Mick Gault's achievements in winning fifteen medals for England at the Commonwealth Games between 1994 and 2006 have been recognised in the New Year Honours list, receiving an OBE.

Mick won his first medals in 1994, in Victoria, with Gold in the Individual 50m Free Pistol - an event he was to defend successfully in 1998 and 2002.  His medal haul includes a total of nine gold, three silver and three bronze medals won across four events - 50m Free, 10m Air, 25m Centre-Fire and 25m Standard Pistol - and includes a clean sweep of four Golds from four starts in the 1998 Games in Kuala Lumpur.  His fifteen medals make him the most successful English Commonwealth Games athlete ever.

The 53 year old from Norfolk said the OBE was a great honour for the sport. He said: “It means the earth to me, not just for myself but for the sport of shooting which I dearly love.”

Gault was chosen to carry the England flag at the closing ceremony of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006 after winning Gold in the 25m Standard Pistol.

Gault, who works at RAF Marham will now set his sights set on the Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010.

John Leighton-Dyson, the performance director for British Shooting, the national governing body for the sport said: “Everyone involved in target shooting is delighted with the honour given to Mick who is a great ambassador for the sport.

“No other athlete has won so many medals for England at the Commonwealth Games and Mick will be determined continue his success in Delhi in 2010. This is a tremendous boost for target shooting.   

“He is also a true inspiration to our Olympic squad as we prepare for Beijing later this year and of course London 2012.”  

Recent recipients of Honours for Shooting include Alister Allan MBE, Bob Braithwaite MBE, the late Malcolm Cooper MBE, Richard Faulds MBE, Shirley McIntosh MBE and the late Isabel Newstead MBE.  Mick becomes the first Target Shooter to receive an OBE.