Early this morning, in the final day of competition at the Lima, Peru International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup, Australians Penny Smith and Mitch Iles won the gold medal in the Trap Mixed Team event.
Following on from their silver medal performance in the same event at the Buenos Aires World Cup less than two weeks prior, Smith and Iles once again joined forces as Australia Team 1, and headed out onto the Las Palmas Shooting Range for the final event of the Peruvian World Cup.
Shooting a combined qualification score of 144 out of 150 targets, the pair were equal top qualifiers with team Guatemala, securing their place in the Gold Medal match.
Australian Team 2, comprising James Willett and Laetisha Scanlan, shot a combined team score of 135 out of 150 and finished in 7th place.
Prior to the commencement of the Gold Medal match, Smith and Iles were required to shoot off for bib numbers against the Guatemalans, successfully securing bib number 1. This would mean Australia Team 1 would be shooting first in the medal match.
A strong start from Smith and Iles secured their lead early in the Gold Medal match. The pair maintained this lead throughout the competition, holding a five-target advantage over Guatemala, as they entered the final 10 shots. But, with six targets remaining for each team, the Australians could not be beaten, as Iles smashed his third last target, securing the gold medal, with a final score of 42 targets to Guatemala’s 39.
The bronze medal match was contested between USA 1 and Italy 1, with Italy successful by one target.
Talking to their gold medal performance, a very happy Iles said, “Penny and I mix pretty good as a team and shoot very consistently. The first time we competed together in the Mixed Team event was in Cyprus in March 2022 and we won the bronze medal. A couple of weeks ago in Buenos Aires we won the silver medal, and now today we have won the gold medal.”
Reflecting on an earlier World Cup silver medal, backed up with a Gold Peru, Smith said, “It certainly was an incredible team effort. We work really well together, and we got the job done.”
When asked if there is opportunity for complacency when you know you are in the lead, Smith said, “We really just had to keep to our routines and do what we know best. You obviously know where each team is but just because you have the lead, doesn’t make it any easier – one shot at a time right until the end.”
A gold medal could not have been better timed for Smith who was also celebrating her 30th birthday. “It will certainly be a day that I won’t forget. Mitch and I have teamed up really well to shoot. I am incredibly proud of both of us. It makes for a special day and a nice way to finish our time away for Team Australia.”
Being away for almost a month to compete in the back-to-back World Cups, Iles is looking forward to heading back to Australia to spend some time with his partner Gabbi and 2-year-old son Leo. “I am looking forward to getting home and seeing and spending time with Leo and Gabbi. Leo was able to watch the final live from Australia early on Tuesday morning. I also plan on getting straight into domestic competition with the Victorian State Titles in Echuca the first weekend of May.”
The Australian Team will return to Australia in the coming days, concluding their World Cup appearances in South America.
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