Welsh Veterans Bring Home the Gold

Team Wales found themselves bringing home a full sweep of medals from the CPSA World English
Sporting Championship held at E. J. Churchill from 5th- 11th July 2021. The weather was kind, the targets were technical and the event ran like clockwork.
Friday evening saw the opening ceremony take place with team photographs and a champagne &
canapes reception laid on to welcome all the competing teams. Team talk done and it was on to the
matter in hand.
The first day saw each Welsh Team shooter display a strong, collective effort to land their teams within
touching distance of the top spot on the podium. Huw Stephens put in a fantastic 95/100 on the
Gamebore (Blue) layout to boost the Senior Team score; Phil Patch led the Veterans with a 92; and
Junior, Tom Boles, displayed his capabilities with an impressive 90. Mick Harding (Super Veteran) and
Janine White (Ladies) both led their respective categories on 89.

The second day was a real test of nerves, but Richard Hughes held it together, scoring 95/100 on the
Rizzini (Red) course to make him top Welsh shooter of the day, and giving him a final score of 187/200.
This was enough to earn him the coveted Tony King Memorial World trophy, which is awarded to the
high gun of the Welsh Sporting Team and also meant he was just one target short of qualifying for the
“Super Six” final – a fantastic achievement at such a huge event.

The Welsh Veterans, Nigel Hart (182/200), Phil Patch (172/200), and Phil Davies (170/200) showed that
experience pays off and put in a phenomenal performance to beat England to the top spot and claim the
World Sporting Veteran Team gold medal.

A great effort across the board resulted in Team Wales Seniors, Ladies, and Super Veterans taking home
silver medals, just behind England, whilst the Welsh Junior Team tied with the Scottish Juniors on a
collective score of 485/600, resulting in a shoot-off to decide their podium positions. Jacob O’Loughlin
was nominated to represent Wales in the shoot-off and showed his class with a superb 7/8. However,
Scotland’s Rhys Harrison pipped him with a straight 8/8, earning Scotland the World Sporting Junior
Team silver medal and giving the Welsh Junior Team a highly respectable bronze medal.

On an individual level, congratulations also goes to Janine White for picking up the gold medal in the
Ladies category in the Prelim Sporting side event and a bronze medal in the Ladies category of the main
event. Along with Team silver, this gave her the full collection of medals to take home.

A special mention must go to Dovey Valley Shooting Ground for their generous sponsorship of the team
and supplying each member with a polo shirt and hat, which were worn with pride. The team wish to
extend their huge gratitude to Richard & Nia. Team Manager, Nicola Walker, also deserves a huge
amount of appreciation for the time, effort and dedication that she continues to contribute to the sport.

After a great weekend of Welsh Sporting Team results, here’s hoping that Welsh shooting continues to
go from strength to strength in the future.