Next Generation

ADAM THOMPSON has shot to the top in smallbore since he took up the sport as a 13-year-old.

The Waitaki Boys' High School student had previous outdoor experience shooting small game and targets which helped the natural progression to smallbore.

Thompson recently added the Aoraki Sports award to his impressive collection of silverware and finished individual runner-up last year in the Otago Secondary Schools Smallbore Rifle Shooting Competition as well as taking second place in the team competition.

The 15-year-old currently shoots an average in the mid 90s out of 100 points but will have to improve to 97 or higher to fulfil his ambition of making the development squad which takes the best shooters with the aim of progressing to the Commonwealth Games and Olympic teams.

Thompson said his rapid progress was down to the strong support around him.

"The biggest support is from Murray Reeves, from Railway Shooting Club, and Dad, who is there every week with me," he said. "Dad also takes me to all the shooting competitions."

The youngster is hoping to follow in the footsteps of four time Commonwealth gold medallist Steve Petterson and not many would bet against the sharp-shooter after his impressive rise.