19-year-old Joshua Collard (Port Melbourne, VIC) has shown the future is bright in Australian shooting with an exceptional performance in the men’s trap at the 2012 London World Cup in Woolwich.

Collard, who was competing for the first time in the main field at a World Cup event, finished in a tie for eighth place on a score of 117 and just one target short of a place in the final.

The young Victorian entered the third and final day of competition in a tie for 20th before shooting a 23 in his penultimate round.

The current Australian junior national title holder then producing a stirring perfect final round of 25 to cap off his successful event.

Collard said he had taken a lot of confidence from his performance.

“I am really happy with how I went over the last three days,” Collard said. “It’s my first World Cup as part of the main team and feel as though I really knuckled down and shot some good scores.

“My first four rounds here were the same as in the USA last month but then I fell away a bit, so to finish off with a 25 was a big step for me.
 
“I feel less nervous with every competition that I shoot and it just feels great to be part of the Australian team.”
 
Dual Olympic gold medallist Michael Diamond (Gold Coast, QLD) meanwhile produced a stirring comeback on the final day of competition to finish one target further back on a score of 116.
 
Diamond had opened his event with scores of 21 and 22 on Wednesday but only missed two targets across the last three rounds to eventually finish in a tie for 16th.
 
2004 Athens Olympic Games bronze medallist Adam Vella (Keilor, VIC) finished one target further back on 115.

Australian International Shooting Ltd