British three positions record holder James Huckle missed out on the 10-metre rifle final at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich on Monday.
Huckle, 21 and from Harlow, scored 593 out of 600 which was not enough to secure a top-eight placing. He finished 24th in the qualifying rounds, shooting 99, 98, 100, 100, 98, 98, in the event that was later won by Alin George Moldoveanu of Romania in 702.1.
Also competing in the 50-metre rifle prone and the three positions, Huckle is looking ahead to the coming days and is using the first event as experience.
“Without a doubt I tried my best but I would have liked more, I think everyone would have,” he said. “I lost it a little bit towards the end but it’s my first event of three I’ll be shooting here so hopefully I can just take this experience into my other events.
“Three positions is the event I actually qualified for so in a way this is just an extra event, it’s been great to start off, get the experience and the feel for how the events are going to go. It stands me in good stead for my three positions.”
Huckle, who won four medals in Delhi at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, said although the crowd added pressure the support was definitely a positive.
He said: “It’s crazy having a crowd behind you clapping after every shot, or even clapping at all. At most internationals you can almost hear a pin drop so it’s great knowing that most of them will be supporting you. Although it does add pressure it’s great for motivation and support.”
Do you want to hear how Jennifer McIntosh felt after her first ever Olympic appearance? Read her blog online now.
