ISSF Shotgun World Championships, Belgrade

Sparks

From the ISSF website:

2011 ISSF Shotgun World Championship opened in Belgrade, Serbia

630 shooters coming from all around the world will compete to secure an Olympic Quota Place. Separate Junior events and team events will also be staged during the 10-day competition in Kovilovo.

The 2011 ISSF Shotgun World Championship kicked off in Belgrade, today.

More then 600 shooters coming from 76 countries will participate in the most important shotgun competition of the year, held at the Kovilovo Shooting range – in the outskirts of the Serbian capital – from the 3rd through the 14th of September.

Five Olympic Quotas are to be assigned in the five Olympic events of Trap, Double Trap and Skeet shooting, during this World Championship, which also includes separate events for Junior athletes.

“This is the first time in the history that the ISSF Shotgun World Championship is taking place in Serbia - the President of the Organizing Committee, Mr. Milan Sotra, said during today’s Opening Ceremony.

“We owe our gratitude to the International Shooting Sport Federation for entrusting us with the organization of this premium event. The best shooters from all around of the world are competing in Belgrade, with the unique possibility to secure a quota place for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.” Mr Sotra added.

The ISSF Vice-President, Sheik Salman Al Sabah (photo), saluted the athletes and took the chance to address a speech to the organizers. “In behalf of the ISSF President, Mr. Olegario Vazquez Raña, I would like to express our great appreciation to the people and the government of Serbia for hosting this prestigious International Shooting event” Sheik Al Sabah said, declaring then the competition officially opened. The ISSF Vice Presidents Luciano Rossi and Medhat Wahdan joined him on the ceremony’s podium to follow the firework show presented by the Organizers.

The competitions start tomorrow morning, with the first medal match (Trap Men Final) scheduled to take place on Tuesday the 6th at 16.15 (GMT+1).

Check the 2011 ISSF Shotgun World Championship schedule at http://www.issf-sports.org/calendar/championship_schedule.ashx?cshipid=929 and don’t miss the finals!

MDD

Competing for Ireland are Derek Burnett and Wayne Byrne, and today's their day one of shooting - Derek's put in a 23/25 and 24/25 for his two rounds and Wayne's half-way through his day with a 21/25 to start.

Scores going up here at the moment...

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Wayne finished the second round with 23. Tough shooting here following the Europeans. The targets are travelling at least a further 6 metres and it's showing in the scores.

Derek is back on again at 1:30 irish time.

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Derek finished with another 23 for 70 ex 75. Scores creeping up, some 50 straights in and quite a few left to finish their final rounds. Last scores won't be in till 5pm Irish time.

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Wayne finished with 21 for 65 ex 75.

The Irish are finished for the day. Shooting will continue till 5:30 local time. Michael Diamond has a 74 ex 75 and a few will come in and around that. Predictions for tomorrow are shoot offs on 122/121.

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Good start today. Both Wayne and Derek started with 24. Two 100 straights in from Poland and Italy with possibly more to come.

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Wayne and Derek finished both with 24's. Derek missing his last target. Score of 125 from Fabrizzi of Italy. Shoot offs on 122.

The caliber of shooting has really risen this year and the bar is now so high, clay target is now a precision shooting sport