The 2000 Double Trap Olympic Champion secured an Olympic Quota at the ISSF World Cup in Sydney. The second Quota went to Italy’s Francesco D’Aniello.
Great Britain’s Richard Faulds won the Double Trap Men event at the 2011 ISSF Combined World Cup in Sydney. The 34-year old secured an Olympic Quota Place, an entrance ticket to the next 2012 London Games, on the same layout where he had won the 2000 Olympics. Faulds finished on the highest step of the podium with a total score of 188 hits. Walking into the medal match in fifth with a qualification score of 141 targets, he climbed up in the lead by hitting 47 out of 50 targets in the final round.
“It’s destiny!” Faulds said right after the match “I had never came back to shoot here in Sydney, after my victory at the 2000 Games.”
“It has been quite difficult. I had no idea that I was in the lead, while I was shooting.” He continued. “I had the feeling, but I tried not to watch the scoreboard, to keep the focus on my targets.”
“I am extremely happy about winning this Quota. I had a bad season last year, I changed my gun and I had it took some times to get used to it.” Faulds said. He had won his last ISSF World Cup Gold medal in 2008, in Suhl, Germany.
Following him in second place, USA’s Joshua Richmond pocketed the Silver medal with a total score of 186 clays, hitting 46 targets throughout the final. The reigning world champion had already won a quota place last year, nailing it at the first chance at the 2010 ISSF World Championship in Munich. Therefore, the second Olympic Quota awarded today went to Italy’s Francesco D’Aniello, third with 184 hits (140+44).
“This match has been harder than my final at the 2008 Games!” The 2008 Olympic Silver medallist D’Aniello said, kissing the cartridge of the last hit. “Winning the Bronze? The real goal was the quota place. Now that I’ve got it, my life became easier!”
Rashid Al-Athba of Quatar Placed in fourth with 183 hits. He was followed by the home hero Russell Mark, Australia’s 1996 Olympic Champion, who ended up in fifth with 183 clays. The second Australian finalist, Craig Trembath, closed the match in sixth and last place, with 179 hits.
750 athletes are attending the 2011 ISSF Combined World Cup in Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun events, held at the 2000 Olympic Shooting Range of Sydney from the 21st to the 31st of March. Thirty-four Olympic Quotas are in the sights of the participants, competing in fifteen different Olympic events. The footage fo the event is available on ISSF’s new YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/issfchannel