Until July 2024, I wasn’t officially classified under the WSPS (World Shooting Para Sport) rules which limited the type of competitions I could enter, but I now have an official National Classification so I can enter SH2 events and compete for medals. Up until now, the qualifying for medals has been on an event by event basis. The next step for me is to get an International Classification, which means I can then be eligible to enter international competitions such as World Cups, Commonwealth and Paralympic games. To get an International Classification I would need to travel to an international competition where assessments are scheduled to take place such as Hannover or Novi Sad.

My ultimate goal is to represent Great Britain in the next Paralympics to be held in Los Angeles in 2028. To that end I have applied to the British Shooting Rifle Pathway which will help with coaching etc towards my goal. As at this time, 7th August 2024, I am waiting to hear if I have been successful in my application.

I have been shooting in this discipline for approximately 14 months. In that time, I have learnt a lot from the people I train with, weekly in Carmarthen and once a month in Hereford with the Welsh Airgun Association, and I enter as many competitions as I can although not every competition my able bodied training buddies enter is open to para shooters, but if I can, I try my hardest to enter.

My first competition was the Para Sport Festival in Swansea in 2023 and I didn’t expect to come away with anything more than experience, but I came away with two gold medals in each of the events I entered; R4 which is the SH2 version of standing, and R5 which is the SH2 version of prone.

Below is a list of my accomplishments so far.

Para Sport Festival Swansea 2023 - 2 x gold – a disability event

DSGB Nationals 2023 - 1 x 4th place, 1 x gold – a disability event

Welsh Airgun Championships 2023 - 2 x 4th place, 2 x silver – a disability event

Geoff Partridge 2024 (Keith Morriss Trophy) - 1 x gold – a disability event

British Open Airgun Championships (BOAG) 2024 - 1 x 17th place – against able bodied athletes

Scottish 10m Championships 2024 - 1 x silver, 1 x bronze – against able bodied athletes

Hampshire Air Open 2024 - 2 x silver, 1 x bronze – against able bodied athletes

Para Sport Festival Swansea 2024 - 1 x gold, 2 x silver, 1 x 4th place – a disability event

Coming up later this year I will be taking part in the DSGB Nationals 2024 at Stoke Mandeville and the Welsh International Airgun Championships 2024 in Cardiff. I also hope to take part in the British Shooting Air Series which is held over three weekends between October and February with a Grand Final being held in April.

I know that there will be lots of hard work, time and effort to get to my goal, but I am prepared to put in all the effort I can.

After the Scottish Championships, I funded and built a shooting frame to assist my overall shooting position and allow me to compete on a more level playing field with other SH2 athletes. As time goes by, this frame will need to be tweaked and even possibly redesigned to keep up with my shooting ability, and even progress my shooting ability.

All part of my shooting journey.