Olympic shooter Roger Daniel struck gold at the 2013 Canadian Airgun Grand Prix at the Doubletree International Plaza Hotel in Toronto, Canada on the weekend. Daniel captured the overall Air Pistol title with score of 1241.1 to reclaim the crown he last won in 2011. Anthony Muoz Choez (Ecuador) was second (1233.7).
Going into the final round, the multiple Pan American and Commonwealth medallist was tied with Choez for the lead with 1139, but he pulled away to win after a final round score of 102.1. Hosts shooters Mark Haynes (1132) and Sylvain Quellette (1229.6) were third and fourth respectively.
Speaking after his success, Daniel said he was pleased with his performance. "I feel great and was confident. I just kept thinking of what I had to do to deliver that performance that is needed to be at the top at world class level. The rules have changed this year as all finalists will now start at zero no more scores going forward."
The 2010 Sportsman of the year had a tough road to victory battling the cold weather in Canada and brief power outage. "My match was a mental marathon, just before we competed electricity went so it was total darkness and cold again. I had to keep hydrated and warm. A couple of minutes later, it was back so it took a longer while to readjust as they had to check all electrical equipment."
T&T's other competitor Marsha Bullen-Jones was 17th overall and did not make the finals. Bullen-Jones won the marksman class and competed in field of 25 shooters. Daniel and Bullen-Jones were scheduled to return home last night.
The Canadian Airgun Grand Prix is the largest international airgun competition in North America and attracted 56 competitors from Wales, India, Ecuador, USA, Trinidad and Canada.
RESULTS
Finals
1. Roger Daniel–T&T–1241.1
2. Anthony Munoz Choez–Ecuador–1233.7
3. Mark Hayne–*Canada–1229.6
4. Sylvain Quellette–Canada–1221.8
5. KenSnyder–USA–1219.7
6. Yuri Movshovich–Canada–1216.8
7. Allan Harding–Canada–1210.5
8. Ferdi Cakmak–Canada–1208.6
Qualifications
1. Daniel/Choez–1139.0
3* Haynes–1132.
4. Quellette–1126.
5*Snyder–1126.
6*Movshovich–1122
7. Harding–1120
8. Ferdi Cakmak–1117