Scottish shooters won medals in the Senior Men's, Senior Women’s and Junior Women's events at the British Air Rifle Championships at Bisley.

Edinburgh’s Graham Rudd took bronze in the men's event, his fourth podium finish in this competition, achieving the medal despite the setback caused by a damaged glove.
 
“My glove fell apart so I changed it to a new one after 20 shots, but I did so badly I went back to the one that fell apart and started to shoot really well,” he said.
 
“Obviously I would like to have to have won but given the circumstances I was pleased to get a medal.  I’ve shot in the British Championships for air rifle five times and have been second twice and third twice.  So I’m pleased to consistently make the podium.”
 
Graham was a member of the Scottish team which competed in the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.  It was a memorable experience and his missing out on the bronze medal by the smallest possible margin in the Pairs event has left a lasting impression.
 
“The English pipped us to the medal by one point out of 2400 points so it was a frustrating day,” he said.  
 
“Melbourne was a good experience but the biggest lesson I learnt was I don’t want to come back from the next Games without a medal.  It doesn’t feel very good.”
 
Since that experience, Graham has improved consistently and feels confident in being selected for next year’s Delhi Commonwealth Games.  The selection period begins in May and he hopes to be included for three events - Air Rifle, 50 metres Prone and Three Positions.
 
“I’ve improved a lot since Melbourne so I’m really looking forward to Delhi if I get selected for it,” he said.  A recent boost was his selection in October by the East of Scotland Institute of Sport. 
 
“The main thing I’ve been going to is the sports psychologist and I’m finding that really useful,” he said.  “My scores and my consistency have improved being part of the Institute. 
 
“I’m about to start Strength & Conditioning training.  Core stability and strength for shooting standing is really important.   If I can improve my scores by going to the gym two or three times a week then it is a good thing to do.”  
 
Another shooter who has been earning the lion’s share of medals of late is Falkirk’s Jennifer McIntosh, a Central Scotland Institute of Sport supported athlete.   Silver medallist in October’s Pune Youth Commonwealth Games and winner of the bronze in last month’s Australian Youth Olympic Festival, Jennifer won the silver in last weekend’s Junior Women’s event.  Once again she found herself in the bridesmaid position behind Sheree Cox, the English girl she finished second to in Pune. 
 
The final was close and the lead changed hands three times.  Later Jennifer made it up for any disappointments by winning the Class A in the Aggregate competitions, her third successive Aggregate win.
 
“I wasn’t at all happy with the silver medal,” said Jennifer.  “We went into the final tie on the same score and I was winning until my ninth shot.  But then I put a shot into the nine ring and after that I couldn’t make it up. 
 
“I was a lot happier with the Aggregate competition and I upped my PB from 584 to 586.”
 
Also in the medals was Hampshire based Scot, Caroline Brownlie, second in the Senior Women’s Air Pistol championship.
 
“Caroline’s medal is quite significant as we have never had any women qualify for the pistol events at the Commonwealth Games,” said Donald McIntosh, Scottish Target Shooting’s High Performance Manager.  “Caroline is leading the charge to change that, along with Catriona McGregor and Anja Hogben.”
 
The Scottish team of Graham Rudd, Jennifer McIntosh and debutant Neil Stirton finished second in the Home Countries International Match.