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Norway’s Olympic Silver medallist Tore Brovold secured the first Skeet Gold medal of the season, outdoing USA’s McLelland in a shoot-off. 2000 Olympic Champion Milchev finished in third, while the reigning champion Hancock closed in fourth.

The Olympic Silver medallist of Beijing, Norway’s Tore Brovold, won the Skeet Men Gold medal at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Acapulco (MEX), today. The 39-year old athlete started the 2010 season in best possible way, going back on the highest step of an ISSF World Cup after missing the Gold since six years.

“It was my time, today. I had won my last World Cup Gold medal six years ago!” Said Brovold after the final match. The Norwegian shooter, a world record holder and a two times World Cup Final winner, had indeed claimed his last ISSF WC Gold at the 2004 pre-Olympic World Cup in Athens.

Starting today’s final in the lead tied to USA’s Randal McLelland with a qualification score of 124 hits, Brovold build up his victory since the first stations, shooting solidly and completing the final with a perfect score of 25 hits out of 25 targets. “I though I could make it right after clearing the fourth station” he said “But you never know. I had to hit all the final targets, to climb the podium. Randal is a young shooter, and he was shooting extremely good today. The range? Good, but the background is a little but difficult, and today’s wind made it even more difficult.”

McLelland duelled with Brovold right to the end, hitting all the final targets as well. The fight between the two athletes continued in a shoot-off for the Gold medal. Keeping the focus, Brovold outdid McLelland 2 to 1 hits, securing Gold with a total score of 149 hits + 2 targets in the shoot-off.

Randal McLelland, 24, a first time finalist, secured Silver with a total score of 149 hits + 1 targets in the shoot-off, claiming his first International medal in a windy Mexican afternoon. “My goals this year are to be on the podium at the next World Cups, and to win the World Championship!” said the 24-year old American shooter, mentioning the 2010 ISSF World Championship, that will take place in Munich starting from the 29^th of July. There, the first 2012 Olympic Games Quota Places will be awarded to the best performers.

Today’s Bronze medal went to the 2000 Olympic Champion, the Ukraine shooter Mikola Milchev. Walking into the final with 123 qualification targets, the 42-year old shooter climbed up the scoreboard by hitting 24 targets during the final, and finished on the podium with a total score of 147 clays. Always ranking between the bests, he had won his last ISSF World Cup Gold last year, in Cairo.

It turned out to be an unlucky match for the 2008 Olympic Champion of Beijing, McLelland’s teammate Vincent Hancock, the current leader of the World Ranking. Struggling through the qualifications, Hancock made it into the final with a qualification score of 122 hits, finishing then in fourth place after outdoing Netherland’s Jan-Cor Greef in a shoot-off. Last year, 20-year old Hancock had won the ISSF World Championship held in Maribor, and a Silver medal at the ISSF World Cup Final in Beijing.

USA’s team keeps on climbing the medal standings of the ISSF World Cup in Acapulco (MEX), the first Shotgun World Cup stage of the year.

After the two medals won at the Double Trap Men final, two days ago, the American team secured a Gold and a Bronze at today’s Skeet Women event thanks to Kimberly Rhode and Amber English.

The four-time Olympic medallist Rhode, 30, started the final match in the lead with 72 hits after the qualifications, tied to Italy’s Diana Bacosi. The two athletes shot neck and neck for the first part of the final round, but when Bacosi missed three precious clays, Rhode did not miss the chance to move ahead in first place.

Shooting solidly, the American top-shooter did not miss a single target during the whole final round, ending up in first place with a total score of 92 hits.

“It hasn’t been easy. My shotgun got stolen a couple of months ago. I got a new one, but of course it took me time to get used at it. – Said Rhode, after the award ceremony – It’s great to be on the highest step of the podium today, these international competitions are really important now, on the path leading to the 2012 Olympic Games.” Added the 2008 Olympic Silver medallist.

Today’s Silver medal was taken by Yu Xiumin, 26-year old, from the People’s Republic of China. The Chinese shooter walked into the final round with a qualification score of 71 hits, and climbed up in second place thanks to a perfect final, hitting 25 out of 25 targets. Closing the match with a total score of 96 hits, she tied the second American finalist Amber English, and then outdid her in a shoot-off for Silver 2 to 1 hits. Yu, a 2006 Asian Champion, had won her last ISSF World Cup medal in 2007, in Maribor.

Amber English secured the Bronze medal, joining her teammate Rhode on the podium. The 20-year old shooter had never won an ISSF World Cup medal before, but she had finished in the spotlight at last year’s World Championship in Maribor, where she had won a Junior Silver medal.

A second shoot-off closed the match. Italy’s Diana Bacosi, loosing the podium by missing three targets in the final, faced Sweden’s Nathalie Larsson in a shoot-off for the fourth place, winning it 2 to 1 hits. The third American finalist, the 2005 ISSF World Cup Final winner Haley Dunn, closed the match in sixth place with a total score of 92 hits.

The Skeet Men Final will take place tomorrow afternoon at 2.00 PM Acapulco Time (GMT-6). After the first 75 qualification targets, the two World Record holders, the 2008 Olympic Champion Vincent Hancock and the Olympic Silver medallist Tore Brovold are leading with a tied score of 74 hits.

Shooting fans can now buy Final tickets and Venue passes on line: the tickets pre-selling is open. The number of tickets is limited, harry up!

The German Shooting Federation, the host organizing committee of the 2010 ISSF World Championship in all events that will take place in Munich (GER) starting from the 29^th of January, opened the ticketing service for spectators.

The German Shooting Sport Federation, in cooperation with Eventim, opened the pre-selling of the World Championship tickets on-line.

Different categories of tickets and passes are available to spectators:

-        – Daily Pass – only entrance to the venue area

-        – Week-end Pass

-       – Complete event Pass

-       – Daily VIP Pass

-       – Combi-Ticket

-       – Final Ticket – Standing  (Rifle and Pistol)

-       – Final Ticket – Seat (Shotgun)

Tickets can be pre-bought at:
https://www.eventimsports.de/shops/index.php3?shopid=180

Because of the limited number of Finals’ tickets available, a maximum of four tickets can be ordered at time.

Video walls will be placed around the venue area, to show finals to the admitted spectators. Therefore, also those spectators with a ticket/pass for the venue area only will be able to follow the matches.

Buying a ticket, you will also be able to use a shuttle bus service, going from the bus station “Fröttmaning, Werner-Heisenberg-Allee 21, 80939 München, Gasse C20/21” to the Shooting  Range.

Joshua Richmond (USA) won the final with one target of advantage over Sweden’s Hakan Dahlby. USA’s Holguin claimed Bronze after an incredible series of 71 consecutive hits.

Today’s Double Trap Men Final was won by USA’s Joshua Richmond, 24, who secured Gold with a total score of 192 hits, finishing on the highest step of the podium with one targets of advantage on his followers.

The American shooter made it into the final with the qualification’s highest score, 144 hits, tied to the Swedish champion Hakan Dahlby. The two athletes duelled neck and neck right up to the twentieth pair, when Dahlby missed a crucial clay sliding down in second place.

With 48 hits in the final, and a total score of 192 targets, Richmond won the third ISSF World Cup Gold medal of his career. The 24-year old athlete, currently ranked eighth in the ISSF World Ranking, had won the 2007 World Cup held in Lonato and the 2009 Stage in Munich.

“It’s great to be on the podium – said Richmond after the award ceremony –I would like to take the chance to salute our teammate Bill Keever, who’s in Afghanistan right now. Come back safe, Bill!”

Richmond’s teammate Jaffrey Holguin, 31, a finalist of the last Olympic Games, turned out to be the protagonist of a perfect final. Making it into the medal match with a qualification score of 141 hits, Holguin did not miss a single target during the all final, climbing up the scoreboard to finish with a total of 191 hits, tying Hakan Dahlby .

Holguin and Dahlby met then in an endless shoot-off for Silver. The tie was broken at the twenty-second shoot-off clay, when Holguin missed his first target after an outstanding series of 71 consecutive hits.

Dahlby secured Silver with 191+22 hits, coming back on an ISSF World Cup podium after missing since 2008. “I am really really happy with my shooting – said the Swedish athlete – but of course I am sorry that I missed the Gold… It hasn’t been easy: my shooting range in Sweden is covered by 70 cm of snow since last December. I have been training a couple of weeks in Cyprus and Malaga, trying to get ready for this World Cup…”

“ It’s great to come back on an ISSF podium,  - added Dahlby – I would like to dedicate this medal to my wife Charlotte. I got married the last 10th of October, and we are now waiting a baby. Therefore, I will probably be in Beijing at the next World Cup, but I might not come to the following events… I am going to become a father!”

Holguin joined his teammate Richmond on the podium, winning the Bronze medal with 191+21 hits.

India’s Vikram Bhatnagar, 39, a first time finalist, closed the match in fourth place with a total score of 186 hits, followed by the two Chinese teammates Pan Qiang and Nan Wang, fifth and sixth with 185 and 181 hits, respectively.

Interpretation of the ISSF Rule 6.4.2.1. regarding Shooter’s Clothing – UPDATED

ISSF Rule 6.4.2.1. It is the responsibility of the competitor to appear on the ranges dressed in a manner appropriate to a public event. This must be controlled by the Jury….

All sports are concerned with the image they present to the public and media.  Olympic sports, in particular, are judged by whether their competitors look like athletes and their officials appear professional.  Shooting’s ability to grow as a sport and its future status in the Olympic movement may be affected by how its athletes and officials appear to the public and media.

Recent evaluations made by ISSF leaders in cooperation with IOC and media officials have identified concerns regarding certain clothing worn by shooters during competitions and award ceremonies.  Of special concern are blue jeans and ragged cut-off shorts worn by pistol and shotgun shooters during qualification and final round competitions.  There have also been cases of clothing worn during award ceremonies that clearly does not represent the sport of shooting or the national federations, Olympic committees or nations of those athletes in a positive way.

CLOTHING REGULATIONS

In order to address this situation and achieve positive change, the ISSF Executive Committee provides the following guidelines regarding how Rule 6.4.2.1 will be interpreted and enforced, beginning in 2010:

1      All clothing worn by competitors in training, elimination, qualification and final round competitions and in award ceremonies must be clothing that is appropriate for wear by athletes in international-class competition.  All clothing must convey positive images of shooting athletes as competitors in an Olympic sport.

2      During award or other ceremonies, athletes are required to be dressed in their official national uniform or national tracksuits (tops and bottoms of training or warm-up uniforms including sport shoes).  For teams, all members of the team must wear the same national uniforms. Rule 6.17.5.5.

3    Pistol competitors must comply with Pistol Clothing Regulations described in Rule 8.4.5.

4    Shotgun competitors must comply with Shotgun Clothing Regulations described in Rule 9.9.1.

5    Rifle competitors must wear shooting jackets and trousers that comply with Rifle Clothing Regulations described in Rule 7.4.6.

6   The intention of ISSF pistol and shotgun clothing rules is that shooters in competitions must wear sports-type clothing that incorporates or displays national, NOC or NF colors and emblems.  Appropriate clothing for wear during competitions includes training suits, tracksuits or warm-up uniforms, etc. as issued by national federations or NOCs.

7    Prohibited clothing items for competitions and award ceremonies include blue jeans, jeans or similar trousers in non-sporting colors, camouflage clothing, sleeveless T-shirts, shorts that are too short, ragged cut-off shorts, all types of sandals, trousers with patches or holes as well as shirts or trousers with non-sporting or inappropriate messages (See Rule 6.10.1).

8    Changing clothing must be done in designated areas and not on the field of play.

9    All clothing must comply with ISSF Eligibility and Sponsorship Rules regarding the display of manufacturer and sponsor marks.

10  In principle the ISSF Dress Code applies to ISSF Jury Members and National Technical Officials including Range Officers and Shotgun Referees. These officials may not wear any prohibited clothing items and must wear officials’ uniforms or other appropriate clothing during all competition.

ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES

- ISSF Equipment Control, Shotgun, Pistol and Rifle Juries are responsible for enforcing ISSF Clothing Regulations and this interpretation of ISSF Clothing Regulations.

- During the 2010 World Cups, ISSF Juries will issue verbal warnings regarding violations.  Juries will maintain a record of all warnings issued, noting the shooter’s name, national federation and specific violation.  ISSF Technical Delegates will forward this information to ISSF Headquarters.  ISSF Headquarters will request National Federations with many athletes that receive warnings to assist in correcting these violations.

- Beginning with the 2010 World Shooting Championship, ISSF Juries will issue written warnings with requests to correct clothing violations for first violations.  Athletes who receive written warnings and who do not correct clothing violations (change clothing) will be disqualified.  Juries will normally give warnings during equipment inspection or training.   Juries may allow a competitor to complete a pre-event training series or stage (shotgun or 25m pistol) before changing if sufficient time to change is not available.   No athlete will be permitted to participate in a qualification or final round competition while wearing inappropriate or prohibited clothing.