Shooter sharpeners her talents

Woodanilling long-range shooter Linda Shehan’s career is going from strength to strength.

She has just returned from captaining Australia to a series of firsts in the 2013 F-Class World Championships held in New Mexico from August 24 to 27.

It was the first time Australia had competed in the competition Shehan was the first woman to captain a team at the championships and Australia took out its maiden gold medal to claim team championship honours.

“We were just happy to go and represent Australia, but to come back with the gold medal, I just couldn’t believe it,” she said. “It’s an amazing experience to be told you will represent Australia, to be selected as captain and then to go and do what we were told what couldn’t be done.”

Competing in the world championships was the culmination of three years hard work for Shehan.

After suffering heartbreak with several applications to the National Rifle Association Australia to compete in overseas events, Shehan soldiered on and her perseverance was rewarded last month.

US team captain Stan Pate praised Shehan for all of her hard work.

“It becomes quite an emotional experience when you see a winner struggle, get up, struggle some more, and then after paying the price you have the privilege of seeing them as winners on the podium,” he said.

Shehan is now back in Woodanilling with her family where she has lived for the past 10 years.