GBRT : South Africa 2012

David started fullbore target rifle shooting in Northern Ireland at Campbell College School, Belfast in 1965. His first international team experience followed three years later as a member of the Ireland National Match team. His first Great Britain team representation was the tour to Canada in 1975, with his next GB tour 16 years later as a member of the Palma team to the USA in 1992. Having “sorted out how to balance work and shooting”, he has toured with GB teams most years since.  He has shot competitively on five continents, touring with GB, Ireland, the Royal Air Force and Northern Ireland, representing the latter in the past nine Commonwealth Games.

It is, however, South Africa that holds a special place in his heart, and the country that he has toured to most frequently, participating in the South African Championships every year since 1998, after first visiting with the Protea Match winning RAF team in 1996. He has enjoyed some individual success too, winning the State President’s Trophy on three occasions and the South African Individual Open Championship eight times, including six consecutive victories during the last decade.  What keeps him coming back? “It is combination of things: the high quality early season competition; the interesting and challenging winds; the warm and sunny weather at the end of a UK winter; but, most importantly, it is the warm welcome, hospitality and sportsmanship of our South African hosts”.

Back in the UK, David is currently a part-time flying instructor with Cambridge University Air Squadron as a member of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. His main activity interests, in addition to shooting and flying, include golf (a set of clubs now left permanently in Bloemfontein), skiing, scuba diving and fishing.