PLYMOUTH College’s Emily Pascoe has become the youngest ever English Open 25m (air) sport pistol champion.
The 14-year-old won the title at the Lord Roberts Centre in Bisley at the weekend.
The teenager, who has been rising quickly through the ranks of precision shooting, was presented with the trophy by three past champions – Margaret Thomas, Victoria Mullen and Samantha Darling, who have all represented England and Great Britain at the highest international level.
Pascoe has only recently started shooting both 25m (air) sport pistol and 25m standard pistol having previously gained county and national honours at 10m precision.
The competition in Bisley was the English Smallbore Shooting Union (ESSU) Championships and brought together the best pistol and rifle shooters from all over the country to compete in various disciplines at the Surrey venue.
Unlike many sports there are only two age categories at this level of shooting, under-21 and an open class. Pascoe competed and was victorious in both, recording personal best scores in both the precision and rapid-fire stages.
The task the youngster has to undertake during competition is like trying to shoot a target the size of a £2 coin from one end of a 25m swimming pool to the other repeatedly when it is only visible for three seconds.
England senior women’s coach Thomas, the first winner of the Open Sport Pistol Trophy and an Olympian said after helping to present Pascoe with her prize: “I have been coaching Emily for three years and I have been amazed by her enthusiasm, work ethic and, therefore, results.
“She is a very popular member of the England Academy and I truly believe that she is one of our rising stars, with the ability to compete for Great Britain in the 2024 Olympics in Paris.”
The 14-year-old trains with her sister Phoebe at Budleigh Farm Shooting Club in Moretonhampstead as part of the junior programme, as well as with the British Shooting pistol squad and the England Academy in Bisley.
She is now back training in preparation for the British Pistol Club Championships in June, the NRA Imperial Meeting in July, the Junior International meeting in August as well as the British Shooting Schools’ Championships in November.