Dundee's Sian Bruce is fast making her name as one of Scotland's 'shooting stars' after being selected to compete for GB teams in both the European Championships and World Championships within a matter of days.

The 15 year old has been clay pigeon or “skeet” shooting for five years.  Introduced to the sport by her father, “I was 10 when I first started to shoot, just for the fun of it then,” she recalls.  “My first memory was of the sore shoulder the next day and the bruise that lasted about a week.”

Fortunately that first experience did not put her off the sport.  She applied herself to practise twice a week and within a few months she was invited to join the GB team for a trip to Cyprus.

Since then she has competed for GB in three events: the Britannia Grand Prix, the UK Champs and last weekend’s GB selection event at Auchterhouse where she finished second.  It was that event on her home patch which saw her qualify for August’s World Championships in Slovenia where she will compete in the junior women’s (under 21) category.

Two days later her place was confirmed, along with four Scottish Rifle and one Scottish Shotgun shooters, in the Great Britain team for next month’s European Championships in Croatia.

“I competed in the Europeans last year so I was hoping to get to the Worlds this year,” said Sian, who is coached by Iain MacGregor at Auchterhouse Country Sports.  “It’s even better to get to the Worlds and the Europeans.”

In the last year Sian has switched from English to Olympic Skeet, and has adapted quickly.  Considered by many to be the most difficult of the three Olympic disciplines, strict rules govern the ‘ready’ position, targets are released by a random timer and points can be lost for infringements such as foot and time faults. 

Supporting her evolution through the sport is the Tayside & Fife Institute of Sport, part of the Area Institutes of Sport network that provides high performance expertise to Scotland’s potential world class talent. Its teams work together to deliver essential support services locally in sports medicine, sports science, strength and conditioning, and career and lifestyle guidance.

“For Skeet you need quick reactions and if you don’t react on time it’s gone,” said Sian.  “And arm strength is important.  You need to be able to hold the gun because there’s a delay before the target is released and you have to be able to stay still for long enough.

“I do two sessions of Strength & Conditioning work with the Tayside & Fife Institute each week and my coach said he noticed a big difference in my strength when I’m training.  I’m able to train for longer because I’m stronger and it feels easier when I’m shooting.”