Team Scotland gear up for Barry Buddon with competitions on continent

Scotland's shooting team has been on the road recently as they look to up their preparations ahead of the games in July. A fifteen strong team competed at the International Shooting Completion of Hannover in Germany before heading to Czech Republic for the Grand Prix of Liberation in Plzen.

There was medal success for Jennifer McIntosh as she picked up Bronze in the 10m Air Rifle event for a fine performance at The National Centre of Shooting in Germany. The double Gold winner from the Delhi games in 2010 was also part of a great showing in the women's team 50m prone event alongside Sarah Henderson and Fiona Crowden. They managed a fourth place in Hannover before repeating that result in Plzen the following week. Henderson also posted a personal best in 50m Rifle 3 Positions in the Czech Republic.

Pistol shooter Jess Liddon was another of the travelling party to post a personal best. The University of Strathclyde student hit a 378 in the 10m Women's Pistol event. Jess' sister Kirsty was also part of the Scottish team at the Czech Republic competition which attracted over 760 athletes from some 36 nations.

The men's 50m prone team also put in a decent showing in Plzen. Neil Stirton, whose place in the team for the games is already assured, was joined by Dave Caughey and James Henderson to post a good score of 1863.2 although it was not enough to take home a medal.

Dehli Gold medallist Stirton was also on target the week before at the Scottish Smallbore Rifle Association Prone Grand Prix at the Denwood Target Shooting Centre in Aberdeen as he set Scottish record score of 627.5 on his way to the final. Jim Main went on to edge Stirton out in the final of the association's first grand prix event of the year.

Eight names are already guaranteed a place on the east coast range while further places in the team for the four day event at the Barry Buddon Shooting Centre are expected to be announced this month.