Double Trap shooter Tim Kneale has his eye firmly on Rio

Great Britain International clay target shooter, Tim Kneale, is in the final throes of preparation before the International shooting season kicks off in two weeks. Tim is one of eleven UK Sport funded shooting athlete covering clay target, rifle and pistol disciplines. Following his World Record performance in 2014 at the Munich World Cup, Tim has spent the winter months in Somerset preparing for the 2015 season with the view to winning a spot at the Rio Olympic Games. Tim is currently ranked 12th in the World.

Following his World Record and a review of the season he felt it was time to make some changes with the view of improving his technique. With the support of the MSAF he changed gun and has spent the winter months honing his skills.

Tim's World Record last year has been recognised on the Isle of Man with a nomination for Isle of Man Sports personality of the year, a real honour given the high quality sports performances being produced by Manx athletes today.

Being fortunate to receive UK Sport funding and the guidance of British Shooting Tim attended two overseas training trips to Portugal and Cyprus earlier in the year which have proved to be invaluable in providing improved training conditions.

This year is a qualification year for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games with 11 potential quota places being spread around the World at six events. Tim has already been selected for the first four of these events, the only GB Double Trap shooter to be in this position, and will soon be in action next week at a World Cup events in Mexico followed by two more World Cups in the United Arab Emirates, Cyprus and the European Games which will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan in June 2015. The European Games is a new multi-sport event similar to the Olympic Games which will be an excellent opportunity to taste an event of similar calibre.

For more information visit www.britishshooting.com

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