Olympian Georgina Geikie targeting stars of the future (From Dorset Echo)

Olympian Georgina Geikie targeting stars of the future

4:20pm Tuesday 26th February 2013 in Sport By Echo Reporter

THE Tunnel Target Sports Centre in Charmouth hosted the first of five events in the Olympic legacy project Shooting4England, which is looking to build on Peter Wilson’s success at the 2012 Games.

Georgina Geikie, who competed for Team GB at last year’s Olympics, is the brains behind the scheme and welcomed a mix of adults and children for the two-day competition following school visits across the region.

As well as inviting a select number from the likes of Sir John Colfox School and Honiton Community College there was a number of young people of varying shooting sport abilities taking part.

Modern pentathletes and pony club tetrathletes with some shooting experience were in attendance while the Shooting4England South West Championship qualifiers were also held over the weekend.

Alongside complete novice marksmen and women, the enthusiasm the youngsters, parents and teachers had during the first qualification competition produced a great atmosphere.

But only the top three juniors (21 years and under) for both air pistol and rifle qualified for the final at Okehampton Rifle Club on December 1.

Winners: Saturday, Air rifle – Jared Rufus, Air pistol – Michael Bailey; Sunday, Air rifle – Mikey Rose, Air pistol – Gabriel Johnson.

Local clubs were represented at the event as well as the National Smallbore Association who are trying to encourage support for the sport in clubs safely throughout the area.

The next Shooting4England event is at Paignton Rifle Club on May 11-12 and more details can be found on gorgs4gold.com. You can contact Georgina via email on gorgs@gorgs4gold.com.