Us shooters have successive world titles in sights

By Jared Lynch
Updated November 7 2012 - 2:33pm, first published November 17 2009 - 10:50am
US shooter Will Fennell, from South Carolina, believes his team can retain its title at the World Sporting Clay Shooting  Championships at Laang this week. 091116DW14 Picture: DAMIAN WHITE
US shooter Will Fennell, from South Carolina, believes his team can retain its title at the World Sporting Clay Shooting Championships at Laang this week. 091116DW14 Picture: DAMIAN WHITE

WILL Fennell is hoping experience will secure America back-to-back gold at this year's World Sporting Clay Shooting Championships.The USA took out the men's team category at the 2008 world titles in Cyprus and the South Carolina shooter was confident his country could snare gold again.He said every member on this year's team had represented the US at world level."It is a very experienced team," he said."Hopefully we can do it (win gold again) this year. I believe we can."About 40 US shooters will compete at the championships being held at the Laang shooting range.Fennell took up the sport 15 years ago. He is no stranger to the world titles, having competed at international events in England, Scotland, Russia, Cyprus and the Czech Republic.Fennell has helped the US clinch five team golds and a few silvers. A bronze individual medal is also in his trophy case."I love the experience of competing and there's nothing better than standing up there getting a medal around your neck with the US national anthem playing," he said.More than 600 shooters from around the globe have descended on Laang for the championships.The Warrnambool branch of the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia has spent the past 12 months preparing the range for the event.Group president Stephen Chilton said the past month had been intense.The clubhouse was renovated and a sprawling deck overlooking the range's rolling hills built."This place has pretty much been my second home," Chilton said."We're pretty happy with how everything has turned out."Representatives from 26 countries are competing at the championships. An opening ceremony will be held at Warrnambool's Civic Green today.About 4pm, competitors will march from Cannon Hill to the Civic Green displaying the flag of their country. Mal Price from the SSAA Warrnambool branch encouraged people to line the streets and give the shooters a warm welcome to the region.Practice shoots began on Monday. The first day of the four-day competition begins tomorrow.

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