SHOOTING PROFILES MEET A CLAY TARGET SHOOTER Lauryn Mark - Shooting Clay Target Australia Occupation: Company Director – Corporate Shooting Stars Shooting Event: Skeet Sponsor: Beretta Lauryn Ogilvie (now Lauryn Mark), Commonwealth About Lauryn Gold Medallist 2002 In 1999 Lauryn Mark created history by becoming the youngest competitor ever to win the United States Open Women’s Skeet Championship. This win underlined the enormous potential she had shown since first competing as an eleven-year-old in her native California in the United States. Her National Championship also aroused the attention of the Worlds largest firearm manufacturer, the Italian Company Beretta, who have now signed this modern day "Annie Oakley” to a five year contract until the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Lauryn’s first competition Internationally for the United States was in 1997 at the World Championships in Peru. Since then she has competed with distinction for the USA at competitions in Italy, Spain, USA, Australia, England, Finland, Cyprus, Egypt, Korea and Qatar. Lauryn has now completed her shooting career for the USA and is now pursuing her goals as an Australian. The 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester was Lauryn’s first real test competing for her newly adopted country. She came through with flying colors by winning both the Teams and Individual Gold Medals. Her return from the Athens Olympics with a respectable fourth place finish only one target short of what was needed to shoot-off for the Silver and Bronze medal will no doubt spur her on to successfully defend her title at the Commonwealth Games as well as inspire her to fight on to the medal stand in Beijing. Major Results • 1998 World Cup Grand Prix Women’s Bronze Medal – USA • 1999 Australian Grand Prix Women’s Champion – Brisbane • 1999 United States National Open Women’s Champion • 1999 Australian National Open Women’s Champion • 2000 Australian Grand Prix Women’s Champion – Brisbane • 2000 World Cup Finalist – Sydney • 2000 World Cup Finalist – Italy • 2000 World Cup Finalist – Cyprus • 2001 Australian Grand Prix Open Champion – Brisbane • 2001 World Cup Finalist – Seoul • 2001 World Cup Finalist – Qatar • 2001 Australian National Open Women’s Champion • 2002 Australian National Open Women’s Champion • 2002 World Cup Grand Prix Champion – Sydney STARTING BLOCKS © State of Victoria, 2004 1 SHOOTING PROFILES • 2002 Commonwealth Games Pairs Champion – Manchester • 2002 Commonwealth Games Champion – Manchester • 2003 Australian National Women's Champion • 2003 World Cup Finalist – Perth • 2003 World Cup Finalist – Granada • 2003 World Cup Final Silver Medal – Rome • 2004 Australian National Women's Champion MEET A CLAY TARGET SHOOTER Rajyavardhan S. Rathore - Shooting (Men’s Double Trap) India Date of Birth: 29th January 1970 Height: 182cm Hobbies: Listening to music, hunting and most sports – especially boxing, football, basketball and polo Occupation: Professional athlete Biggest influence on career: His mother and wife Interesting fact: He is a Major in the Indian Army and only took up competitive shooting six years ago. Awards and Achievements: Won a gold medal in the Men’s Double Trap in Manchester in 2002. He then won a silver medal in the same event at the Athens Olympics in 2004. MEET A PISTOL SHOOTER Annette Woodward - Pistol Shooting Australia Annette has been shooting since 1985 and in that time has won three gold medals, one silver medal and one bronze medal at Commonwealth games in 1994 and 1998. She has also placed well in World Cup events and in 2003 set a new Oceania record in the 25m women's pistol event. Annette is a mother of six and also has two grandchildren. In 1999 she lost her husband to cancer and took a break from shooting. However, in 2002 she decided to make a comeback and has been very successful. Annette was selected to represent Australia at the Olympic Games in Athens and, at 57 years old, was feted as being the oldest athlete competing in the Games. STARTING BLOCKS © State of Victoria, 2004 2 SHOOTING PROFILES MEET A PISTOL SHOOTER Linda Ryan - Pistol Shooting Australia At 38 years of age Linda has now represented Australia at two Olympic Games (Sydney and Athens) and also at the Commonwealth Games in 2002. She is now focused on achieving selection for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. Linda lives in Gippsland and is a member of the Outtrim & District Pistol Club. However, she is also a long standing member of the Yarra Pistol club and does most of her training there. Shooting is in Linda's blood - her father, Noel, was a member of the Commonwealth Games team in Brisbane, and her mother is also a pistol shooter. Linda won a Bronze Medal in 25m pistol at the Milan World Cup a Silver Medal in the 2002 Sydney World Cup and came 4th in the World Cup Finals in 2002. Linda also won Gold and Silver medals at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. Linda's aim is "to be the best that I can, and to win an Olympic Medal". Linda finished 28th in the 10m Air Pistol at Athens. MEET A RIFLE SHOOTER Geoff Grenfell - Rifle Shooting Australia The most high profile athletes in shooting are, of course, Russell Mark and Michael Diamond. These two shooters do not compete in Fullbore shooting, but some of the most popular shooters are at local club level. The NRAA and the ASA (Australian Shooters Association) Geoff Grenfell have a ‘high performance’ team, which are obviously the best shooters within Australia. In the lead up to the 2006 Commonwealth Games, most of the top ten within Australia will have a chance of representing their country. These include, as at August 31 2004, NRAA #1 Paul Salamon (S.A.) #2 James Corbett (VIC) #3 Bruce Scott (QLD) and #8 Geoff Grenfell (VIC) Geoff has previously represented Australia at Commonwealth games winning Gold at Canada in 1994. If selected, it would be a huge benefit, as Geoff is from Bendigo, and shoots at Wellsford Rifle Range (host range in 2006) every weekend. STARTING BLOCKS © State of Victoria, 2004 3 .