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Six-month recovery for shooter

Clay target shooter Shane O’Brien faces a six-month recovery from shoulder surgery. Picture: Mary Meagher

Champion Goldfields clay target shooter Shane O'Brien's 2015 campaign has come to an end after he decided to "bite the bullet" and have shoulder surgery.

O'Brien had the operation to reattach his shoulder tendon to his muscle in Perth last month after tearing it in the middle of last year.

Despite the injury, the veteran shooter still managed to take home the WA 20-gauge championship while also claiming the overall high gun award at February's State titles.

However, he said the expected six-month recovery time meant his season was over, but wanted to get it done so he could return to the range as soon as possible.

"The injury was just through wear and tear, after I was lifting something at home I probably shouldn't have," he said.

"I did it in about August last year but I had been putting up with it - then I went to a shoot and I couldn't pick my gun up.

"I had the choice of holding off the surgery, but I decided to bite the bullet so I would be good to go for the start of next season."

By taking the early surgical option, which has forced him into a sling for six weeks, he will miss this month's National Skeet Championships in NSW.

It ends his chance of making the Australian side to travel to New Zealand in November for the Glenn Cup, as the titles doubles as qualifiers, which is the only national team O'Brien has not made.

He said while he was disappointed to miss out on going, he did not want the recovery time to cut into his 2016 season.

"My surgeon said if I had the surgery in June, I wouldn't be fit enough to go even if I made the national team," he said.

"I was disappointing for it to happen, because if I made the Australian team it would have been my third consecutive one.

"But if I had the June surgery, I would have missed the bulk of next year's season, so having it now was definitely the better option."

O'Brien is focused on his rehabilitation, where he is in the early stages of increasing the joint's movement.

He remains in a sling for the next three weeks, and if his surgeon gives him the all clear at his May 21 consultation he will begin strength work.

In the meantime he is doing some coaching at the Eastern Goldfields Clay Target Club, passing along the knowledge which has won him titles across the globe.