PISTOL SHOOTING
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
DEAN Brus planned to go to the World Association 1500 Championships as an unknown.
That all changed when the Orange pistol shooter found out he was ranked number one in the world.
Brus qualified to represent Australia following the Pistol Australia national championships in April when he shot a national record 1488 out of 1500.
He and Australian team-mate Tony Drabsch (ranked 12th) will contest the world championships next month in Germany.
The Australians were on the world rankings but we removed when the world organisation made an error with a score earlier this year.
Pistol Australia requested the Australians stay off the rankings and Brus hoped the correct rankings might not be released on the internet until after the world event.
"We thought we could sneak in under the radar and no-one knows who we are," Brus said.
"By the time we finish shooting we hope they know exactly who we are. They put the Australians back on the world rankings. There goes our stealth mode."
Brus said he was not feeling pressured by his ranking.
Instead he is reassured his is one of the best in the world.
The multiple Australian champion plans to live up to his world ranking.
"I'm going there to win," Brus said.
"You've got to go there with the goal to try and win the thing. The way I see it is there's an elite bunch of people there and they're all humans and they've all got to do the same job. He or she that can stay focused enough and control their head is the one that will win."
Brus, who is supported by Orange Ex-Services Club, Calare Credit Union, Midstate Financial Services and JIB Gun Accessories, has been training with Drabsch from Parkes.
The Orange shooter said he had been shooting some good scores in practice and is rounding out his final preparations.
Orange's Dave Oates was to compete in an independent side but he has had to withdraw.
The World Association 1500 Championships will be held in Germany from August 10-12.