Burnham-On-Sea shooting enthusiast Conor Keohane has topped off a successful rifle shooting season with acceptance into the Team England National Squad Academy, from which potential shooters for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia will be identified.
Conor, who previously held a Bridgwater College Sports Scholarship, became a member of the Great Britain Junior Rifle Squad in October 2011, and has emerged as one of the UK’s top junior shooters in 2014.
He trains weekly at the Sedgemoor Target Shooting Club in Burnham-On-Sea, which has fostered the careers of several top UK shooters and now enjoys a thriving junior membership.
Conor has reached the finals of several major competitions this year. In April he gained third place in the 3-position (3P) match at the Junior International in Oldenburg, Germany, and he also pulled off a personal best in air rifle to reach the final in what is arguably his least strong discipline.
He repeated this success at Bisley in August, achieving another personal best score to reach the final of the return international match against shooters from South Africa, Germany and Denmark.
In May he also reached the final eight in the English Small-bore Shooting Union Men’s Championships, lining up alongside Commonwealth shooters Dan Rivers – Commonwealth gold medallist – and Ken Parr.
Conor told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I was first introduced to shooting when I joined the local Army Cadet force, and although I quickly realised that it was a sport I really enjoyed, I never imaginde that I would ever reach the level I find myself at today.”
“I would love to go to the next Commonwealth Games, but with so many other talented shooters out there I know I have a lot to do to achieve that. I am grateful for the scholarship support I received during my time at Bridgwater College, and am delighted that UWE have offered me further assistance towards my ultimate goal.”
Now studying Law at the University of the West of England (UWE), Conor hopes to build on his success with the assistance of a UWE High Performance Scholarship, that not only encompasses financial support but also gym membership and advice and information on fitness, nutrition and sports psychology.
