Hendrik is aiming to be the best
''We expect to fire around 486 rounds over the three days," said Hendrik shortly before leaving for the Championships.
Straight shooter Hendrik Coetsee was the youngest member of the Northern KZN team to be chosen to represent the area at the African Practical Shooting Championships held this past weekend in Polokwane.
At just 17-years-old, this Dundee High scholar has proved himself in a sport that requires discipline and mental fortitude.
He and the six other members of the Northern KZN team were up against over 500 competitors from around Africa and other countries who converged on to Polokwane for the three-day ‘shoot-out’ hosted by the SA Practical Shooting Association through the International Practical Shooting Confederation. Hendrik’s category is the 9mm handgun production class stock firearm which means that the weapon has not been modified in any manner. Competitors were divided into 25 ‘squads’ with each squad having to tackle 24 ‘stages’ where they were required to shoot at steel and paper targets from various distances and at varying angles – much like a golfer who has to tackle 18 holes, each with its various obstacles (bunker, waterhole etc.) and distances.
There is also a laid down procedure to ensure your firearm is kept in a separate zone from where the ammunition is stored to prevent any accidents
”We expect to fire around 486 rounds over the three days,” said Hendrik shortly before leaving for the Championships.
He said he has been shooting for about five years after he was taught to do so by his father, Frik, who is a traffic officer in Dundee. His mum, Ronel, also shoots, as does he brother, Frik. Like his mum, Hendrik, shoots left-handed and is a member of the Wasbank Shooting Club and the Buffalo River Shooting Club in Newcastle.
“It is a very disciplined sport which I like. The safety rules must also be strictly adhered to and earmuffs must be worn at all times. There is also a laid down procedure to ensure your firearm is kept in a separate zone from where the ammunition is stored to prevent any accidents,” Hendrik told the Courier.
His does very specific training too – besides the obvious accuracy routine at targets. Hendrik demonstrated how he balances a coin on the barrel and pulls the trigger – should the coin stay on the barrel you know you are squeezing the trigger in the correct manner which also helps accuracy.
Thrilled to be part of the Northern KZN team, Hendrik said he is very grateful to his sponsors, NJR Steel, Dr Fourie, Ace Hardware, Khans Concrete, Adel and Koos Smith.
He also has his sights set on the world shoot to be held in Thailand in 2020 and hopes to be chosen to represent the country there.
