Kelly Coogan (NT) and Lauryn Mark (VIC) produced excellent finals to claim respective wins in the women’s trap and women’s skeet at Australia Cup 4 in Perth.

With a gusty breeze sweeping across the WA Gun Club, Coogan came from four shots behind at the start of the women’s trap final to claim a two target victory, while Mark won a shoot-off in the women’s skeet against home town shooter Laura Coles (WA).

2004 Olympic champion Suzy Balogh (NSW) led into the final of the women’s trap after shooting a Performance Qualifying Score of 71 targets from 75 in the qualification rounds and held a three target lead over Stacy Roiall (VIC), with Coogan one further back.

The final was an up and down affair as the six shooters battled the varying breeze, but 19-year-old Coogan held her nerve to hit 20 targets from 25 in the final and finish two clear of Roiall. Michelle Beecham (VIC) won a shoot-off for third over Balogh.

Coogan, who is part of the women’s junior trap team for the upcoming 2011 ISSF World Championships, said she felt confident throughout the final.

“I was pretty relaxed and there was a bit of a breeze but I did my best and came out on top,” Coogan said. “I managed to keep my focus through the middle stage of the final and that was key in the end.”

Meanwhile in the women’s skeet Lauryn Mark prevailed after a tight tussle with Laura Coles and Zita Dettori (NSW) throughout the entire competition.

Heading into the final Dettori and Mark were tied for the lead on 67 targets, while Coles was just one further back and during stages of the final all three shooters held a share of the lead.

Mark and Coles eventually tied with an overall score of 90 targets, while Dettori finished third with 89.

In the shoot-off Coles missed with her first pair to leave Mark with consecutive Australia Cup titles.

Mark paid tribute to Coles shortly after the final.

“Laura made me work really hard, along with Zita (Dettori), and it was great to have such close competition across the day,” Mark said. “Laura is coming along really well and for both of us to have the shoot-off in the final is great experience ahead of the world championships.”

Earlier husband Russell Mark (VIC) shot a perfect 50 targets in the final of the men’s double trap.

Mark hit all 25 pairs in the final to finish on an overall score of 184, two targets clear of 1995 world champion Steve Haberman (VIC), who scored 48 in the final.

1996 Olympic Games gold medallist Mark had been tied with Haberman following the three qualification rounds, with the pair locked on 134, one target ahead of Nicholas Kirley (VIC).

In the final, the duo shot clean through the first 11 pairs before Haberman dropped a target in the 12th and 17th pairs, leaving Mark to take the title. Kirley shot a 45 in the final, leaving the 2010 Commonwealth Games representative a further four targets back in third place.

Mark, who had earlier struggled for rhythm in the qualification rounds, said he was glad he had turned it around for the final.

“It’s not often you get the chance to shoot a perfect 50 in the final,” Mark said. “I’m working on a few things at the moment and it came off in the final.

“I made a few adjustments in the latter rounds today and it was a great way to finish the event.”

Mark, Haberman and Kirley are all part of the Australian team for the upcoming 2011 ISSF World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia (September 5-13).

The trio will aim to secure Australia’s first quota for the men’s double trap for next year’s 2012 London Olympic Games, with one quota place available at the world championships.

Following that, the remaining chance to qualify a quota place in the men’s double trap will come at the 2011 Oceania Championships at the Sydney International Shooting Centre (November 26-December 1).

Australian International Shooting Ltd