1996 Olympic gold medallist Russell Mark (VIC) claimed victory yesterday in the men’s double trap at the Arafura Games in Darwin.

With the Arafura Games serving as a ranking event for the Australian team, Mark headlined the impressive field at the 11thstaging of the competition in the Northern Territory.

Mark qualified for the final with a score of 138 targets from a possible 150, level with fellow Victorian Nicholas Kirley, and just one ahead of Tom Turner (NSW) and Steve Haberman (VIC).

In the final however, Mark pulled away from his competition to shoot an impressive 48 from 50, finishing with an overall score of 186, six targets clear of Kirley, Turner and Haberman.

The result extended Mark’s lead in the Australian rankings and gave the dual Olympic medallist a timely boost ahead of the remainder of the international season.

“Darwin provided us with the perfect lead up event before we head off to Europe next week and is probably the only place in Australia at the moment that will offer us similar weather conditions that we will experience in Belgrade,” Mark said.

“Even though I would have liked to shoot a few more in the competition yesterday I am really happy with my finals score of 48 and the overall score of 186. It’s a score that would rank me pretty highly in a World Cup.

“My last three finals I haven’t shot that well in and it’s really pleasing to turn that around and gives me something to build on.

Mark will be one of eight of Australian shooters that travels to Belgrade, Serbia next week to take part in a training camp and also compete in a European Grand Prix event.

“The grand prix event will give us all a great chance to shoot on the ground that is being used for the world championships later this year,” Mark said. “I have actually never shot there so to be given the opportunity ahead of the world championships is definitely a bonus.”

The shooting program will continue today at the Arafura Games with the women’s trap, the first two rounds of the men’s trap and the first three rounds of skeet.

Australian International Shooting Ltd