 23rd position overall.
“I’ve been there before so my goal this time is much clearer. Individually I want to finish the competition in the top 10 and the number one country in the team category. Not many can say they have represented their country at an international level so to be able to do so feels really good,” he said.
Players are chosen on their scores from the Gauteng Field Target League and go through to the national trials where they compete over three days.
The top eight players with the highest score aggregate over the three days will qualify to be in the team.
Errol’s aggregate score over the three days was 122, just three points shy of the top score.
This proves that the Helderkruin resident deserves his place in the team.
Errol was motivated into the sport after he was robbed twice and wanted something to protect himself.
“I didn’t want to buy a gun so I thought a pellet rifle will be a good alternative. From there I found a club where I learned how to shoot and the passion grew,” he said.
What Errol loves about the sport is that it’s safety conscious and family friendly.
“It’s outdoors and it’s a family sport where the young can learn how to shoot in a safe environment, taught by the veterans who have plenty of experience. In the 11 years I have been involved in the sport, I have never witnessed a person getting hurt,” he said.
With peak level concentration required, Errol finds the sport tough but enjoyable.
“The sport is more mentally than physically demanding because we spend huge amounts of time in silence and just concentrating on the targets ahead of us. Factors such as wind and distance play a huge role,” he said.
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