Shooters get their eye in for Glasgow

Ross Roberts said he hopes to be one of six Bermuda shooters at the Commonwealth Games this summer.

The three-time Games veteran — he competed in India 2010, Melbourne 2006 and Manchester 2002 — believes there is a chance the island will have teams in the male and female 50m prone event as well as a team in the full-bore competition. Scores from the Island Games can go towards qualifying but Bermuda’s shooters will take part in events in Canada and the US over the coming months in an attempt to sew up qualification for the Glasgow Games, which begin on July 23.

For 52-year-old Roberts, who is president of the Bermuda Target Association and treasurer of the Coral Reefs Rifle and Pistol Club, a fourth Games would be huge.

He told the Bermuda Sun: “That’s probably the biggest shooting event we can take part in.

“[Number four] has been a goal — it’s definitely something there in my psyche. I’m still shooting good so there’s a chance that might happen, which would be quite an accomplishment.

“I’ve still got it! I’m spending a lot of time on mental training rather  than physical at the moment. I’ve been doing this long enough that things fall into place so it’s more the mental side of it.”

Roberts, who coaches younger shooters on the island, says he anticipates the training will step up once daylight hours get longer. 

He said: “The small bore shooting requires more training time than the full bore shooting, which is why I’m going to try for both — just in case! We are shooting once a week at the moment but when the weather improves and there’s more daylight we’ll shoot more regularly.”

He added: “We have got some scores from the Island Games but we hope to get more over the coming months. I’ve been to a few [Games] already and it’s an experience I recount with all my shooters.”

Rifle shooting is just one string to Roberts’ bow. He is also the owner and operator of the archery range at Southside, where he anticipates monthly competitions will soon become more frequent.

Many of the National Archery Association members who were displaced from the Government Quarry to house the Government’s car fleet have picked up the sport once again now it has a new permanent home.

Regular coaching sessions are available. 

For more information email [email protected], call 532 7769 or go on the Gold Point Archery Facebook page.