Commonwealth Games: Natalie Rooney leads 11-strong shooting team

New Zealand's Natalie Rooney on her way to winning silver at the Rio Games. Photosport

Olympic silver medallist Natalie Rooney will spearhead an 11-strong group of New Zealand shooters to compete at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

Rooney is among eight shooters to have competed previously at Commonwealth Games level, including Delhi 2010 fullbore rifle gold medallist John Snowden and Glasgow 2014 skeet shooting champion Sally Johnston.

Making their Games debuts are Janet Hunt (prone rifle) and Owen Robinson (trap), along with Chloe Tipple (skeet), who competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Trap shooter Rooney, coming off victory at the South Island championships over the weekend, says Australians Catherine Skinner and Laetisha Scanlan will both be major threats at the Games in April.

Skinner pipped her for gold in Rio and has reclaimed the No.1 world ranking which Rooney assumed for several months last year.

"The Commonwealth Games is always going to be tough, there are very good shooters from lots of countries but it'll be a good challenge," she said.

It will be a sixth Games campaign - including two at Olympic level - for prone rifle shooter Ryan Taylor.

NZ Shooting Federation sport development manager Gavin Paton expects the teams' experience to be important.

"This is a strong team so we're looking forward to positive results. A tough selection process has brought out our best shooters," he said.

"This team has spent a lot of time training and travelling to competitions and World Cups and events to qualify so they should be proud of what they've achieved already."

NZ Commonwealth Games shooters:
Women: Natalie Rooney (trap), Chloe Tipple (skeet), Sally Johnston (smallbore 50m prone rifle), Janet Hunt (smallbore 50m prone rifle). Men: Ricky Zhao - (50m pistol), Owen Robinson (trap), Myles Browne-Cole (trap), Scott Wilson (double trap), John Snowden (fullbore and fullbore pairs), Brian Carter (fullbore and fullbore pairs), Ryan Taylor (50m prone rifle).