The 2010 Australian shooting season will come to a conclusion this weekend (Friday 3 December-Sunday 5 December) as the Australia Cup Shotgun Final is contested in Melbourne.

Australia’s 2012 London Olympic hopefuls will be in action across all categories as they aim to end the year on a high note ahead of 2011.

Olympic quotas will be available throughout the World Cup events in 2011, as well as the 2011 World Shotgun Championships in September and the Oceania Championships in November.

Michael Diamond (NSW) and Adam Vella (VIC) will enter the men’s single trap as the favourites this weekend, with both shooters comfortably ranked as first and second in Australia.

Rising junior stars Michael McNabb (NSW) and Russell McCloy (NSW) will be eager to test themselves against Vella and Diamond however, while Nico Pedulla (VIC) will look to repeat his victory from the Australia Cup event in Darwin.

Laetisha Scanlan (VIC), who set a new Australian record in the women’s trap at the same Australia Cup event, before partnering Stacy Roiall (VIC) to win gold in the women’s trap pairs at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, will face a tough challenge against Roiall and 2004 Athens Olympic gold medallist Suzy Balogh (NSW).

20-year-old Scanlan will also face stiff competition from 2010 World Junior Championships silver medallist Catherine Skinner (VIC).

Russell Mark (VIC) will line up for another Australia Cup Final title as the veteran Olympic gold medallist looks to set course for his sixth Olympic Games in London. Fellow Commonwealth Games member Nick Kirley (VIC) will challenge for the title, while Craig Trembath (VIC) will also be expected to medal.

Clive Barton (NSW) will be firm favourite in the men’s skeet, being the only Australian athlete to have shot a Performance Qualifying Score (PQS) in the last 12 months. Barton will come up against brother George Barton (NSW), along with rising star Anthony Sottosanti (VIC).

In the final event of the program, Lauryn Mark (VIC) will look to defend her Australia Cup Final title against Laura Lee Coles (WA) and Zita Dettori (NSW).

Shooting Australia