Louis Trichardt resident Samantha Pennells, presently an adventure student at the Tswane University of Technology, walked away with the university’s prestigious Sportswoman of the Year award on October 15.

Samantha has been shooting nationally and provincially for the last seven year. She started with ATA and received her provincial colours in 2002 and 2003, becoming the youngest lady ever to win the South African Championships in 2003, at the age of 15. She was included in the Limpopo provincial side in 2005, 2006 and 2007 to represent her province in the elite Chairman’s Cup Inter-Provincial Championships.

Samantha was awarded her junior CTSASA colours in 2004 and competed in the DTL British Open in Wales as a warm-up for the World Championships and finished in an excellent ninth position overall.

In Bywell, England, after the first day of competing at the DTL World Championships, an international committee member persuaded Malcolm McClelland, the CTSA president, to enter the three South African ladies as an unofficial SA team. With permission from CTSA, Jessica Pennells, Michelle Geissler and a very young Samantha were entered. They placed third, getting bronze medals and beat Australia. These were the first medals brought home to South Africa by a ladies side.

Samantha received her Protea colours in 2005/6 and competed in the DTL World Championships in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, in Australia. In extremely cold and windy conditions, she was placed in the top 40 women overall.

With her sights set on the Common Wealth Games, Samantha started shooting Olympic Trap. With an outdated, second-hand shotgun, she posted a new national record, shooting 98 out of 100 targets at the Chairman’s Cup in 2006. She went on to be placed 3rd at the SA Championships in 2007 and 2nd in 2009. In 2007, Samantha managed to shoot a national MQS (minimum qualifying score) to qualify to shoot in Cyprus in 2007 to compete in the ISSF World Cup.

Surgery to her right shoulder to remove a growth put her out of action for a whole year. After extensive therapy, she entered the trials late in 2008 and once again managed to shoot an MQS. Without official funding, Samantha had to raise funds herself to compete at the ISSF World Championships in Maribor, Slovenia.

The competition in Maribor was extremely tough as all the best shots in the world competed at the event. Samantha was the only competitor who did not manage to shoot the “circuit”, a total of nine internationals. This was also her first ISSF World Championship. Unfortunately, her shotgun ejector broke the day before she left for Slovenia and because of the gun’s age, a spare part could not be found. A part had to be borrowed to at least eject the shells as the gun must pass ISSF equipment control and inspection.

Competing against ladies such as Jessica Rossi, the 2008 Olympic champion, caused a severe case of stress and nervousness, but Samantha managed to shoot a very respectable 20/20/22 out of 75. This is an international MQS, which means she is on track to qualify for the Common Wealth Games. Although she was placed 43rd, her score was in the top 15.

With no official coach other than her dad, Howard, no expensive training programme or funding, Samantha is doing extremely well. The family thanked everybody who has contributed to her success. Sincere thanks go to Theo, Richard and Rob Thompson, TUT (Chaka), Pieter and Matty and Johan Fouché.