WATCH: The best female shot in SA
NORTHCLIFF – Lauren Parsens has won the women's division in the South African Field Target Championships for the past five years.
Lauren Parsens (21) is one gal you do not want to get on the wrong side of, her being the best female air rifle field target shot in South Africa and all.
The Centurion resident is a member of the Northcliff Air Rifle Club. Shooting since the age of seven, she quickly became a prodigious talent in the field target category, beating many boys her age. She started competing in national and international competitions and 15 years later she has now competed in four World Field Target Championships, two for South Africa and last year she won in the women’s event. She has also won the women’s division in the South African Field Target Championships for the past five years.
“I like the feeling of winning, nothing can compare to it,” she smiled.
“Once you have won, it is addictive – you have to win again. The World Champs are very competitive, but in South Africa, no one can catch me.”
Parsens went into the Lisbon 2016 World Field Target Championship as champion, but unfortunately only finished eighth in August. But she hopes to come back stronger next year.
WATCH: Parsens show us how to shoot a field target
Parsens is in her third year of studying a BSC agricultural sciences degree at the University of Pretoria, and is contemplating working as a veterinarian, but has not made her mind up yet.
“Between shooting and studying, I really do not have much of a social life,” she laughed.
However, her international competitors have also become good friends, and she looks forward to seeing them each time she goes to the World Field Target Championships.
Parsens is also the first South African to be sponsored with air rifle equipment from an overseas brand. Her R90 000 Steyr LG110 air rifle includes a scope sponsored by Kahles in Austria.
Details: Northcliff Air Rifle Club 072 659 2333.
