Gault targets record in Melbourne
3rd October 2005Marksman Mick Gault is aiming to make a piece of history at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. The 51-year-old from Dereham in Norfolk is included in Team England's 29-strong shooting team for Melbourne, which is announced today (Monday) by the Commonwealth Games Council for England.
With a haul of 11 medals from the last three Games to his name, Gault is just a few medals away from being England's most medalled Commonwealth Games athlete of all time.
It is believed the record is currently held by swimmer Karen Pickering, who won 13 medals from four Games from 1990 to 2002. Gault needs one more medal to equal the most medals won by an English shooter the late Malcolm Cooper who won 12 medals between 1974 and 1990.
Gault will compete in six events in Melbourne he will shoot in the individual and pairs competitions in the 10m air pistol, the 25m standard pistol and the 50m pistol.
It is understood Gault already has more golds than any other English athlete competing at Commonwealth Games.
He won a gold, silver and bronze at his first Commonwealth Games the 1994 Games in Victoria - four golds in Kuala Lumpur in 1998 and three golds and a bronze at the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games.
In Melbourne he will partner Bedford's Nick Baxter in the 10m air pistol pairs the duo aim to defend the titles they won together at Kuala Lumpur and Manchester on 18th March Baxter¹s 35th birthday.
The England team for Melbourne also features Mike Babb, another gold medallist in 2002, as well as Charlotte Kerwood, who struck gold in the women's double trap singles aged just 15.
Richard Faulds, a gold medallist at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, also features in the England squad for Melbourne.
Ann Hogbin, Chef de Mission of Team England for Melbourne, said: "I'd like to welcome members of the shooting squad to the England team for Melbourne and congratulate them on their selection. "Shooting has traditionally yielded a big haul of medals for Team England and hopefully that will continue in Melbourne. I'd also like to wish Mick Gault the very best of luck in achieving what would be a remarkable record in Melbourne."
She added: "Sport England have made a significant contribution in helping our shooting team to prepare for and to participate in the 2006 Commonwealth Games and I would like to thank them for their continuing support."
England finished third in the shooting medals table at the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games with a haul of five golds, five silvers and eight bronzes when they had home advantage and were shooting at Bisley the home of English shooting.
India topped the shooting medals table followed by Australia. The Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games the XVIII Games run from 15th to 26th March.
The full England shooting team for Melbourne is:
MEN
Clay Target Skeet Richard Brickell - Newbury (29.10.75) Clive Bramley Ashbourne, Derbyshire (28.03.76) Trap Christopher Dean Sparsholt, Hants (29.12.57) Edward Ling Wellington, Somerset (07.03.83) Double Trap Richard Faulds - Guildford (16.03.77) Steve Walton Redditch (23.04.85) Pistol 10m Air Pistol Mick Gault - Dereham, Norfolk (02.05.54) Nick Baxter Bedford (18.03.71) 25m Centre Fire Peter Flippant Bedford (25.07.62) Simon Lucas - Hemyock, Devon (14.07.64) 25m Standard Pistol Mick Gault - Dereham, Norfolk (02.05.54) Simon Lucas - Hemyock, Devon (14.07.64) 50m Pistol Mick Gault - Dereham, Norfolk (02.05.54) Nick Baxter Bedford (18.03.71) Small Bore Rifle 10m Air Rifle Chris Hector Royston, Herts (24.12.68) Chris Lacey Southampton (01.12.87) 50m Rifle 3 Positions Chris Hector - Royston, Herts (24.12.68) Jason Burrage Sandbach, Cheshire (22.06.70) 50m Rifle Prone Mike Babb Macclesfield (14.10.63) Chris Hector - Royston, Herts (24.12.68)
WOMEN
Clay Target Skeet Elena Little Barnsley (12.07.72) Pinky Le Grelle Bodmin, Cornwall (04.05.52) Trap Lesley Goddard Lincoln (15.10.57) Double Trap Charlotte Kerwood Sheffield Green, East Sussex (15.09.86) Rachel Parish Camberley (21.05.81) Pistol 10m Air Pistol Georgina Geikie Okehampton, Devon (06.12.84) Julia Lydall - Nutley, East Sussex (16.05.86) 25m Sports Pistol Georgina Geikie Okehampton, Devon (06.12.84) Julia Lydall - Nutley, East Sussex (16.05.86) Small Bore Rifle 10m Air Rifle Louise Minett Gosport, Hants (11.04.75) Becky Spicer Botcheston, Leicestershire (16.03.80) 50m Rifle 3 Positions Louise Minett Gosport, Hants (11.04.75) Becky Spicer Botcheston, Leicestershire (16.03.80) 50m Rifle Prone Sharon Lee Leicester (06.08.76) Helen Spittles Lutterworth, Leics (11.01.76)
OPEN EVENTS
Full Bore Queens Prize Glyn Barnett - London (01.12.70) Parag Patel Esher (27.12.75)