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Penny Smith took the Gold at the ISSF World Cup in Lahti, Finland overnight in Women’s Trap. Smith looked focused and unstoppable during the final securing a quota for Australia in the event.

“It is such a relief to get the second Women’s Trap quota for Australia. I believed in myself and took a positive attitude into the final, and I am really proud of my performance here in Finland!”

A proud Shotgun National Team Coach Rich Sammon commented: “Penny’s placing today is well-deserved and a testament to the resilience and courage she has demonstrated in recent years.”

Also on the podium was teammate Laetisha Scanlan, who also came away with the bronze medal. Sammon remarked: “Another final and another medal for Laetisha to finish an incredible year. Her record of 7 of a possible 9 finals at this level is phenomenal,” while Scanlan herself commented “To finish off this year’s World Cup season with a Bronze medal is fantastic. I’m so proud to win another medal for Australia!”

Sammon continued, “Australia came very close to having three athletes in the final. Catherine Skinner showed her quality with a ninth-place finish even though it was her first World Cup competition since early last year.”

The Finland World Cup features competition among 473 athletes from 76 nations. Up for grabs are two Quota Places for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games in each of the four individual events as well as valuable points that may determine qualification for the 2019 World Cup Final.

With thunder and lightning raging overhead and a torrential downpour sending spectators scurrying for cover, the organisers said the Para trap finals had an apocalyptic feel at the World Shooting Para Sport World Cup in Osijek, Croatia.

Arguably the happiest man in the venue was Australia’s Matthew Tingate who won PT2 bronze in his first international competition.

“It was a bit nerve racking, you’re under a bit of pressure, but at the end of the day it was so much fun,” Tingate said. “The people in this sport make it worthwhile. They’re all incredibly supportive. For example, if you run out of shells, you have all the other countries donating shells, they’ll look after you.”

Scottie Brydon also came away with the bronze in the Shotgun PT1 – Mixed Trap Seated SG-S.

This is the third World Shooting Para Sport for Osijek, Croatia and is the first ever competition that includes Rifle, Pistol, Para Trap, and VI making this an exciting opportunity to earn MQS spots ahead of our 2019 World Championships in Sydney.

Mitchell Iles has taken silver medals in the Trap Men Junior and the Trap Men Junior team with teammates Thomas Armstrong and Adam Bylsma.

Mitch’s medal exploits elevated him into the top qualifying world cup junior mens trap athletes in 2019, allowing him to join the other top world cup athletes to shoot for the Super Cup – and he came away with the Gold!

The ISSF Junior World Cup in Suhl is a “Who’s Who” of the world junior competitors with 650 athletes from 60 nations competing. The Junior World Cup 2019 concludes on 20 July.

The World Championship 2019 Shotgun event has gone off with a bang for Australia at the ISSF World Championship Shotgun in Lonato del Garda Italy.

Laetisha Scanlan and James Willett took gold in the Trap Mixed Teams in a 44-44 shoot-off, but it didn’t stop there — fellow Australians Penny Smith and Thomas Grice also reached the podium, taking bronze.

The competition is held near Lake Garda, one of the northern Italy’s most beautiful destinations. The Lonato del Garda Trap range is one of international shooting’s most important venues, with 616 athletes from 86 countries competing in the World Championship 2019 Shotgun.

The World Championship 2019 Shotgun will conclude on 11 July.

The Board of Shooting Australia is pleased to announce the appointment of Luke van Kempen to the position of Chief Executive Officer.

Shooting Australia President, Cath Fettell said “Luke excels at leading innovation. He has personal experience in leading successful change management projects in sporting organisations.”

“Luke’s sports-industry experience and his understanding of sports governance and commercialisation make him a great addition to our team.”

Van Kempen expressed a commitment to providing strong and collaborative leadership as Shooting Australia moves into an important phase of the Olympic Games cycle.

“”I’m honoured to be given the opportunity to lead an organisation with such a rich history at the Olympic Games and within the Australian sporting community. I look forward to working with the Board, our Staff and Member Organisations to maximise the potential of our athletes in Tokyo 2020, while ensuring the sport continues to prosper at the community level,” he said.

Shooting Australia has a record of surpassing expectations at Olympic Games, and the President and Board are excited by this appointment as Shooting Australia continues its great work and continues its’ campaign for Tokyo 2020.

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For more information please contact Kelly Wright, Shooting Australia 0411 149 995 or [email protected]

Shooting Australia is the peak body responsible for the growth, sustainability, and success of target shooting sports in Australia.

Shooting Australia is disappointed that our sport has been unsuccessful in its bid to be re-included among the events to be contested at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Target shooting had previously been included in the 2022 Games lineup until original host city Durban South Africa withdrew in February 2017; hosting rights then went to Birmingham, and that city’s games organising committee decided that target shooting would be excluded. Despite an intensive lobbying effort by Shooting Australia and the target-shooting peak bodies of other Commonwealth nations, and the ISSF, the sport has not been reinstated.

It goes without saying that this is hugely disappointing for the extended shooting performance and participation family, and most especially for our Olympic, Commonwealth, and World Cup gold-winning athletes, some of whom are reigning Commonwealth champions.

The Commonwealth Games and Team Australia will continue to receive our support and goodwill, and we hope to be readmitted to the program for the next Commonwealth Games in 2026 wherever they may be.

Please see linked here the article that was produced by British Shooting.

The Board of Shooting Australia is delighted to announce the appointment of Deserie Baynes to the board.

“It is an honour to be accepted on to the board of Shooting Australia. I look forward to making a positive contribution to the future of all shooting disciplines–in particular shotgun–and to assist in enhancing the relationships between the member bodies, athletes, and spectators.”

Deserie is a Commonwealth and Olympic Games Medallist in Trap and an inductee to the Australian Clay Target Association Hall of Fame. Deserie has been the assistant Shotgun Coach for the Australian Shotgun team since 2018 and has been an active member of the Clay Target Sport community for 49 years.

Shooting Australia Board President Cath Fettell said: “We are very excited to have Deserie join the Board. Deserie brings extensive experience and high achievement in competition shooting, business acumen, and knowledge of participation strategies to help address the challenges facing our sport. We look forward to Deserie’s contributions to our thinking, planning, and delivery in pursuit of target shooting’s future success.” 

Deserie is a successful business administrator and mother of three.

Australia’s James Willett has taken bronze in the Trap Men event at the ISSF World Cup Shotgun in Changwon after scoring 122 from 125 targets in qualification.

After the medal ceremony Willett commented: “Stoked with my performance here at Changwon. It was really tough final but I’m proud to come away with a medal for Australia!”

This performance builds on Willett’s gold-medal turn at the World Cup Trap Men competition in Acapulco earlier this year.

Following the announcement that our CEO for the past seven years, Damien Marangon has resigned, the Shooting Australia Board is pleased to advise that Adam Sachs will commence as Interim CEO from 13 April 2019.

Adam is Shooting Australia’s High Performance Director and has been with the organisation since September 2016.

The process to appoint a new CEO will commence shortly.

Shooting Australia is the peak body responsible for the growth, sustainability, and success of target shooting sports in Australia.

Media Contact: Kelly Wright, Shooting Australia

0411 149 995 or [email protected]