Tara takes aim at worlds after winning gold in Oceanias

Tara Lawrence's competitive streak has seen her ease her way up the New Zealand clay target shooting ranks.
The 18-year-old from Whangarei has already had resounding success this year, after winning the National Open Ladies title in February, which cemented her place in the NZ team to contest the recent Oceania Sporting Championships, in Noumea.
Going up against the best shooters from NZ, Australia and throughout the Pacific, Lawrence shot her way to win gold in the Open Ladies division, in New Caledonia.
"It was tough as it was so hot and humid - you had to drink at least four litres of water to stay hydrated and you still felt really drained at the end of each day," Lawrence said.
She had a best score of 23 targets out of 25, earning an overall score of 146 out of a possible 200 during the competition.
"I just went out there and tried to shoot the best I could each day. That is the best I have shot at a 200 target meeting, so I was really pleased with my performance."
Lawrence has been clay target shooting for the past four years, but first dabbled in shooting when she was 11-years-old.
"I got involved by going duck shooting with dad. He practiced with clay targets during the duck shooting off-season and he used to take my sister with him - she doesn't like hunting. Because I'm so competitive, I went along with them and gradually began to go to more shoots, travel for meetings and one day, Russell Cooper from Mangawhai asked if I would like some coaching."
Lawrence jumped at the offer and said Cooper has been extremely helpful in recent years.
"There's no way I could have improved as much as I have without Russell's help."
The Marua Sporting Clays member now has her sights set on next year's World Championships in Chicago.
"I would really like to make the team, so I have to qualify for Oceanias again which are in Hamilton next year, and to do that, I have to go to various qualifying meetings, and they select you on your best five shoots from those meetings."
For now, Lawrence is aiming on passing her Diploma of Agriculture exams at Lincoln University rather than clay targets, but she will soon begin preparing for her first qualifying meet for the 2012 Oceanias - the South Island North Zone Championships, in Nelson during October.
Northland Sporting Shooters Association have helped Lawrence with travel expenses throughout the year, but she said it was always a struggle to get sponsorship.
"It's such an unusual sport, with so many meetings you could go to. Finding financial support is a struggle and any offered is always gratefully appreciated," she added.