SHOOTING: Pinky pulls the trigger for bronze
24th March 2006by Team England News Service
The listing was posted by Clay Pigeon Shooting Association
Team England’s Pinky Le Grelle shot herself into the medals when she won a bronze in the women’s skeet at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.
The 53-year-old from Bodmin in Cornwall took bronze after a dramatic double shoot out this afternoon. After missing twice in a four-way shoot off for the gold, Le Grelle had to face the targets again in another shoot out to secure the bronze against Australia’s Natalia Rahman.
“I really enjoyed it out there today even though it was really tense,” said Le Grelle. “I’m pleased to be going home with a medal even though it’s not the colour I hoped for.”
Le Grelle had led the competition after the qualification rounds with a total of 69. She fired 23 in the final and missed twice in the first shoot out, as did Rahman. The pair had a further shoot off for bronze and this time Le Grelle was on target twice, while the Australian missed once.
A 21-year-old Cypriot Andri Eleftheriou won gold after coming from fourth place after the three qualifying rounds to win the title with 22 in the final and no misses in the first shoot out. Australia’s Lauryn Mark took the silver after missing once in the shoot out.
All four women were tied on 89 points after the three rounds of qualification plus the final.
“I’ve never been in that situation before,” said Le Grelle. “I was fighting against some very strong contenders out there.
“But this is great because I am getting to the end of my career,” she added. Le Grelle was world champion at this event as far back as 1975.
“I may carry on for a couple of years but this will be my last Commonwealth Games,” she said.
Elena Little from Barnsley finished seventh after scoring 64 in the qualification round.
Royston’s Chris Hector failed to add to his medal haul when he finished fifth in the 50m rifle 3 positions event scoring a total of 1233.3.
The 37-year-old was in joint second place after the prone position of the qualification rounds, with 395 points, but slipped behind in the standing and kneeling rounds, scoring 378 and 370 respectively. He added 90.3 in the final.
India’s Gagan Narang won the gold with a Games record of 1261.4 with another Indian, Abhinav Bindra taking the silver. Australia’s Ben Burge claimed the bronze.
Jason Burrage from Sandbach in Cheshire finished 10th, scoring 1134 after the qualification rounds.
Simon Lucas of Henyock in Devon finished 13th in the men’s 25m centre fire pistol competition with a total of 562, scoring 280 on precision and 282 on the rapid fire round. Bedford-based Peter Flippant was 15th, also scoring 562 points.
At the end of day one of the men’s skeet, Newbury’s Richard Brickell is lying fifth with 47 points after the first two rounds, three points behind the leader Clayton Miller of Canada. Clive Bramley, from Ashbourne in Derbyshire, is 21st with 43 points.
The final day of shooting takes place tomorrow (Saturday) with Mick Gault going for his fourth medal in the final of men’s 25m standard pistol singles.
Brickell and Bramley will be shooting for medals in the final of the men’s skeet.