TOM HAYES
TRAP SHOOTING
By TOM HAYES IMAGINE doing what you love, while travelling the world in the meantime. Traralgon’s Lucas Furlan is set to jet over to Europe to take part in World Universal Trap Championships. And it won’t be his first time. Last year, Lucas was fortunate enough to be part of the Australian trap shooting team that travelled to Italy to compete in front of the world stage. Australia, and Lucas claimed gold on that trip. “Italy was definitely an eye-opener for me, bit different to back home,” he said. “I definitely took a lot of out of it. “I was fortunate enough to win the gold medal with my team, but that was just a bonus for me over there, the main thing was the experience and what I took out of it.” He is set to do it all again, this time spending around a month in the summer of Spain. Lucas shoots out of the Morwell Shooting Club, and has climbed the ranks at astonishing pace since learning the sport in 2019. While doing his schooling at Lavalla Catholic College, Lucas put his name down to join the shooting team, and became hooked. “I didn’t shoot my best, but I enjoyed it a lot, I took a lot out of it,” he said. Since then, it has been onwards and upwards, to the point where he now holds the title of current Australia Under 21 champion at the age of just 16. “I’m happy with my progress so far … there’s a few obstacles I’ve had to overcome, but I’ve managed them quite well,” Lucas said. “I shot at the last round of the selection series in Melbourne, which I shot a score of 192/200, which won me the juniors’ and allowed me to get enough points to … make the [Australian national] team.” Now, Lucas has his eyes set on Spain, and competing on the world stage once again, he must prepare as best as he can for the championships. “I’m definitely trying to get on the range at least once a week minimum … just doing other stuff at home and going to the gym and sort of just preparing myself mentally,” he explained. The sky is the limit for Lucas. Especially as trap shooting can be taken as far as the Olympics, the ultimate sports stage. But for now Lucas is taking things one step at a time, trying to improve each and every week leading up to his Spain trip in August, although he admits he is well aware of the Olympic possibility. “Just trying to stay consistent, that’s one of my main goals,” he said. There is no lack of support for Lucas, that’s for sure. As well as his family, he receives plenty of support from his mates at school. “My mates sort of push me along a bit, it’s good to have them there and supporting me as I go away,” Lucas said. The ISSF Junior World Championships run from July 18 to 26. Lucas will travel overseas for the Universal Trench World Championships, with competition running from August 3 to 7.
