Although I tried many sports while at the junior school, it wasn’t until I was 11 that I found a sport I truly enjoyed. From the outset I loved the simultaneous tranquillity and chaos of a shooting range. You feel the intense concentration of other shooters and the tension from the spectators, which creates an atmosphere like nothing else. I often joke to my friends that my sport is boring, but a well-attended shooting session, be it competition or training, creates an electric energy that can’t be replicated. 

I learned to shoot air rifles and air pistols at my local Scout group and after a few years of dabbling in different disciplines, I settled on 10m Air Pistol and shot my first full competition in 2018. Until then, I had only competed in competitions with other Scouts, so this was a big step up, but one I was very excited to take. I felt completely out of my depth while I was there, but in a way that made me feel excited for the future. From my score at this competition, I was asked to join the South East Regional Pistol Squad (SERPS). Again, this was a big step up from the training I had been used to. One of the best things about doing a minority sport like target shooting is that you can train alongside a really diverse range of people. In SERPS I was given the opportunity to compete against both male and female athletes of all ages, which really helped to push me further and encourage me to improve. More recently, my main challenge has been balancing shooting with schoolwork and revision.  I struggled a lot to find balance when doing my GCSEs, but I learned from the experience and year 13 was a lot easier than year 11. Being clear about my goals allowed me to know that my focus was in the right place and I nearly always felt like I was on the right track. 

Despite the interruptions to my training this year, I have had many successful moments. I was extremely grateful that this was recognised when I was awarded the Sturrock Trophy at this year’s sports dinner. It was an amazing feeling, especially because I was not expecting it at all. I was up against some very impressive competition and any one of us would have been a worthy winner. Of course I was proud to have my achievements recognised, but I was also proud to hear that the PE department enjoyed the talk I gave as part of last year’s Festival of Sport. 

As an 11-year-old learning to shoot with Scouts, I never expected that I would learn so much about myself and derive so much joy from shooting, so I am glad I can share some of this with others. Throughout my shooting career so far I have always been grateful for the support of the school. Time off to go to international competitions has provided me with valuable experience and recognition of my achievements has pushed me to want to succeed. 

Now my exams are over I am working with my coaches to plan how I can take my training further and use my time over the summer well. Ultimately, I am aiming to increase my personal best competition score during the 2023/2024 competition season and shoot the Minimum Consideration Score needed for international selection. This is based on what you would need to score to place 15th at a World Cup, so it will be a real achievement when I reach it. After doing this, I will hopefully be selected to attend a Junior World Cup next summer, which will be a fantastic end to my career as a junior shooter. 

Hannah, Upper VI