Well that’s that then! Our shooting athletes are on their way home from New Delhi after one of the most successful World Cup events ever – and this achievement from a team with an average age of 23.
Expectations were high, with new Shotgun National Coach Adam Vella accompanying the Shotgun team away to the first ISSF World Cup event since his appointment.
Before departure Adam was excited to see how our athletes performed at the first World Cup event of 2017. But in a late-night call back to Australia he exclaimed: “In all my years involved with Shotgun I can’t remember a team winning medals in all three Shotgun events at the same World Cup!”
No doubt someone, somewhere, will know if that is true or not – but until told otherwise we’ll take it.
Our first medallist was 21-year-old Penny Smith who won Gold and the first World Cup medal of her career. The lifeguard and swim teacher dedicated her world-record win to her Gran.
Next came another win and another world record for James Willett, who won Gold in the men’s Double Trap. 21-year old James has had an outstanding 2017 so far, being named Shooting Australia’s Male Shooter of the Year for the second year in a row and winning the Men’s Trap event at the Sydney Cup 1 in February.
Lastly Paul Adams took Bronze in the Men’s Skeet event, his first appearance in a World Cup Final. Nurse Adams will certainly have something to tell his patients about on Monday.
Australia’s achievements weren’t restricted to India. Anton Zappelli took Bronze in the R6 50m Rifle Prone Mixed SH1 at the 2017 World Shooting Para Sport World Cup in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, his first R6 World Cup medal.
Narrowly missing out on podium finishes this week were: Laetisha Scanlan, 7th in the Women’s Trap; Dane Sampson, who came 6th in his first World Cup Final in the 10M Air Rifle Men; Chris Pitt, who came 5th in the P1 10m Air Pistol Men SH1n the World Shooting Para Sport World Cup; and Anton Zappelli also came 6th in the R3 10m Air Rifle Prone Mixed at the World Shooting Para Sport World Cup.
Australian target shooting has made an incredibly strong start to 2017. Roll on Mexico and roll on Commonwealth Games 2018!
