"VAN" (GC2018 Sports Desk) :: Australian trap shooter Thomas Grice will be doing everything he can to shoot for gold at GC2018, including using the gun his grandfather gifted him 11 years ago.
Grice will be making his Commonwealth Game debut at GC2018 and the inaugural ISSF Trap Mixed Team Gold medallist will be using the same gun his grandfather, Frank Gould, gifted him.
When Grice was old enough to get his junior permit, Gould purchased a Beretta 682, which was a popular shotgun back in 2004 but is humble by today's standards.
“I sort of started with my Grandad, it’s the whole reason I got into the sport,” Grice told GC2018.com.
“He’d been shooting for years before I started, and it was well before I was old enough to even get a permit that it was in his mind that I would start shooting.
“So, when I was old enough to get my junior permit I got it and went along with him and loved it from day one then when it eventually came time for me to get my own gun he said ‘alright, I’ll buy you one’.
"So he bought me a gun and I’ve been shooting it ever since.”
As one of the biggest influences on his career, Grice admits he still uses the same gun due to a sentimental attachment.
“Certainly, it means a lot to me because he gave it to me,” he said.
“Apart from that, they’re bloody expensive to replace and it’s been treating me just fine.
“So, I thought if it’s not broke don’t fix it.”
A trap shooter himself, Gould has also played a vital role in the Sydney Clay Target Club member’s career, attending every one of his training sessions, to this day.
“He’s probably still my biggest supporter. Obviously mum and dad and my brothers are pretty good too, but pops still my number one supporter,” Grice said.
“If he’s got something to say about what I’m up to, I tend to listen to that one.
“But he’s a little bit more hesitant these days to have input considering I’m at a level now where I could probably coach myself to a certain degree and I’m surrounded by so many excellent coaches."
Grice will be shooting at clay targets, competing in the men’s Trap event on Friday 13 April at Belmont Shooting Centre.
With 40 other participants in the event from over 25 other Commonwealth nations, Grice will be keeping his eye on one competitor, and he comes from his own camp.
"My teammate Mitch [Iles-Crevatin] for one – he’s a very, very good shot and I know very well how good a shot he is,” he said.
“Apart from that it’s a little bit more of an open field. Not having a lot of the Europeans there (competing) sort of opens it up a bit more.
“I’m interested to see who claws their way to the top there because it should be fairly competitive, I think.”
Australian trap shooting is ushering a new era of athletes after years of dual Olympic gold and five-time gold medallist Michael Diamond, Olympic gold medallist Russell Mark and triple Commonwealth Games gold medallist Adam Vella being at the helm for a number of years.
“It (shooting) is one of those rare sports where you can compete for a long time, at 40 years old, you’re certainly not too old,” Grice said.
“It can be difficult when you’ve got such dominant guys like Michael [Diamond] and Adam [Vella] to step into that team.
“But I guess it’s probably similar in most other sport, where everyone’s career is shorter, you’re still fighting for that same spot I guess.”
The New South Wales product is however excited to show Australia that the next cohort is as good as the last.
“On home soil, to be able to stand up there with a gold medal would certainly announce us as the next generation and ready to go,” Grice said.
And there’ll be no new gun at GC2018, 'barring an absolute calamity of a breakdown'.
Credit :: GC2018 News Service
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