Patmore is an experienced clay target shooter and has travelled around Australia and to New Zealand and the United States competing and making many good friends along the way.

While he first learnt to shoot on his family’s property as a youngster, when firearms laws were not so stringent the love of clay target shooting did not develop until about 2003.

At school Patmore was a top handball player, not the game most kids know today, but the three wall court style game like an open backed squash court. He even represented NSW in this now nearly forgotten sport. Apparently the school no longer has the courts either.

He was also a good swimmer and enjoyed playing rugby union and continued to play it after he left school. The rugby, too, was a sport that afforded him much travel.

His active sporting lifestyle was brought to an abrupt halt in February 1998, when he was T boned by a vehicle, while riding his motorcycle back home from Canberra along the Barton Highway.

Patmore, referred to himself, as a “Humpty Dumpty” as it took so many operations, 23 or 24 so far, for surgeons to put him back together. People only realise how extensive his injuries are when they see him in shorts.

It was a surgeon that encouraged him to look at a sport that would keep him active, get him out of the house and by using his leg, as best he could, to aid his rehabilitation.

“I still walk with a limp and am on quite a bit of medication to deal with the pain,” he said.

“Clay target shooting, which I discovered as a sport around 2000 or 2001 got me on the road to an active life.

“The standing  helped me to build up my strength and though I was not immediately winning I could see my improvement.

“Clay target shooting is quite an addictive sport and once you taste some success, you strive to get better.

“It is good for hand eye coordination and it becomes a great way to meet friends.

“I am a member of the West Wyalong Gun Club and within a two and a half hour drive there are numerous clubs, so if you had the mind to, and the money you could shoot three days a week.”

He said that the sport was a great leveller and like other shooting sports people with disabilities can participate on an equal standing with able bodied athletes.

It is also a sport where young people can compete against their parents and grandparents, while also shooting in their own age division, as a junior or veteran.

Patmore was a member of a five person Australian Team selected to contest the Glenn Cup which Australia won Australia 244 to New Zealand 239 this year.

Other members of the team were Glen Castellaro, Dan Power, Craig Kelly and Wayne Hawker. This trophy shoot is conducted alternate years in Australia or New Zealand and it is only between teams from the two countries. There are three different versions of the shoot too, down the line, skeet and Olympic Trap and it has been conducted since 1960.

He is also a member of the MacIntosh Australia team heading to the USA in August to compete in the Grand American. This is arguably the world’s largest clay target shooting meeting with hundreds of competitors from around the globe and the USA.

“This is really an amazing experience and you get to meet so many friendly welcoming people,” Patmore said.

“Gun clubs are full of law abiding people who enjoy their sport and have a great respect for the equipment they use.

“You cannot have a criminal record and you must abide by all the safety rules and regulations.

“They are also places where young people can learn to mix with older folk on a respectful, friendly basis and hone their social skills too, including learning how to deliver an acceptance speech when they receive a prize.

“It is also a sport that people with disabilities, like me, can participate in on an equal basis, their gun stocks and grips can be custom made to suit their disability, if necessary. As long as you can see, hold your firearm steady, load the gun and pull the trigger you can participate.”

A couple of Sundays ago he took out the High Gun prize (for the best shooter overall) at Goulburn’s regular shoot. He commented that in the Continental event shootout at least two of the four shooters in that sudden death final were including himself had a disability that restricted them in some activities but they all enjoyed their clay target competition.

“We had a lot of fun at the meet too, it wasn’t a serious competition with team selection at stake but a good social event,” Patmore said.

“If you are interested in finding out more about the sport of clay target shooting and how to get involved contact your local clay target club or the NSW Clay Target Association Inc.

“A google search will find you the contact details.”