By Callum Ludwig
Vice President of the Melbourne Gun Club in Yering and Lilydale resident Craig Henwood is set to represent Australia in the ISSF 2022 World Cup Shotgun shooting competition in Lonato, Italy.
It comes after Mr Henwood recently competed at the Men’s Trap National Title and was selected after a stellar performance hitting 121 out of 125 targets.
Mr Henwood is also an Olympian, previously competing in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing where he finished in 31st place.
Now 43, the shooter thought his international competition days were behind but is now grateful for the opportunity to represent Australia again in in the ISSF.
“It’s a bit at the other end of my career but I went to the national titles, shot really well, and got selected,” Henwood said.
Henwood said he is at the age now where he doesn’t feel the pressure to perform like he used to and just wants to enjoy it and show he can still perform at the highest level.
“I’d like to have a top 10 finish. I know if I can shoot my best I can shoot the scores that are required to win,” he said.
“I’m only in a world rankings position so I can’t actually qualify for the final but I am going there hoping for a top 10 finish.”
Henwood was introduced to shooting by his father and grandfather, having been signed up as a member at the Melbourne Gun Club when he was born.
His father, coach, and trainer Jack Henwood previously held an Australian shooting record for 30 years and Henwood said he followed his father around Australia to shooting competitions growing up.
“When I was about 10, I didn’t really take much interest in it and then the national titles were in Echuca when I was 11, I went with my dad and got the bug again there,” he said.
“I couldn’t get my permit until I was 12 so I ended up sitting around waiting for 12 months to be able to apply for that.”
Henwood’s appearance at the 2008 Olympics was shrouded in a very unfair controversy, when 2004 Athens bronze medallist in the men’s trap event Adam Vella appealed his omission from the team on the grounds of his past performances, having been the number one ranked shooter in 2007.
Henwood beat out Vella by one target in qualification before the event, giving him the opportunity to compete alongside dual gold medallist Michael Diamond.
Henwood said despite missing the opening ceremony due to competing the following morning, the opportunity to be around top athletes was amazing.
“To be rubbing shoulders with some of the world’s best athletes in the food hall and around the village was quite surreal. If I had never fired another shot of a gun again after the Olympics, I wouldn’t have really cared,” he said.
“I wanted to do it again, and probably too much as my scores dropped off because I tried too hard.”
Henwood will be heading off to compete in Italy between April 19th-30th.
