Julia Lydall won Gold in the Women’s Air Pistol match at the inaugural International Shooting Competition in Hannover this week.  Shot on newly upgraded facilities, providing one of the most modern shooting ranges in Europe, her qualification round score of 380 was a season’s best for the 21 year old student, and gave her a two point lead entering into the final, with 23 year old Kathryn Pearson also gaining her a place in the last eight – 371 good enough for fifth. 

The additional ten shots saw Julia’s lead reduced slightly, but a steady total of 92.8 secured her first International win of the year, while Kathryn recorded the second best final, with 97.1 almost closing the gap to fourth place.

Earlier in the week Julia and Kathryn performed well in the women’s 25m Pistol – an Olympic event they only have very limited exposure to as a result of the current firearms legislation in mainland Great Britain.  Both women qualified for the final – Julia with 568, including a world-class 290 in the precision stage, and Kathryn with 552 – an excellent achievement given that this was only Julia’s second ever official competition and Kathryn’s first one.  The lack of experience told in the final however, Julia dropping from second to fifth, while Kathryn remained in eighth.  Julia’s total is believed to be a new British Final Record, subject to ratification.

Elsewhere amongst the British shooters present there were some other notable performances.  Kenny Parr recorded a new Personal Best of 1149 in the Junior Men’s Three Positions event, setting a new British Junior record in the process.  He entered the final in seventh place, and although disappointed to drop to eighth after a total of 92.0, he also raised the British Junior Final record (both subject to ratification).

James Huckle also qualified for the his final, the Junior Men’s 10m Air Rifle, with a score of 589 – his highest international score to date, and maintained his fifth place with a steady final of 101.0.  Melanie Flowers was unfortunate to miss out on a final, taking tenth place in the Junior Women’s Air Rifle with an international best of 391.