Sutton-at-Hone’s Tom Gridley is competing with the world’s best Helice clay shooting champions this week.

Gridley, 41, qualified for the Great Britain team at the 35th World FITASC Championship taking place in Ghedi, Italy from Friday until Sunday.

Helice is the French word for propeller and the sport aims to replicate the erratic flight of real birds with plastic targets featuring a clay centre.

After a fiercely competitive round left multiple hopefuls tied for team places, Gridley was called into a dramatic shoot-off where a decisive performance clinched his spot.

He said: “Overall, I’m really happy with the performance because the work I’m doing is starting to pay off. I focused on my breathing, kept my head clear and got the result I’d worked for.

“I’m happy about it, but I know there’s still work to do. Taking part in the Grand Prix of Italy the day before the World Championships will help me get a feel for the conditions and see where I stand.”

Gridley, a cable jointer by trade for UK Power Networks, has built a respected reputation in competitive shooting. He is known for his focused approach, often preferring solitude before high-stakes shoot-offs to maintain mental clarity.

“What I love about shooting is the discipline of it, and the way it defines me as a person,” he added.

“A lot of my life lessons, discipline at work and planning, stem from shooting and having that mindset. It has also given me ability to travel all over the world with my sport to Finland, Cyprus, America and Brazil and meet lovely people off the beaten track.

“I’m hoping for a good performance in the team event. I’d like to add the world team event to my titles.

“The ultimate would be to get a singles event. That’s down to me, my head, and a little bit of luck from the gods of Helice shooting. It’s luck and creating the luck. The harder you work, the luckier you get.”