Liz Langdon will kick-start a pivotal six months on her Shooting Para sport journey when she competes at the BISC Cup in Brisbane on Friday (3 July).
Competing in the R5 10m Air Rifle Prone SH2 event, the Auckland-based mother of two returns to the Brisbane International Shooting Centre hoping to go one better than the silver medal she claimed at the competition on her international debut 12 months ago.
A partial tetraplegic, Liz was inspired to take up the Para sport after watching the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Her silver medal-winning performance in Brisbane hinted at her potential, while the recent purchase of a new rifle underlines her commitment to progressing in Shooting Para sport.
“Considering I’ve only been involved in Shooting Para sport for such a short period of time, I think I’ve made good progress”, she says. “I was so lucky to be able to use the club rifle for so long. I don’t think many sports provide all the equipment when you first start out.
“But I felt bad that I was using a resource that other people could also benefit from, so that’s why I invested in a Feinwerkbau 900 rifle.”
Two generations newer than the club rifle she had been using, the new equipment has required a period of adjustment.
“They say it can take up to six months to get used to a new rifle, and there are many more elements I can tweak to suit me than with the old one,” she explains. “It has definitely taken some adjusting. The rifle is rear-heavy, so we’ve had to add weights to the front, but we’re almost there.”
Mentored and coached by Paralympian #148 Michael Johnson MNZM and Paralympian #236 Neelam O’Neill PLY, Liz says she feels fortunate to receive regular guidance from two highly respected figures in the Para sport.
Training once a week at Mt Eden Shooting Range, she also attends a monthly “girls training camp” alongside Neelam and experienced World Cup international Natalie Brunzel. The sessions, which can last up to five hours, she describes as “a lot of fun.”
Balancing the elements of training with raising two children is demanding. However, the recent purchase of a SCATT training system – an electronic device attached to the end of the rifle – has enabled her to train effectively from home without using ammunition.
“The device is an electronic optical sensor connected to a computer tablet,” she explains. “It tracks the exact movement of your barrel during your aim and at the precise moment you pull the trigger. It’s a very clever piece of equipment.”
Despite still adapting to her new rifle, Liz, who lives in Māngere Bridge, believes she is a significantly stronger Para athlete than she was 12 months ago. While she was previously averaging between 615 and 618 points in her specialist event, she has more recently recorded several scores above 630.
Currently in training camp in Brisbane, Liz will take to the range to compete in the R5 10m Air Rifle Prone SH2 event with a clear objective.
“My main goal is to get as much out of the training camp as possible and then try to win the competition,” she says.
Following Brisbane, her focus will shift to obtaining international classification and, she hopes, to compete at the Shooting Para sport World Cup in Al Ain in December.
Looking further ahead, Liz has her sights set on the biggest stage of all.
“I would like to compete at the Paralympic Games one day, I’m not good enough yet, but I’m certainly going to try.
“It will be a big step up competing internationally compared with shooting on a home range where there is very little pressure. But I know that’s what I need to do, and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
*** A three-strong New Zealand team comprising; Liz, Neelam O’Neill and Andrew Fairweather will compete at the BISC Cup (3-5 July) in Brisbane.
