Nub News gets UP CLOSE with Shotley peninsula's British Open disabled shooting champion Sam Nunn who is not only going for gold in the World Championships, but is working to get the sport into the Paralympic Games

Sam Nunn is an easy-going, affable, hard working, family man who loves to win and has refused to allow his disability to hold him back.

Whether that has been his first love - football - as a player, coach or referee and administrator, or shooting now as a top level competitor and doing his bit behind the scenes, Sam strives to be the best he can and overcome all set backs.

Sam was born disabled, with physical impairments to both arms and a leg but after watching his younger brother James, an excellent non-league footballer, he was not going to let his disability hold him back. After failing to be picked at Shotley Rangers where his brother was doing well, Sam went off to play at Somerham with the able-bodied youngsters and played in the under-13, 14 and 15 levels before the club disbanded.

Undeterred he took his referees badge at aged 17 just to stay in the game, while taking on the role as treasure and secretary at Shotley Rangers. But he missed playing and found a disabled team, albeit with the original Wimbledon side and good old mum had to drive him to matches. The highlight came when the Dons reached the final of a tournament in Holland, but the team was forced to fold due to club's controversial move to Milton Keynes.

That led to Sam joining Southend where he encountered discrimination from an unexpected quarter.

Sam explained: "Southend was a bit closer and I was able to train with them more often and it was a great experience playing with other amputees.

"I remember my first time on a plane was when flew to Scotland and we did well. However, due to my arms I couldn't play on sticks like a lot of other players. I had scored two goals against this team and the opposition manager complained about be playing on my legs, So our manager was forced to substitute me and we lost 3-2. That was hard to take."

It was while playing for Southend in another tournament, this time at Ipswich, that led him to signing for his local team, which Sam loved.

He said: "Every Sunday we trained at the dome and all matches were played on training pitches, that was when Jason De Vos playing for Town.

"He often watched along with some other the others when they came informed their warm down session, and we were in the same changing rooms with them."

The Blues disabled team were up against the likes of Millwall, Chelsea and Charlton home and away but for Sam Playford Road were the best pitches he played on, although beating Chelsea at Chelmondiston remains a fond memory. Ironically, he is now the chair of the playing fields committee in the village.

Sam was not in the team to make up the numbers, despite being the anchorman in midfield he still weighed in with goals.

"I was playing defensive midfield but still mangled to score from free kicks headers from corners and penalties and a few from open play," said Sam."

But as with most players, the games and training took its toll, and Sam was forced to give up playing at 27 and started helping out coaching a number of local teams but he was still not satisfied and needed more.

After discounting suggestions from his work mates, including swimming, Sam went back to his family roots.

"When I gave up playing felt I needed to do something competitive for myself," said Sam. "I had always shot as my grandad and uncle had always taken me rough shooting locally."

Sam got involved in clay shooting and joined the Disabled Shooting Group 2012, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. He is also its treasure and was secretary before he stepped aside as he is getting married this year. the group has subsequently taken on three people to do the various roles he was doing.

It was at Colchester Garrison where his ability as a shooter was spotted and veteran marksman Adrian Last from Mendlesham suggested he started going to bigger competitions,

Sam said: "I remember my first was at the British Open at Halstead in Essex and I tied for third. I got the bug and have gone from there."

Indeed he has and last year became the British Open Champion in the Disabled Standing high gun category after a tense battle with Mark Delf who he beat by a single shot.

"That was probably my best achievement because my biggest rival is a very very good shot and also shoots in the able-bodied England team, said Sam.

"He was three ahead, I caught up and went two ahead and on the second to last stand he caught up and was one behind but on the final he shot three out of three which emanate I had to shoot two to tie but I got all three to win. I never felt such pressure.

"I got the first but on the second I missed first time but was able to get with my my second barrel and everyone behind me just gasped because it was so far away. the third I got first time ad so that was a huge relief. Especially as the day before I had missed the same target few times so I was really pleased."

Getting to these tournaments is not cheap and Sam is immensely grateful to his sponsors for this year, Chim-Chimney's Nigel Spinks and Joe Garnham from GBS Builders and being able to use Wrinch family farmland on the peninsula to practice.

For Sam this sponsorship is huge, not least because he doesn't have the financial backing some of his competitors may have, although he is not complaining given the circumstances.

Sam explained: "Because I was born disabled rather than those that have retired due to a disability or have had accidents who will get big pay outs, I don't have those million pound payouts, don't get me wrong I would not want to be in their situation."

It can cost in excess of £2,000 a year to compete, with no price money even if he were to be successful, although Sam admits he loves picking up the trophies, medals and awards.

He added: "It is not like tennis for example when you've to buy a racquet and a few balls, the entry itself can be £100 a shoot plus cartridges, about £25 and fuel etc, I certainly don't have that spare money laying around. So the sponsorship is vital and I'm so grateful to Nigel and Joe for all their support. It is the same with both William Wrinches, who have been massively supportive allowing me to use their land with my own clays.

"There are some cracking trophies I have won. I just like winning, it was the same as the football, I was always desperate to win. I have always had that drive and one eI have won once, I want to go on and win again.

That will explain how Sam was named the CPSA Disabled Shooter of the Year for 2019, five years after first winning the award in 2014.

Another huge aspect is the support of his family, not least because he is getting married to his long time partner Katherine, a Colchester zookeeper, who he met when she was playing for Shotley Rangers, and their two boys Jack, aged seven in May, and Henry, aged four.

The couple are due to tie the knot at Jimmy's Farm in August, and Sam is keen to be a world champion by then but admits cutting the guest list down to 40, unless government restriction changes is going to be as big a challenge.

It promises to be tough year at work too with Sam, who is procurement supply chain manger for ISG, which was Jackson Construction before it was bought out. Sam manages relations with big national suppliers national and is likely to be dealing with projects in Madrid and Vienna for the £2bn company which is listed in the UK's top 10.

A proud peninsula lad, Sam has also contributed greatly to his home village as chair of the Chelmondiston playing fields committee, which now has a good range of gym and play equipment for all the family, due to his part along with other volunteers in the fund raising and work done to make it happen.

In between Sam is looking to help grow the sport locally, there are no other disabled shooters on the peninsula, and only 140 registered nationwide CPSA, and get a GB team to the Paralympics.

He said: "I do love to get more people involved but there are issues with licensing medicine and rightly so we have to make sure people are fit.

"The sport is not in Paralympics yet but the aspiration is to get it into the Games. The more of us who do it, the better chance it has of being added to the Games. It is looking promising after Tokyo as a trial event in Paris for 2024."

And given Sam's track record of getting it done, and his determination to be a winner, you would not bet against it being there.