HELICE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS, BOLOGNA, ITALY

19th/22^nd May 2011

 

After winning the selection shoots in the UK, young Nathan Hales aged 14, received his first ever GBR Cap and went to the European Championships in Bologna as an official part of the Great Britain Shooting Team.

The club at Bologna is well known, the Championship was shot over five rings and once again it was a very hard shoot.

Nathan was undoubtedly the star of the show again. He won the prelim event on the 20th, he was introduced to Luciano Rossi of the ISSF and he had spectators following his every move, watching and wishing him on to win.

This polite little chap did not disappoint anyone and he shot a brilliant 19/20 to win the Junior title at these European Championships.

Only 3 shooters scored a perfect 20/20.

Not only was Nathan the highest scoring British shooter in the competition, but also he was in the top 8% of the whole shoot.

A good 60% of the shooters fell foul of the eliminator on the first day of the Europeans, but Nathan and 5 of his teammates were still standing on the second day. Nathan definitely shoots senior scores and he is becoming one of the most popular winners on the international circuit. He has now made history for being the youngest shooter ever to ‘do the double’, that is winning both the World and the European Championships in the same year, which puts him in a perfect position for winning the World Cup as well.

What a fantastic year for a 14 year old. He is without doubt a great ambassador for our sport.

 

The ladies also again saw podium positions with Dionne Rogers first winning a prelim event and then the Individual Ladies European Bronze.

The GBR ladies team consisting of Jane, Dionne and Nicola then went on to win the Team Bronze after a shoot off with the Spanish ladies.

The men’s team consisting of Tom Gridley, Howard Batt and Mal Grant also had a close call finishing 4^th, just missing out on team Bronze after a shoot off with Egypt.

 

All eyes are now on the World Cup Final when the date is announced.

Written by Nicola Heron.

 

 

Nathan Hales Junior European Champion 2011

 

 

Ladies Team Jane Bell, Nicola Heron and Dionne Roger

European Bronze Medal 2011

 

 

GB Team

Jane Bell, Nicola Heron, Tom Gridley, Howard Batt, Nathan Hales,

Mal Grant

and

Dionne Rogers European Individual Bronze Medal 2011 

 

 

HELICE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - SEVILLE 2nd/3rd April 2011

 

The World Championships held on the outskirts of Seville in a new club using three layouts was the scene for another British success story.

 

Nathan Hales aged 14, probably the youngest person to have shot for Great Britain, was the star of the show after missing just two targets ended tying with 17 year old Adrian Vera of Spain who was a good foot taller than Nathan!

This went to a final shoot off of 5 targets each, Nathan using his 32" Blaser was the well-deserved winner taking the Gold Medal at his first ever World Championships. Probably the youngest World Champion ever!!

The win was a great delight to all of the shooters there; Nathan's win was a very popular one.

 

Then it was the turn of the Ladies to take centre stage; the team of Dionne Rogers, Jane Bell and Nicola Heron took Gold medals in the team event, retaining their World Championships which they won in Italy last year, this is the first time a British Team has won back to back Gold Medals.

 

To complete the medal tally Jane Bell won the Bronze medal in the Ladies Individual event with Dionne Rogers taking fourth place.

 

The men’s team of Henry Arnold, Colin Hales and Tom Gridley finished fifth with the team from USA winning the Gold Medals. In the individual Men’s event which was won by the American Rick Mein one of only two straights, the highest British finisher was Colin Hales on two away just one target off the medals followed closely by Mal Grant and Henry Arnold on three away.

 

Once again the British Helice shooters came away with a bag full of medals.

Written by Chris Potter.

 

Nathan Hales - World Junior Champion 2011

 

 

Jane Bell - Ladies Individual Bronze Medal 2011

 

 

Ladies Team Gold Medal 2011

Dionne Rogers, Jane Bell and Nicola Heron

 

 

GB Team

Jane Bell, Dionne Rogers, Mal Grant, Chris Potter, Henry Arnold, Nathan Hales, John Nightingale, Tom Gridley, Colin Hales and Nicola Heron. 

 

 

 

Richard Brickell - Olympic Skeet

 

Commonwealth Games Champion - India 2010

 

2012 Quota place winner at Sydney ISSF World Cup on

22nd March - 2nd April 2011

 

The South East Region of the CPSA and the Berkshire CPSA Committee are very proud to claim him as 'one of their own'

 

Many congratulations - keep up the good work 

 

For the full report please go to the Berkshire CPSA Website

 

 

Richard Brickell