Match report from Gorgs Geikie:
The ESSU had a great Airgun representation at Intershoot 2016. The competition has now been running for 40years and this year was no exception to the slick and professional reputation that goes before it. Competitors from countries as far as Canada, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico and Egypt to name a few joined the field of over 260 competitors.
Intershoot has always been a great athlete development environment, with a number of our Members this year competing on the international stage for the their first time. One outstanding performance came from Hannah Glover from Braunton Shooting Club in Devon, who won the Gold for Air Pistol Junior on Day 1. In this category, Samantha Darling from Norwich City Shooting Club was consistent in attaining a Finals position (top 8) on each of the three days and Pippa Bale (Braunton Shooting Club) was a Finalist on Day 3.
Gorgs Geikie was our only Senior Ladies Finalist, coming 6th on Days 1 & 3, being only narrowly edged out on the last day in a very hotly contested Final.
From the Men's perspective Adrian Simms put in 3 rock solid performances in all of the Men's Finals to win a Bronze medals on each of the first two days and 4th Place on the last day. Kenneth Darling who has recently joined Holwell Shooting club due to being in his first year at Loughborough University, was our star Junior with a Finals place on all three days.
However, strength in depth shone through in both the Men's and Women's Team competitions with Gold & Bronze and Gold medals respectfully.
At the end of competition Pistol Team meeting,our Team Manager and ESSU Head Pistol Coach, George Darling, received particular thanks from the athletes for his contribution and support. "The atmosphere amongst the team was really positive, and InterShoot provided an environment where we could really learn and perform to our best. Also, thank you to everyone behind the scenes who made Intershoot work like clockwork," says Gorgs.
Our Chairman, Dave Goodfellow, attended and worked as ISSF Jury Chairman, assisted by another GBR Jury Member, Mrs Gail Rees of Surrey.
The British Airgun Championships is the next competition for many of these athletes, and we wish them well. We would also like to wish the very best of luck to Victoria Mullen, part of the Team England National Pistol Squad (TENS) who competes at the European Airgun Championships in Hungry at the end of the month, where the whole of Europe will be vying for the final Rio Olympic Quota Places.
Our Squad was:
Pistol:
Win Man, Iqbal Ubhi, Oliver Tozer, Adrian Syms, Matthew Reed, Jim Newsome, Kristian Callaghan, Waldek Mickiewicz, Imogen Moss, Victoria Tripney, Georgina Geikie, Imogen Sida Page, Christina Hales, Hannah Glover, Ashleigh Holmes, Ian Jack, Phillippa Bale, Nick Owen, Kenneth Darling, Samantha Darling, Michael Arditti,
Rifle:
Alex MacDonald, Sharon Lee
Team Manager / Pistol Coach
George Darling
In fact there were 76 athletes competing from the British Isles and, apart from the 23 shooting as ESSU, a further 24 ESSU Members represented different GBR organisations, viz: GBR Talent Squad, SERPS, Combined Services, GBR AMT (Army), and Great Britain (British Shooting).
Full results and photographs are on the event website: http://www.intershoot.nl/
Team Manager's report
I had the pleasure to be team manager/pistol coach for 20 pistol athletes and 2 rifle athletes (who were self contained and looked after themselves).
We had free training on the Wednesday so everyone had a chance to check their equipment and see what the range conditions were like. Also we had a technical meeting at 1800 hours, the only major problem being that the electronic targets kept failing due to a problem with the power supply to the target; however this was sorted out overnight by the manufacturers technical staff.
Thursday - the first detail was 08.15 Start time so shooters had to be on the range at 07.45, 0645 UK time, these were the women and women juniors followed by the men and male juniors at 09.45.
Day 1 finals.
Women: Georgia Geikie made the final with a 370, starting in 7th place improving one place to 6th.
Men: Adrian Syms shot 572 finished 3rd and Bronze behind 2 Brazilian Athletes. Kristian Callaghan also made the final with 568 and finished in 8th place.
Juniors: Hannah Glover 366, starting in 5th place and shot a very good final to win Gold with 190.8. Sammy Darling 371, starting in 3rd finished 5th in final.
Day 2
We had a lie in with a PM start once again ladies first,
Women: Finals Georgia Geikie just missing the final with 368 in 9th place. Samantha Darling made the final in 5th place dropping to 6th in the final.
Men: Adrian Syms was 4th with 568 going in and improved to take the bronze medal. Kristian Callagan also made the final with 568 but dropped to 8th place.
Junior men: Kenneth Darling 559 in the qualifying match at 4th dropped to 6th in the final.
Team matches
Women: ESSU England Gold,
Men: ESSU England A Gold and ESSU England C Bronze,
Day 3
The men had the early start today.
Men: Adrian Syms again shot well 572 the most consistent of our male athletes with a 4th place in the final.
Women: Georgia Geikie shot well 372, 4th dropping to 6th in the final.
Junior Men: Kenneth Darling again made the final 3rd with 6th place finish.
Junior Women: Samantha Darling 367 coming 8th in the final.
I would like to thank the team and support members for their efforts and support. This was a successful trip with many good performances.
George Darling
Team manager