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The 39-year Trap shooter Daniela Del Din, who had won a Bronze medal at the last World Championships of Nicosia in 2007, shot the first gold medal of the season at the ISSF world cup in shotgun events in Cairo, Egypt.

Entering the final round with 70 qualification hits, Del Din kept the leadership she had gained throughout the qualifications.  The keen athlete form San Marino shot gold with a remarkable final of 19 hits, for a total score of 89 targets. In spite of her long and successful shooting career, Daniela Del Din had never won a world cup medal before.

A send storm hit the Dokki shooting club during the final match: light totally changed from the qualification rounds, and the wind picked affecting targets and visibility. “We came to Cairo expecting warm weather and sun, we found wind and rain… quite unpredictable!” commented the Silver medallist Jessica ROSSI, 17-year old, from Italy.

Italy’s Rossi, the 2007 Junior World Champion of Nicosia, finished on the podium securing Silver with a total score of 86 hits (70+16). “As you have seen the weather conditions have been changing a lot from the qualification to the final…” commented the 17-year old Rossi, today’s youngest finalist.

Bronze was taken by the 17-year old US shooter Rachael Lynn HEIDEN, who surprised everybody by climbing on the podium in spite of the severe wind conditions. Heiden had never competed before within the frame of the ISSF, and she took part in her first world-level international match today in Cairo. Coming from the qualification with 66 hits, the American shooter climbed form the fourth place with 15 hits in the final.

“I am very excited about winning this medal! It was really gerat to be competing with older people in today’s match. And this shooting range of Cairo is spectacular!” said the young American shooter, who had never won a medal before “I  wanted to do somehting good for my country!” She added smiling.

The second American finalist, Joetta DEMENT, placed in fifth after loosing 2 to 3 the shoot-off for the fourth place against Spain’s Fatima GALVEZ (fourth with 67+13=80+3)

Charlotte KERWOOD of Great Britain placed in sixth. Struggling with the sand storm, she closed the match with a total score of 77 targets (66+11).

Egypt Vice-Prime Minister Sameh Fahmy, followed part of this morning’s competition at the new Dokki sport centre of Cairo, dressing the vest of the Egyptian Olympic shooting team to shot the opening target of this ISSF world cup.

“I am not quite sure if I got the clay or not! Anyway… it’s exciting!” Said Minister Sameh Fahmy in a smile while walking out of range C of the Dokki shooting club.

“I am very happy to be here to inaugurate this outstanding sport venue. I want to congratulate the International Shooting Sport Federation and the organizers. It’s an honour to host such an important competition here in Egypt ” Continued the minister, while talking at the microphone of the ISSF TV.

The ISSF Vice-President Medhat Wahdan guided the minister during his visit through the sport club. He said: “It’s great to have him with us. The Minster is very interested in our sport. We are giving our best to organize this competition, and it’s nice to receive positive feedbacks both from shooters and authorities!”

The first final round, the Trap Women match, will take place this afternoon, at 5 PM Cairo Time (GMT+3).

A spectacular ceremony opened the first world cup stage of the year in shotgun events, which is held at the new Dokki Club shooting range of Cairo, Egypt.

More then 270 shooters, coming from 43 different countries will compete in the five Olympic shotgun events of Skeet, Trap and Double Trap.

The first medals will be awarded May 3, at 5 PM Cairo time, at the Trap Women final.

Mr. Medhat WAHDAN, the President of the Egyptian Shooting Federation, welcomed the shooter to the new four-range shooting centre of Cairo, part of the new Dokki Club sport-venue in the outskirts of the Egyptian Capital.

While speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Whadan said: “I would like to welcome you athletes and officials, and to congratulate with the President and members of this new shooting club, which will be the best in Egypt for hosting leading competitions.”

The Chairman of the National Sport Council of Egypt, Mr. Hassan SAKR spoke at the opening ceremony, thanking the organizing committee and highlighting the patronage of the Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Ahmed NAZIF. “Welcome to Egypt – he said – All our gratitude and respect goes to the delegations participating in this Championship, hoping that it will end up in a spirit of sincere and noble competition! I whish success to all!”

“In behalf of the ISSF President Mr. Olegario Vazquez Raña, and of the ISSF Secretary General Mr. Horst G. Schreiber, I welcome you to the first ISSF world cup stage in shotgun events after the Olympic Games – said Mr. Petros KYRITSIS, the ISSF Technical Delegate for this World Cup – All the Egyptian people should be proud of this beautiful Dokki Club’s sporting venue where, I am sure, we will have a successful competition!”

The ceremony was closed by a folkloristic performance of musician and dancers, sponsored by the organizing committee.

FRIDAY
01.05 Arrival of Delegations

SATURDAY
02.05 09:00-17:00 Official Training
12:00 Technical Meeting
18:00 Opening Ceremony

SUNDAY
03.05 09:00-17:00 Trap Men Day 1
09:00-17:00 Trap Women
18:00 Final Trap Women

MONDAY
04.05 09:00-15:00 Trap Men Day 2
16:00 Final Trap Men

TUESDAY
05.05 09:00-17:00 Official Training

WEDNESDAY
06.05 09:00-15:00 Double Trap Men
16:00 Final Double Trap Men

THURSDAY
07.05 09:00-17:00 Official Training

FRIDAY
08.05 09:00-17:00 Skeet Men Day 1
09:00-17:00 Skeet Women
18:00 Final Skeet Women

SATURDAY
09.05 09:00-15:00 Skeet Men Day 2
16:00 Final Skeet Men
17:30 Closing Ceremony

SUNDAY
10.05 Departure of Delegations

Those new to the sport of shotgun, clay pigeon and game shooting might perhaps think that the shot from a shotgun would go to exactly where it was pointed. A reasonable assumption, but it’s not quite as simple as that. In fact, there are many variables that can effect where it lands. Here are a few pointers that will help those new to sport of shotgun shooting to understand the mechanics of a shot performance and thereby improve their skills, aim and accuracy.

A shotgun traditionally shoots above its point of aim. Typically, a shotgun will throw a pattern around 65% above the muzzles, thus ensuring you can see your quarry when you take the shot. Being as a shotgun is a smooth-bore weapon, it’s effective range is heavily reliant upon the shell itself, and was never originally designed to kill at extreme range, say beyond 40-50 yards. Clays however, can still be broken at this sort of range and beyond, but will still be reliant upon the shell itself. Furthermore, there are other factors to consider at long range, being the ‘drop’ and ‘drift’ of the shot cloud.

The degree of elevation of the shot can also have some effect, as it would be travelling against the earth’s gravity more so than a more level shot. Shotgun pellets can travel over 200 yards, and with a trailing wind, even further, hence the safety ‘fall-out’ zone of 300+ yards being the ‘norm’. The effective pattern will have long gone at that distance, and will be merely, a falling shower, albeit still dangerous!

Generally, in normal calm weather conditions, most shot from a 28gm (1 ounce) shotgun cartridge, would fall within around 220 metres from the point it was fired, following winds can easily increase this fallout distance, so a minimum safety distance of 300 metres should be declared in any direction in which a shot could be fired. Make sure you do not shoot over bridleways, railways or footpaths, or towards any highway. Remember, even though you may be shooting safely and responsibly, you have a duty as to ‘not cause distress’ to non-shooters, the general public, and domestic animals!

Carry only the correct cartridges for your gun. If you have a 12 gauge gun, do not carry 20 gauge cartridges! If a 20 gauge cartridge were inadvertently put into a 12 gauge gun, it could slide part way down the barrels, lodge, and cause a potentially lethal blockage. Check your barrels before shooting, and regularly whilst shooting, especially if you hear an unfamiliar noise. If you do see a blockage, Do Not Continue to shoot, clear the blockage (ie. Mud, snow, wadding etc.) in a safe location first.

Misfires, Malfunctions or a Hang fire, (a common name for a cartridge that does not fire immediately). In the event of any of these, Do Not open the gun, wait for at least 20 seconds with the gun pointing safely downrange, then open the gun cautiously. Remove the cartridge; if the primer has been struck. Alternative ly, you could try it again in the other barrel, if it still does not fire, then dispose of it safely. If the primer has not been struck, check strikers (firing pins).

Remember that a shotgun is still a lethal weapon and so always take great care and following established safety guidelines. The constant attention to the details of how your gun is performing will keep you safe and enjoying the sport.

For newbies to shotgun shooting I have put together some hints on shotgun safety, tips for beginners and a free skills improvement log that will be helpful to you.