Huckle on target again in India for second gold
15th October 2008James Huckle from Harlow won his second gold medal in two days for Team England at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India today after a superb performance in the 50m rifle 3 positions event.
In contrast to yesterday’s nerve-wracking final in the 50m rifle prone, James established a commanding lead in the qualifying stages of today’s (Wednesday) event in which the competitors have to shoot from the prone, kneeling and standing positions.
Going into the final, in which competitors had to hit ten targets from the standing position, he had an advantage of more than 30 points over his nearest rival and the result was never in doubt. James finished with a score of 1243.8, an advantage of 37.6 over the silver medallist Muhamed Bin Muhammed from Malaysia.
“It can be hard to concentrate in the final when you are so far clear,” admitted James, “but I just tried to focus on hitting the target. I shot really well today. When you make what you think is a mistake and you still hit a 10 then you know you are on form.”
The 18-year-old, a member of United Glass Rifle and Pistol Club in Harlow, had clearly gained great confidence from his gold medal yesterday. “You don’t win this event on the prone but you can lose it,” he explained. “I didn’t shoot that well yesterday but today my prone was very good.”
James has an opportunity to make it three gold medals in tomorrow’s men’s 10m air rifle competition. “I’m hopeful,” he said, “but it is the most competitive event of the three so it will be tough.”
There was a further medal for Team England’s shooters today when Chester Cobb took the bronze in the men’s double trap event. The 17-year-old from Aylesbury was pleased to win a medal but disappointed with his final performance.
“I’ve been shooting well in training,” he said, “so I was hoping for a better performance today. It was windy but it didn’t affect the targets - I just didn’t shoot well.”