SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Melissa Clark knew she wanted to be a marksman ever since she represented the NWT at a national cadet competition at the age of 13.

Cadet Melissa Clark was selected to be part of Canada's National Army Cadet Rifle Team. She is currently competing in an international marksman competition in England. - photo courtesy of Capt. Grant Cree

Now the 17-year-old from Yellowknife is getting the chance to showcase her talents on the international stage.

Clark is one of just 18 cadets from across the country to be selected for a spot on the national rifle team, which is currently in England to take part in several shooting competitions.

"I wanted to be on this team ever since I first heard about it," she said in an interview with Yellowknifer from Bigley, U.K.

In preparation for the trip, Clark has been practising her sharpshooting with an air rifle at Yellowknife's gun range three times a week.

She said she loves shooting because it is so different from any other sport she has tried.

"It requires a lot of concentration and other skills," she said.

Making the team was no easy feat. The three-year process began in 2015, when Clark was selected as one of 80 youth to take part in a camp in Ottawa intended to gauge cadets' shooting skills. She ended up making the cut and the following year she was invited to a seven-week training camp along with 30 of the country's most proficient shooters. Her strong performance at that camp eventually earned her a spot on the final team of 18.

"It was a really stressful for two years," she said. "It's just a huge relief knowing that time I had spent pursuing my goals was successful."

Clark and her teammates have already taken part in two competitions in England. The first one saw the Canadian cadets pitted against British cadets from the navy, air force and army.

Clark and the rest of the Canadian contingent were saddled with the extra burden of having to use British rifles, which they were not used to. Despite only having one day to practise with the new guns, Clark ended up ranking in the top 100 out of 350 shooters. Clark doesn't remember how she did in the next competition against British private school students, but she said her team did well.

"I didn't win anything but I learned a lot," she said.

Clark is now in the midst of her final competition, where she is up against shooters of all ages from around the world. Trevor Sexton, commandant of the National Army Cadet Rifle Team, said this is the team's most challenging test yet as some of the competitors have decades of experience.

Meanwhile, as it is an open competition they are having to hit targets from 1,000 yards away instead of the standard range for cadets, which is between 300 to 600 yards.

"This summer while we've been here Melissa's performance has been top notch," said Sexton.

After the competition wraps up Friday, the team plans to travel across England, France and Belgium. As part of the itinerary they will be visiting battlefields where Canadians played a pivotal role during the First World War, including Vimy Ridge and Beaumont Hamel.

"Having that historical factor, it's very important," said Sexton. "Especially for Vimy Ridge with this being the 100th anniversary."

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.