Windhoek
Namibia’s leading young shottist Oliver Hoffmann won the third national trials of the season at the Luiperdsvalley Military base shooting range near Windhoek on Sunday.
Hoffmann (15), who had shown his capabilities by winning two medals at the South African Grand last month, took the win in the Olympic Trap discipline, beating Commonwealth medallist Gaby Ahrens for the gold medal.
The youngster hit an incredible 14/15 clay pigeons in the final to secure the win. Ahrens still managed a good 13/15 hits and has now made the podium at all three trials so far this year.
However, the big statement of the day came from Gielie van Wyk, winner of the first two events. He shattered the national record while in the process equalled the African record after recording a near perfect score of 123/125 during qualification.
After missing two targets in the opening round, Van Wyk did not miss again – securing a perfect 100 to mass a total score of 23, 25, 25, 25 and 25.
Unfortunately, he could not keep the momentum in the knockout phase where he was eventually beaten to the final by the superb Hoffmann and had to be satisfied with a consolation third place finish trailed by former football great Hasso Ahrens in fourth place.
For Ahrens, the tournament was the last competitive preparation ahead of the World Cup in Azerbaijan in August this year. The international showpiece is aimed at preparing her for the African Championships in Johannesburg in November this year, where she hopes to walk away with the win in order to qualify for the Games in Rio de Janeiro next year.
“I accept my score, and look forward to intensifying my training sessions heading into the next World Cup.” Overall winner Hoffmann left for Italy on Monday to participate in a Youth Training Camp, focusing on the Olympic Trap Shotgun Discipline, with the best coaches in the world keeping an eye on the young shottists.