Clay shooting: Katikati student Cameron Crapp at top

BROTHERS IN ARMS: Katikati College clay shooters Cameron Crapp, 15, left and brother Ryan, 13. Photo/John Borren

A Katikati teenager became a divisional world champion after the last clay shot was fired in anger at the ICTSF Down the Line World Championship in Hamilton last week.

Cameron Crapp, 15, held his nerve on the final day under intense pressure from vastly more experienced shooters from Ireland, Wales, United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa and the Pacific nations to win the Open Individual - B Grade title.

The Katikati College student was not aware he was leading until after the final shot.

It was a ruse his parents came up with to make sure he did not get nervous and it worked.

"I had no idea what I was shooting off for. I knew I was up there in the shoot off but not anything else.

"It was a big surprise when I won. Everyone started to shake my hand and I knew then. It was a good feeling. I just kept my head up and did not think about anything else - just shoot everything I could see."

Crapp won the South Island title last November on his birthday and says the biggest change for him has been handling event pressure.

"There is not as much as there used to be. My coach Ray Mead has been a big part of that."

Crapp is following in the pathway to the top set by his former Katikati College teammate Thomas Darling, who was a national title holder and made the New Zealand under-21 team.

Crapp's younger brother Ryan, 13, also had a memorable first when he won the Timbs Memorial Silver Pigeon trophy, which goes back to 1948.

He is in his first year shooting for Katikati College and is also coached by Ray Mead.

"I was there for the final shoot when he won and it was nerve wracking. I would like to achieve what Cameron has in the worlds one day."

Next challenge coming up for the brothers is a major secondary schools event in Pukekohe on Thursday, when they will have Tauranga Boys' College lined up in their sights.