Aussie World Champs team named

Olympic medallists Michael Diamond, Adam Vella, Russell Markand Suzy Balogh have been named as part of Australia’s squad of 14 for the 2013ISSF World Shotgun Championships in Lima, Peru (September 16-24).

The Australian team boasts a good mixture of youth andexperience as it builds towards the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2016 RioOlympic Games. Diamond (Qld) will be shooting for his sixth world title at his16th world championships, and will be joined in the men’s trap field by 2004Olympic bronze medallist Adam Vella (Vic) and Brett Dunstan (Vic).

The Australian team will also target success in the women’strap, with 23-year-old’s Catherine Skinner (Vic) and Laetisha Scanlan (Vic)joining world number 13 and 2004 Olympic gold medallist Suzy Balogh (NSW).

Skinner and Scanlan have risen to world rankings of 3 and 6respectively after exceptional international and domestic seasons.

Scanlan won gold at the World Cup in the United ArabEmirates, while Skinner’s season has included two World Cup silver medals andgold at the 2013 World University Games.

1996 Olympic gold medallist Russell Mark (Vic) will contestthe men’s double trap, with the six-time Olympian chasing a third worldchampionship crown.

2012 London Olympian Keith Ferguson (Vic) will contest themen’s skeet alongside current Australian number one Paul Adams (Qld), whileLaura Coles (WA) will be Australia’s sole competitor in the women’s skeet.

Australian International Shooting Limited CEO DamienMarangon says the world championships would be a good test for the Australianteam.

“There have been some really good results so far during2013, but we want to make sure that these results remain consistent and that weare challenging for medals at every event,” Marangon said.

“We have enjoyed some great success in the women’s trap thisyear with three medals at World Cup events, while Russell and Michael have bothmade finals in the men’s double trap and men’s trap respectively.

“The World Championships provides all the athletes competingwith a great opportunity to showcase their skills against the best in theworld.”

In the junior events James Grice (NSW) and Jack Wallace (Vic)will compete in the men’s trap, while Teegan McCloy (NSW) and Penny Smith (Vic)will shoot the women’s trap.

“All four of our junior athletes competing in Peru have hadsome international exposure and they will only benefit from competing amongstthe world’s best again.”

Full Australian Team

Men’s Trap

Mike Diamond (Gold Coast, Qld)

Adam Vella (Keilor, Vic)

Brett Dunstan (Upper Beaconsfield, Vic)

Women’s Trap

Laetisha Scanlan (Berwick, Vic)

Catherine Skinner (Mansfield, Vic)

Suzy Balogh (Sydney, NSW)

Men Skeet

Paul Adams (Brisbane, Qld)

Keith Ferguson (Sale, Vic)