DEAN Brus went to the Australia Day Sports Awards ceremony thinking he was “filling in the holes.”

The pistol shooter was surprised when he was named the senior sportsperson of the year.

Brus was given the award for his outstanding achievements in pistol shooting in 2007 which included representing Australia on the world stage.

He was a dominant force in the sport at local, state, national and international level in 2007 and said to be recognised on Australia Day meant a lot to him.

“I’ve been very patriotic towards flying the Australian flag,” Brus said.

“I fly the flag at home. It’s a big part of my motivation.”

Brus set the standard for pistol shooting in Australia in 2007.

He was the national champion in the WA 1500 setting a new Australian record of 1488 out of a possible 1500.

Brus was national champion in the 25-yard service pistol with a score of 634 out of 650 and was Australian Teams Champion in the WA 1500 and the 25-yard service pistol events.

He was also the Victorian State Champion in the WA 1500 and set a new state record along the way. These results helped him to earn the number one world ranking in the WA 1500 and also be selected in the Pistol Australia team for the World Championships.

Brus was an outstanding competitor at the World Championships winning silver in the two man teams event and bronze in the world team event.

“I had the goal two years prior to make the Australian team,” Brus said.

“To pull off a new record at the national level was amazing. I shot 1485 at worlds which was one point above my average. I was very satisfied with that.”

Brus is currently in the middle of the selection window for the 2008 Australian team and is the leading contender.

The next WA 1500 World Championships will be in 2009 but it is hoped the Australian team will compete at an international competition in 2008.

Brus said his goal is still to bring home a World Championship trophy.