Scotland continued its solid performance trend at this year’s Welsh open, one of the biggest open competition in the UK, by being a constant presence on the podium throughout the three days shooting and accounted for a total of 10 medals!
There was also some strong shooting during the qualifying series, some shooters achieving personal best scores, which in a high stress competition like the Welsh, requires a cool head and shows the shooter is someone to take note of for the future!
On Saturday, Emilia Faulkner scored 568 during qualifying, setting a new PB for her and also a Scottish Qualifying record. Other shooters taking PB’s included Andrew Walker, Conall Evans, and Elspeth Wardman.
It was a really enjoyable three days shooting and as usual great to be around so many friends and fellow shooters. The dinner hosted by the Welsh Airgun Association on Saturday was also a chance to relax with like-minded people and talk even more about shooting!
Highlights from the Friday include;
Isobel (left) and Emilia (right) winning their medals on Sunday
Emilia Faulkner won Gold in the Junior Ladies event with a score of 234.4, beating Silver by a big margin of 4.2 points.
In the Junior Men event, Andrew Walker won a Bronze medal with a score of 211.9, and
Aedan Evans took Gold in the Men’s event with a score of 236.2, beating Silver by 1.7.
On Saturday:
Andrew picking up his Gold medal
Emilia was again on the stage, taking Silver with a score of 234.6, in a nail-biting fight, just shy of Gold by .8 of a point!
In the Junior Men, Andrew was able to capture Gold, beating the redoubtable James Miller by 1.5 points, and scoring five tens in a row with his last shots!
Katie Knowles took Bronze in the Ladies event, scoring 215.5, with Nick Pye winning Gold in the Men’s event with a score of 236.6, a comfortable 3.1 points ahead of Silver, and rounding off the day with a medal for Scotland in each of the four finals.
On Sunday:
Katie winning Silver on Sunday
Andrew Walker completed a set of medals on each day by taking Bronze with a score of 212.5, rounding off a fantastic three days shooting for him.
Isobel MacTaggart took Silver, scoring a strong 228.7, and beating the formidable Emilia Faulkner into Bronze by just .8 of a point.
The adults were again represented by Katie Knowles, this time taking Silver with a score of 227.1.
All in all it was a great three days shooting for Scotland and as usual a fantastically run competition by the Welsh Airgun Association.
Report and photos by Nick Pye