Fast track Paralympic athlete Ian Marsden has exceeded his expectations to come third in the International Paralympic Committee National Shooting Championships held at Stoke Manderville 18 -20 June. This is a fantastic success for Ian whom was only talent spotted and invited to join the Paralympic Fast Track programme for Air Rifle 10 metre shooting in February this year. Ian's success shows that the intensive training camps he attends at Stoke Mandeville in Aylesbury 3 days per week are paying off.
Already shooting Paralympics scores Ian has been a Disabled athlete for 15 years, competing for Team GB in Handcycling he has previously won World Titles and records to become the most successful Handcyclist ever in Great Britain. Earlier in his career he represented Team GB in Powerlifting as an able body athlete, again winning World and European titles and breaking many records in the process.
Impressively for an athlete new to the spot, Ian was only beaten by Matt Skelhon Paralympic Gold Medalist 2008 and Nathan Milgate Paralympian GB shooter both of whom are ranked in the top 10 in World. Delighted with his performance, this was Ian's my first National competition, he is now I putting all of his energy into achieving his goal of winning a Gold Medal for Team GB in London.
Ian competed in the mens 10 meter Air Rifle SH1 Standing shoot (Standing meaning holding the Rifle with no support like able body shooter). The competition shoot consisted of 60 shots within a time limit of 1 hour 45 minutes athletes having only 10 minutes preparation time. Ian's scores were high enough in the qualifying rounds to get him to the Olympic Final.
The Olympic Final consisted of 3 minutes preparation time, 5 minutes sighting time and then 10 shots on command with a time limit of 75 seconds for each shot. After every shot the score is anounced for each shooter measured to the decimal place wth 10.9 being the perfect shot. The crowd clap and cheer when an athlete hits a 10 and above. Despite the pressure of the event, it being Ian's first Olympic Final, the crowd were with him when he scored several marks of 10.4. Third place was well deserved.