Hot shot Grace on target all over world

Hot shot Grace on target all over world

18 September 2013

2013 has been a fabulous year of achievement for Downpatrick’s favourite female hotshot, Grace Coburn, who has just crowned her successes by achieving the rank of Second Lieutenant in the Army Cadet Force.

Grace was introduced to the sport of shooting through membership of the Down High School Army Cadet Force Detachment and now, as an adult instructor, passes on her skills to Cadets from across the County from her base at Ballykinlar. As a second lieutenant, she is now eligible to command a Cadet Detachment.

Grace says: “Being a Cadet put so much into my life that I really wanted to make a return and volunteering as an adult instructor has given me the opportunity do that while continuing to work on my shooting.”

Working on her shooting has seen Grace collect a dazzling total of eleven medals in the South African Open Championships — a trip part-funded by the Army Cadet Force Association Northern Ireland.

This was followed by an outstanding performance in the high profile Channel Islands shooting tournament when Grace was top shot in competition against the prestigious London & Middlesex Rifle Association team from Bisley and didn’t a single point.

Her luck and skill held in competition in Guernsey where she remained top team scorer, dropping just one point when she forgot to put on her glasses.

Two days after her trip to Jersey and Guernsey, Grace was on the move again, this time taking part in the Irish Open where she was one of the youngest competitors and one of only three women participating. She managed to finish with a sixth place ranking in the Top Ten shots.  She also won the Abercorn Cup and the Royal Ulster Rifles Cup.

Still on form for the hotly contested British Open Target Rifle Championships in Bisley, Grace shot well enough to move upwards in a class of shooting, but there was still better news ahead for the talented Downpatrick sportswoman.

For the first time the Commonwealth Shooting Federation held an Under 25 category and Grace was proud to be chosen to represent her country as an individual and alongside Jack Alexander — winner of the Irish Open — in the pairs category.

“The individuals and pairs were both very tough but I was so thrilled to be representing my country that I just went for it,” she said. Jack and I fought very hard but, with no previous training together, we felt challenged comparison to other teams, although we tried to maintain a steady hold and kept calm.

“The approach must have worked because we managed to gain a bronze medal each within the pairs match and when we compared our final score from the Under 25s section to that of the seniors we realised we’d beaten them by one point.

“As an individual I was up against the top competitors from England, Scotland, Wales, Canada and Jersey which was as tough as it gets. These first day consisted of six shoots ranging from 300, 500 and 600m and at the end of the day I was ranked second after only dropping one point.

“The following day consisted of long range shooting from 900-1000m where I managed to maintain my position throughout the day to become a silver medallist.”

Grace continued: “I realise I’m still young and learning in my sporting career, but I am gaining in experience and getting better all the time, providing I don’t drop silly points, that is.

“Although I felt a bit overwhelmed when I found myself competing in the Commonwealth Shooting Federation Under 25s, the experience has built my confidence. A bronze and silver was a fantastic result, considering I was the youngest competitor there and also the highest ranked female.

“In comparison to the adult shooters I don’t seem to be doing too badly as David Calvert, the Commonwealth medallist, beat me by just one point overall.

“If the Cadet movement has shown me anything, it has taught me you get back what you are prepared to put into something. I’ve had a fantastic summer of competition but I am ready to work harder to get onto the next rung of the ladder, competing at still higher levels. Who knows what I can achieve if I stick with it and keep getting the sort of training and encouragement which has supported me this far?

“I’m also hopeful all my experiences will help me to spot and nurture shooting talent within the Cadets, so if any youngster out there thinks they might have talent and the discipline, then I’m hoping they’ll join our detachment in Ballykinlar when we’re looking for recruits this September.”