Balogh, who won gold in the Olympic trap discipline at Athens in 2004, is in Wagga for the NSW State Trap Carnival being held at the NSW Clay Target Association's shooting range.

The 46-year-old now helps nurture talent as the national body's coaching director and will compete in this week's event, which began on Friday and concludes on Monday.

"I've retired from Olympic level shooting in 2014 however I still pop up and find the odd thing to do.I don't reckon I've shot a state championships for probably 30 years or so I think," Balogh said.

"I haven't shot very much for the last year, this is more about enjoying myself and keeping an eye on the young kids coming through.

"I'm seeing those juniors now popping up at Oceania champs and world cups, it's really nice.

"It's not really me developing them, they've been developed since they were very young. I get to see them when they can really shoot, it's not much to do with me."

The state championships got underway on Friday with the Winchester Champion of Champions, with Victoria's James Hayden taking the major prize.

Competition continues on Saturday from 8.30am with the Zone Teams Matches and Perazzi Australia Double Barrel Championship on the agenda.

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