Commonwealth Games gold medallist Lauryn Mark (Hoppers Crossing, VIC) produced a strong second day comeback to finish 21st in the women’s skeet at the 2012 London World Cup.
 
More inclement weather swept the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich on Day 2 of the event that also serves as the official test event for shooting for the 2012 London Olympic Games, but Mark rose to the fore after a disappointing opening day.
 
The 32-year-old Victorian entered the second day of competition in 39th position but produced rounds of 23 and 24 to finish on an overall score of 65 and improve her ranking by 18 places on the second day.
 
Mark, who finished fourth at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, has stated publicly the desire of an Olympic medal that drives her on to compete at a second Olympic Games.
 
Mark now appears certain to have done enough to be nominated by selectors to the Australian Olympic Committee.
 
Mark said she was glad to reverse the disappointment from the first day of competition.
 
“I feel as though I fought on really well today which is what I wanted to do after my performance yesterday,” Mark said. “I needed to take some positives out of the venue now that I am a tiny bit closer to hopefully making that Olympic team.
 
“I have taken a lot of confidence out of today and it gives me the belief I can shoot in all conditions.
 
“I had a bit of good weather in my first round today but the last one was really tricky and I managed to stick it out and I feel a lot happier overall.”
 
Laura Coles (Busselton, WA) shot rounds of 21 and 19 to record a final score of 57 and finish in 38th position.
 
In the men’s skeet competition Clive Barton (Tamworth, VIC) placed 45th and Keith Ferguson (Sale, VIC) one shot further back in 51st.
 
Barton, whose only Olympic appearance to date was in Sydney 2000, shot rounds of 22, 20, 24, 24 and 24 across the three days of shooting for an overall score of 114.
 
Ferguson scored 113 after compiling rounds of 23, 21, 22, 24 and 23, with London shaping up to be the Victorian’s Olympic debut.
 
The women’s 25m sport pistol will be the sole event contested on Day 4 (Sunday April 22) with Lalita Yauhleuskaya (Berwick, VIC), Dina Aspandiyarova (Cranbourne North, VIC) and Emily Esposito (Casula, NSW) all competing.
 
The 2012 London Marathon ran through the temporary Olympic venue on the fourth day of action, while five-time Olympian Russell Mark (Hoppers Crossing, VIC) will have his final training rounds ahead of the men’s double trap event on Monday (April 23).

It is anticipated Australian International Shooting Limited will nominate the shotgun athletes for London to the Australian Olympic Committee at the conclusion of the test event.

AISL / AOC