RAPHOE’S MIKE KELLY returned two bronze medals from the IGRF Gallery Rifle World Championships in the German city of Leitmar.
Kelly won an individual bronze and the Irish team also won a bronze medal in the team event.
Kelly (pictured above receiving his individual bronze medal) was in action in the Galley rifle 1500 class. The Donegal man was joined by Mike Nestor, Simon Carroll, Jeff Kehoe, Declan Byrne and the non-shooting captain, Glenn Forde, on the team.
The team were third, while Kelly himself was just edged out for a higher place on the podium.
Kelly scored 116 with the winner obtaining 117 points. Kelly was tied for second spot, but just missed out on silver.
“There is a spot in the middle of the target, the ‘x’, and he had more of those than I had.”
Kelly competes on behalf of three clubs – Donegal town, Lifford and Bracken which is based just outside Strabane.
“I only started shooting when I couldn’t play football any longer,” he told Donegal Sport Hub.
“I really enjoyed getting the chance to compete for Ireland. At the start of the year that’s all I wanted to do so now to get back with two bronze medals is just brilliant because I know I could have done better too.”
114 competitors were in Kelly’s class, with shooters from England, Germany, Holland, South Africa and Norway.
“These Championships are only held every two years so I’m delighted,” Kelly said.
“I’m very proud to get two bronze medals at this level. I got picked because of my scores in national matches during the year. Your best three scores are added up and you’re selected on that basis.”
The Irish Championships take place in February while Kelly is already aiming to take part in the 2017 World Championships, which will be held in Ireland.
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