Shooting stars aiming for gold at Glasgow Commonwealth Games

Press release from Shooting Australia

Australia will field its strongest ever shooting team at the 2014 Commonwealth Games as the Australian Commonwealth Games Association (ACGA) today officially announced the 29 athletes heading to Glasgow.

Shooting Australia (SA) nominated the athletes to the ACGA, following an extensive selection process spanning more than 12 months.

A line-up of Commonwealth Games and Olympic champions including Michael Diamond, Russell Mark and Alethea Sedgman will spearhead the Australian team.

ACGA CEO Perry Crosswhite said that the expectations for Glasgow were high.

“Our shooters have a proud and successful record at past Commonwealth Games. Those named today are a good mix of experience and youth, and we expect another strong performance at the 2014 Games shooting competition,” Crosswhite said.

Selected for a fifth Commonwealth Games, 41-year-old Diamond will be chasing his fourth Trap gold medal. In Manchester and Melbourne, he also combined with Athens 2004 Olympic bronze medallist Adam Vella to win the pairs Trap title.

Joining Diamond and Mark on the Shotgun range is a group of high-calibre youngsters in Emma Cox, Catherine Skinner, Laetisha Scanlan and Paul Adams. The shotgun team is fresh off some excellent results at the opening World Cup of the year, in Tucson, Arizona, USA, where they finished second on the overall medal tally.

Veteran rifle shooter and Beijing Olympic bronze medallist Warren Potent will lead the men’s Rifle charge, joined by other hopeful medallists in Dane Sampson, Michael Brown and ‘young gun’ Jack Rossiter.

The rifle women will be led by defending Commonwealth Games gold medallist Alethea Sedgman. Sedgman was 16 when she won the 50m Women’s 3 Position gold medal in Delhi. High School science teacher Jennifer Hens and new mum Robyn Van Nus will also compete in the women’s rifle events.

SA CEO Damien Marangon congratulated rising rifle juniors Emma Adams, 15, and Rossiter, 16, who will make their debut Commonwealth Games in the 10m Air events.

“After producing outstanding results across domestic and international competitions, these youngsters deserve their spots in this team,” said Marangon.

“Both South Australians have displayed amazing talent beyond their years and we hope this will be the beginning of a long and successful shooting career.”

Father and daughter duo, David and Hayley Chapman will compete in the pistol discipline. The South Australian duo is the first father-daughter pair to compete at a Commonwealth Games. David Chapman will be on his fifth Commonwealth campaign and looking to add to his collection of six Commonwealth medals.

Marangon spoke excitedly about Shooting Australia having the first ever parent-child athlete representation at a Commonwealth Games.

“What a great achievement for the Chapman family to have a father and daughter representing their country at the same Games,” Marangon said.

Experienced pistol athlete Lalita Yauhleuskaya will also be aiming to add to her pool of Commonwealth Games medals. She won three gold and a bronze in 2002 and went on to win three gold and a silver medal in 2006, as well as setting a new Commonwealth Games record in the 10m air pistol event.

The fullbore rifle team, led by Geoff Grenfell and James Corbett, will be aspiring towards more green and gold glory, following world-class performances across the entire selection period. Currently at the top of their form, between them, the pair has won world titles, domestic competitions and a highly sought-after HM Queen’s Prize.

“We think this a great team capable of representing Australia with pride and distinction. We congratulate all the selected athletes and wish them well on their journey towards Glasgow,” Marangon said.

Shooting was first included on the Games program in 1966, and with the exception of the first Edinburgh Games in 1970, has remained on the program ever since.

The shooting events will be hosted at the Barry Buddon Shooting Centre, one of the satellite venues, located near Carnoustie on Scotland’s east coast. The centre was used for the Edinburgh 1986 Commonwealth Games.

Nineteen events will be contested in the shooting program in Carnoustie, with the competition schedule set to run for five consecutive days from 25-29 July 2014.

2014 Australian Commonwealth Games Shooting Team

Pistol

Daniel Repacholi (Nulkaba, NSW) Men’s 50m (Free)
Bruce Quick (Shepparton, VIC) Men’s 50m (Free)
Blake Blackburn (Bellbird, NSW) Men’s 10m Air
Daniel Repacholi (Nulkaba, NSW) Men’s 10m Air
David Chapman (Hoyleton, SA) Men’s 25m (Rapid)
Bruce Quick (Shepparton, VIC) Men’s 25m (Rapid)
Lalita Yauhleuskaya (Berwick, VIC) Women’s 25m (Sport)
Hayley Chapman (Fairfield, NSW) Women’s 25m (Sport)
Lalita Yauhleuskaya (Berwick, VIC) Women’s 10m Air
Emily Esposito (Casula, NSW) Women’s 10m Air

Smallbore Rifle

Dane Sampson (Findon, SA) Men’s 10m Air
Jack Rossiter (Onkaparinga Hills, SA) Men’s 10m Air
Dane Sampson (Findon, SA) Men’s 3 Position
Michael Brown (Panania, NSW) Men’s 3 Position
Warren Potent (Parramatta, NSW) Men’s Prone
Dane Sampson (Findon, SA) Men’s Prone
Emma Adams (Old Reynella SA) Women’s 10m Air
Jennifer Hens (Findon, SA) Women’s 10m Air
Alethea Sedgman (Horsham, VIC) Women’s 3 Position
Robyn Ridley (Alfords Point, NSW) Women’s 3 Position
Jennifer Hens (Findon, SA) Women’s Prone
Alethea Sedgman (Horsham, VIC) Women’s Prone

Fullbore Rifle

Geoff Grenfell (Bendigo, VIC) Queens Prize Pairs
James Corbett (Benalla, VIC) Queens Prize Pairs
Geoff Grenfell (Bendigo, VIC) Queens Prize Individual
James Corbett (Benalla, VIC) Queens Prize Individual

Clay Target

Russell Mark (Hoppers Crossing, VIC) Men’s Double Trap
Tom Turner (Bellbird, NSW) Men’s Double Trap
Adam Vella (Keilor Downs, VIC) Men’s Trap
Michael Diamond (Salamander Bay, NSW) Men’s Trap
Paul Adams (Kippa Ring, QLD) Men’s Skeet
Keith Ferguson (Sale, VIC) Men’s Skeet
Catherine Skinner (East Melbourne, VIC) Women’s Trap
Laetisha Scanlan (Berwick, VIC) Women’s Trap
Emma Cox (Mooroopna, VIC) Women’s Double Trap
Gaye Shale (Rutherglen, VIC) Women’s Double Trap
Laura Coles (Busselton, WA) Women’s Skeet
Lauryn Mark (Hoppers Crossing, VIC) Women’s Skeet

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