Shooter had sights set on Beijing

Simon Grant

A New Zealand paralympic shooter killed in a head-on collision in Switzerland was due to compete in his first world championships tomorrow and hoped to qualify for the Beijing Paralympics.

Simon Grant, 42, of Wellington, was in a car with two members of New Zealand's World Shooting Championships team when it was in a collision with a bus in the city of Sargans on Thursday.

Paralympics New Zealand and the New Zealand Shooting Federation yesterday described Grant's death as a "great tragedy".

Dwayne Woolliams, one of three other shooters in the team, suffered a fractured cheekbone and severe bruising in the crash. He is expected to spend several days in hospital.

Kris Mason, who was driving the car and is one of four support staff on the team, went into shock and was kept in hospital overnight.

The crash happened at 8.15am local time while the trio were on their way to a training venue.

A Swiss police report given to the New Zealand consulate said no blame or fault for the crash had been attributed to either party.

Paralympics NZ chief executive Craig Hobbs said Grant had been very excited about competing at the world championships - his first offshore event - and wanted his performance to qualify for Beijing in 2008.

"That was his goal. It's a very sad way for it to finish," Mr Hobbs said. "It's a great loss to target shooting."

He said Grant's shooting career had taken off in the past two years and he had been elated when selected for the world champs at an Oceania competition this year.

Organisers of the world competition planned to scale back the opening ceremony today as a mark of respect. Grant, who had cerebral palsy, had been shooting recreationally for many years and rose through the ranks in New Zealand Shooting Federation competitions.

In October he was elected to Target Shooting New Zealand's executive, receiving recognition not just for his prowess with a gun but his banking expertise.

He had worked as a banker for many years, spending the past 18 months in the commercial section of ANZ National Bank in Wellington.

Senior team manager Pat Hoult said staff and corporate clients whose accounts Grant managed were devastated by his death.

"He was a very respected colleague. He was a very warm and loyal person."

He said Grant had spoken about going to Switzerland "non-stop".

"He was following a dream to represent New Zealand."

Grant was also well-known for his extensive general knowledge and wrote a weekly quiz called "That's what we do on Wednesdays".

He began writing it about five years ago, building up a database of 1500 people in New Zealand and Australia to whom he would send it every week.

Grant used crutches for his cerebral palsy (which affects body movement), but Mr Hoult said it did not impede his work.

"He was a determined person who didn't want any favours because of his condition."

Grant, who was not married, is survived by his parents, Bill and Sandra, and his sister Elizabeth.