Hannah Pugsley

New British Women’s Record

On 17 August 2007, at the St Jean de Marsacq range in France, 15-year old Hannah Pugsley shot a score of 598 ex 600 in the Junior Competition of the French National Championships.

As well as being the highest score in the match - beating her nearest rival and clubmate, Romain Demey, by 11 points - Hannah’s score beat the previous British Women’s record of 597 (set by her Mum at Bisley in 2000).

To set this in an international perspective, Hannah’s score is one point higher than the current World Record – set by Marie Enquist in 2003 and equalled by Solveig Bibard this year at the European Championships. It is equal to the current European Record, set by Harriet Holtzenberger at last year’s Europa Cup Final in Winterthur.

Hannah only fired her first shots at 300m less than 2 years ago – just 5 days after her 14^th Birthday at the end of the 2005 season. She fired her first full 60 shot match at Clermont, France, in April 2006 – scoring 578. Just one year later, in March this year, she shot 593 on the first and 592 on the second day of the match against Clermont to make the second-highest Aggregate score of the weekend, 1185, serving notice that she is a force to be reckoned with. The following month Hannah won the BFRC Spring Open Competition with another 593.

Hannah shoots a Keppeler rifle, in 6mmBR, with ammunition loaded by Andy Pearse, her Stepfather. She uses the same stock and set-up for 50m shooting, and so enjoys high-value training with the smaller calibre. As well as being a member of the GB 300m Squad, Hannah is currently a member of the English Shooting Academy (ESSU) and has represented England and GB at Junior International level in the last 15 months. She began shooting 3x20 at 50m this year, and hopes to transfer these skills to 300m next season, so we may have an International-level 300m 3x20 Lady for the first time since Sarah Cooper was competing in the early 1980s.

Meanwhile, many congratulations on progress so far Hannah!