Natalie was in Dunedin over the weekend to compete in the South Island clay target championships and she did not come alone.
Most of her immediate family made the trip south from Waimate.
Her father Gary and brothers William (16) and Sam (25) were in tow.
The 22-year-old did not shoot as well as she would have liked but still won the ladies' events and finished third in the ball trap.
And any disappointment was soon forgotten with her family there to support her.
The Rooneys, it seems, stick together and when Sam, who needs a wheelchair to get around, took up the sport in high school the rest of the family followed .
"It was one of the few sports he could do and from there everyone kind of followed," Natalie said.
Natalie was hoping to medal at the Delhi Games but missed out on a podium finish.
She also teamed up with Manchester (2002) gold medallist Nadine Stanton in the pairs event.
They finished just outside of the medals in fourth place.
The University of Canterbury accountancy student has moved on from the disappointment and is looking to the future.
She plans to continue competing on the circuit and hopes to qualify for the London Olympics in 2012.
Canterbury shooter Gavin Searle was the best shooter during the tournament.
The New Zealand high gun won the ball trap on Friday and followed that success with wins in the single rise and double rise on Saturday.
