Olympic gold medallist Russell Mark (Hoppers Crossing, VIC) has taken a giant stride to competing at his sixth Olympic Games after winning the men’s double trap at the 2011 Oceania Championships this afternoon.

In hot and steamy conditions at the Sydney International Shooting Centre, Mark was among three Australians in the shotgun, rifle and pistol disciplines who were successful in winning Olympic quotas in a near-perfect day for the Australian team.

Mark was head and shoulders above the rest of the competition, winning by a final margin of six targets to secure the valuable quota place for Australia for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

The Victorian shot a score of 138 from 150 in qualifying for the final in first place before hitting 38 targets in the final for an overall score of 176, while Nick Kirley (Mansfield, VIC) claimed the silver medal.

Mark paid tribute to the New Zealand team for crossing the Tasman to compete in the event.

“We needed to win the quota today and get the monkey off the back to ensure we send someone next year to London,” Mark said. “It was good that the Kiwis sent a team over to compete against us.

“Now its full steam ahead to London and everything I do now will be based around that, including changing guns in the next couple of weeks.

“It’s a big bonus for me and something I’ve been wanting to do for some time and now I’m at the point I can do it.

“I don’t think we’ve lost too many quotas at the Oceania Games in recent times but the important thing is not to take it for granted, because the New Zealand team have a lot of good shooters.”

Although Mark’s victory does not guarantee the 47-year-old a place in London next year, the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games gold medallist is currently ranked number one in Australia and has secured the most Performance Qualifying Score’s (PQS) – ultimately crucial when the team is nominated to the Australian Olympic Committee next year.

20-year-old Chloe Esposito (Casula, NSW) led the way for Australia in the women’s 25m sport pistol, coming from behind in the final to win the Oceania title and also win Australia another Olympic quota place.

The 20-year-old, who has already been nominated for the Australian Olympic Team in modern pentathlon, showed maturity beyond her years to edge out younger sister Emily by just one point.

Fellow Australian youngster Hayley Chapman (Aberfoyle Park, SA), 19, completed the trifecta for the Australian team, with the three now set to battle it out amongst themselves over the coming months to earn selection in the event for London.

New Zealand’s Jenna McKenzie ruined the clean sweep of Olympic quotas for Australia on the opening day of competition, winning the women’s 10m air rifle by 0.2 of a point from country woman Roberta Wadsworth, while Alice Styles (Queanbeyan, NSW) was the same margin back in third place.

Earlier in the day William Godward (Kilkenny, SA) won Australia’s first Olympic quota of the 2011 Oceania Championships after claiming victory in the men’s 10m air rifle.

The Australian team has now won a total of seven quotas for the 2012 London Olympic Games and has the chance to qualify a further 11 places in the remaining 10 finals this week.

The finals of the men’s skeet, men’s rifle 3 position and men’s 25m rapid fire pistol will all be held tomorrow (Tuesday November 29).

Australian International Shooting Ltd