Falkirk shooter Jennifer McIntosh broke a long standing Scottish record, held by her mother Shirley (multiple Commonwealth Games medallist), in last week’s Rifle and Pistol World Cup event in Fort Benning, USA.

This was her first World Cup and the Aberdeen based 18 year old broke the Scottish senior and GB junior women’s 3×20 record in the Three-Position small bore event with a score of 581.
She qualified for a shoot-off eliminator to get into the final stage, between five competitors for just three places, but just missed out and finished tenth.

“For my first World Cup to come tenth, brilliant is the only word for it,” she said. “I’m pretty happy with my shoot, although obviously a little disappointed to miss out on the final.

“It’s been a great experience and great fun and I’m looking forward my next competition, the British Championships at Bisley and the next World Cup in Belgrade.”

Said her coach, Sinclair Bruce: “This was overall a fantastic result for Jen in her first ever World Cup. These competitions attract all the top shooters and are the top level of regular competition through the season.

“Shooting a PB and showing that she can be competitive at this level first time out demonstrates the progression she is making in her sporting career.”

McIntosh has produced a series of victories and results this season which have given her qualifying scores in three events for October’s Delhi Commonwealth Games*. In March she had met the Scottish team’s qualifying scores for both Prone and 3P and in last month’s Scottish Airgun Championships she achieved the required Air Rifle score. She was also named Clydesdale Bank Athlete of the Month in March in recognition of her achievements as she aims for selection for Team Scotland at year’s Commonwealth Games.

Becoming a full time athlete this season has made a big difference for McIntosh. Integral to her programme is the Grampian Institute of Sport, part of sportscotland’s institute network which focuses on preparing Scotland’s best athletes to perform on the world stage by providing high performance expertise.

* Athletes achieving the selection standard will then be nominated to CGS by their respective governing body of sport. CGS will then consider all nominations against both the overall team and the individual sport’s selection policy. However, meeting the selection standard does not in itself guarantee a place on the team. All selections and final entries will be dependent on evidence of form and fitness. The full team will be announced in mid August 2010.