As a member of the Great Britain Rifle team to compete in the World Championships, the Schools Shooting Academy Coach, Tom Rylands, is setting off to Brisbane, Australia, next week.

Tom learnt to shoot at school and then further developed his shooting skills at Birmingham University, since when he has completed 30 consecutive national championships at Bisley.

Qualifying to represent Great Britain in 1988, this is Tom�s 7th tour with a GB team and his 2nd to Australia, having toured previously there in 1997. He has 33 appearances to date for England and GB, and shot in the 1999 and 2003 Palma Matches. He was also the highest scorer, scoring 200 out of 200, in last year�s Australia Match, a new record.

The GB team is attempting to set a record and win the Palma Trophy for the 3rd time in succession. Tom commented, �This has not been achieved in the modern series of this competition. We have won it so far 4 out of the last 5 and we are keen to make it 3 in a row this year.�

In the last 12 months he has established the Schools Shooting Academy, which is already generating success with 3 College members now in the Welsh Junior Squad, with 1 member recently selected for the Welsh Development Squad for the Commonwealth Games.  The Academy enjoys links with the Sports Science Department at the Manchester Metropolitan University, where Tom is taking a Masters course in Coaching Studies.

25th September 2011  Back to News