After 55 years of target shooting, Colleen Lee still gets a kick out of pulling the trigger.
Mrs Lee (76), of Waikouaiti, who is a patron of both the South Island Target Shooting Association and New Zealand association, was a much-loved figure at the South Island target shooting championships on Saturday.
About 200 competitors from across the South Island, split into groups of 10, competed at the East Otago Association's range in Dunedin for the Andrew and Faulkner Shield 2017, all using .22 calibre rimfire rifles.
East Otago went on to score a double, winning both the open and junior grades, replicating the team's achievement in Alexandra in 2015.
Mrs Lee was not among the competitors at the weekend and had not competed this season, but she still enjoyed shooting targets when she got the chance.
Introduced to the sport by her late husband Terry 55 years ago, she quickly became fond of it and eventually competed for New Zealand.
''It's just something that I absolutely love,'' she said.
She enjoyed the ''wonderful people'' involved in the sport and the feeling it gave her competing.
''When you have got that target in front of you ... and the shots are going in the centre you just get this real adrenaline rush.
''It's just fantastic and if you don't have a good shoot, well, you get down and have another go next time.''
She also enjoyed the fact woman competed against men.
''It's always an achievement to beat the boys.''
Craig Cookson, of Mosgiel, one of the better target shooters in New Zealand, who has competed internationally, said he enjoyed the camaraderie of the sport.
''The shooting community is awesome. I've made a lot of great friends around the country,'' Mr Cookson said.
The sport was still going strong and there were a lot of young people getting involved.
Results -
Open teams: East Otago, 2921.133 pts, 1; Ashley 2898.110, 2; Marlborough, 2896.121, 3.
Juniors: East Otago, 1448.054, 1; Nelson 1434.050, 2; Southland 1433.046, 3.
Lindsay Smith Memorial Trophy: Central Otago, 2888.096, 1; Southland, 2885.111, 2; North Canterbury, 2876.108, 3.
Top 5 teams: East Otago 1473.074, 1; North Canterbury, 1468.072, 2; Marlborough 1462.070, 3; Christchurch, 1461.068, 4; Ashley, 1458.059, 5.
