Lauryn Mark (VIC) and Suzy Balogh (NSW) both shot excellent scores yesterday to win the women’s skeet and women’s trap at the 2011 Arafura Games in Darwin.

In hot, humid and windy conditions at the Darwin Clay Target Club, Mark shot her second PQS* in as many events to highlight her noticeable return to form in 2011.

Mark, 31, recorded a score of 70 in the qualifying rounds to lead Laura Coles (WA) into the final by one target, before shooting another impressive round of 24 in the final to finish with an overall score of 94, two ahead of Coles.

Mark, who is aiming to reach her second Olympic Games after finishing in fourth place at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, finished in ninth place at the ISSF World Cup in Sydney in March to seal an Olympic quota place for Australia next year and is now looking to re-affirm her position as Australia’s number one in the event to gain selection.

Mark said her hard work was beginning to pay off.

“It’s really nice to be shooting consistent scores again and to achieve back-to-back PQS’s is an instant reward for the hard work,” Mark said.

Mark will travel with the Australian team to compete in a Grand Prix event in Belgrade, Serbia next week, which is also the venue for the 2011 ISSF World Championships from September 5-13.

“I’ve been doing a fair bit of work with a nutritionist to be ready for the travel and the short lead in time to the Grand Prix in Europe but I am just really excited to be travelling with the team.

“It’s a great bonus that we are also shooting on the range that will be used for the World Championships later this year.”

Meanwhile Suzy Balogh hit an impressive 70 in the women’s trap qualification rounds before recording 22 in the final to win by seven targets.

The 2004 Athens Olympic Games gold medallist took a four shot lead into the final over Stacy Roiall (VIC) and Michelle Beecham (VIC) and was never headed in the final.
Laetisha Scanlan (VIC) shot a 21 in the final to move into second place on an overall score of 85 targets.
 
*PQS (Performance Qualification Score) is a score determined by national selectors as a pre-requisite for consideration into a high performance squad.

Australian International Shooting Ltd