SHOOTING: Victorians Laetisha Scanlan (Berwick, VIC) and Catherine Skinner (Mansfield, VIC) have created Australian shooting history after winning gold and silver in the women’s trap at the World Cup event in Al-Ain, UAE.
 
In an Olympic-class field, Scanlan and Skinner conquered all before them, including the 40 degree heat, to re-write the record books and lead Australia’s women to their first ever one-two finish at a major international event.
 
The pair duelled with each other throughout the qualification stages, during the semi-final and well into the gold medal match before Scanlan prevailed by four targets in the final with a score of 14 from 15.
 
Scanlan, who had celebrated her 23rd birthday earlier in the week, said it was a great result for Australian shooting.
 
“It really hasn’t hit home yet what has happened today,” Scanlan said. “I was so focused throughout the whole day and to make my first World Cup final and then go on and win it is incredible.
 
“The conditions were extremely hot today but I think that helped us and during the final I felt really comfortable.
 
“For Australia to finish first and second at a World Cup is a tremendous boost for our sport and it repays the faith that AISL (Australian International Shooting Limited) has had in us since we were juniors three or four years ago.
 
“Catherine shot so well today and to have two 23 year olds on the podium at a World Cup is great for our team.
 
“My coach (Valeriy Timokhin) has provided so much support to me and without him by my side there is no way I would be in the position I am in today.”
 
Scanlan’s first World Cup triumph continues her excellent start to the 2013 season that has seen her undefeated across the world.
 
After winning the Australian national title in January, she followed up that result with victories at the Qatar Open and Australia Cup 1.
 
With the Al-Ain World Cup serving as the first event in the 2014 Commonwealth Games selection period, Scanlan and Skinner’s result propels them in the right direction towards Glasgow.
 
Scanlan featured on the 2010 Commonwealth Games team and won gold in the women’s trap pairs with Stacy Roiall, while Skinner’s best result before today saw her make the world championship final in 2011.
 
Both Scanlan and Skinner, 23, feature in the Focus 2016 Squad, a crop of athletes who are being fast-tracked towards success in Rio.
 
Earlier in the day Scanlan had qualified for the six-athlete semi-final in second place after recording a score of 73 targets across her three rounds of qualifying.
 
The Victorian hit rounds of 24, 24 and 25 targets, comfortably qualifying for the semi-finals behind British athlete Charlotte Kerwood.
 
Skinner had shot 71 across her three rounds and qualified for the semi-finals after a four way shoot-off to make the semi-final.
 
In the semi-final Scanlan was flawless as she underlined her strength with the single barrel, shooting a perfect 15 targets to qualify for the gold medal match alongside teammate Skinner, who knocked 14 targets out of the sky after missing with her first shot.
 
2004 Athens Olympic Games gold medallist Suzy Balogh (Sydney, NSW) finished in 28th position after the qualifying rounds.
 
In other results on the opening day of competition, dual Olympic gold medallist Michael Diamond finds himself right in the mix in the men’s trap after the first two of five qualification rounds.
 
Diamond shot rounds of 25 and 24 for a total of 49 and lies one target behind four shooters who hit all 50 targets during the first day of the event.
 
Fellow Australians Michael McNabb (Sydney, NSW), Adam Vella (Keilor, VIC) and Joshua Collard (Port Melbourne, VIC) shot scores of 48, 45 and 44.
 
The final three qualification rounds will be held tomorrow ahead of the semi-finals and final.

Australian International Shooting Ltd