Hot on the heels of some excellent results at the Grand Prix of Liberation in Pilsen last week, ten Scottish athletes competed at the ISCH Rifle & Pistol competition in Hannover this week.
In the Pistol events, Jess Liddon got the show on the road with a new Personal Best of 380 in the Women’s Air Pistol, which earned her a place in the final. Sixth place was the final outcome, a considerable step-up for Jess at this level of competition, and the first Minimum Consideration Score for the 2018 Commonwealth Games for her.
Aedan Evans was next to excel, 577 in the Junior Men’s Air Pistol making him the top qualifier - as he was in Dortmund a few weeks ago - and securing another MCS for the Gold Coast. A below-par first series of five made life difficult, and he did well to work his way back up from that to take fourth place.
In the rifle events, Jen McIntosh shot a new Scottish and British Record of 420.3 to lead the qualification round of the Women’s Air Rifle, and she combined with sister Seonaid and England’s Katie Gleeson to win the concurrent team event, also with a new British Record 10.1 higher than the mark the same trio had recorded at the European Championships in March. A great final of 249.2 took Jen to the top step of the podium, her first senior win at a competition of this standard with the Air Rifle.
Neil Stirton made it two finals from two in the Men’s Prone, a steady 624.0 taking him through from the qualification round and he went on to take sixth place, just one loose shot in the first series of five making it too much of a gap to close to the podium places. Seonaid McIntosh then shot another new Personal Best of 586 in the Women’s 3P match to qualify for the final, and with Jen & Katie once more they secured the Team Gold for GBR. Seonaid’s kneeling stage of the final left her some work to do, but solid prone shooting moved her up to fourth and she continued to pull back the deficit during the standing, taking the lead with a single shot remaining, and she was able to secure the Gold for her first senior 3P medal.
On the last day, Jen and Seonaid were disappointed with their performances in the Women’s Prone but with Katie Gleeson taking the individual bronze they were able to secure their third team Gold in a quite remarkable week.
For Jen, Seonaid, Caroline and Neil the attention now moves to Munich, where they will be representing GB at the next ISSF World Cup.
Report and Photos by Donald McIntosh