Natalie Foss wins world title

NATALIE FOSS is the 2026 Universal Trench Ladies World Champion, taking out the title in Australia in February with a personal best score of 190/200. She finished one point ahead of the next three competitors in a tight field, securing the win in a standout performance.

Since returning home, Natalie has continued a busy run of competition. She went straight into the Down The Line (DTL) Nationals in Christchurch where she won the ladies in the ball trap and handicap and placed first A grade in ball trap. This was followed closely by the DTL World Championships, also held in Christchurch where she was number one qualifier in the NZ second ladies team.

Clay target shooting includes several disciplines, and Natalie competes across a number of them. Her main events are Down The Line (DTL), Universal Trench (UT), and ISSF Trap (Trench), which is governed by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF).

Her latest result adds to her growing success in UT and trench at an international level. She is now preparing for the ISSF Junior World Championships in Germany in June. While the Olympics are a long-term goal, Natalie says her focus for now is on gaining experience and continuing to compete internationally. She also looks up to New Zealand Olympic medallist Natalie Rooney, and what she has achieved on the international stage.

When it comes to her sport, Natalie says she enjoys the environment and the people. “The culture, the atmosphere, the people - it’s an insane environment to be part of,” she said. “Being around people who enjoy shooting as much as you do makes a big difference.” But at the centre of it all are the shots themselves. “Just watching targets as they disintegrate when you hit them and you go, yeah, I probably couldn't hit that any harder.”