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Ivor Greenstreet makes impact at Olympic Trap


By: Mathias Amoah

Ivor Kobina Greenstreet last week performed exceptionally well at the 5th International Para Trap Grand Prix, which took place in Milan, Italy. He represented Ghana’s Black Snipers and took as the first African to the event.

A statement issued and signed by Killian Walsh, President of the Ghana National Rifle Association (GNRA) said the Shooting contest was very vibrant attracting 64 competitors from 16 different countries worldwide.

The association said despite this being Mr. Greeenstreet first competitive event he did exceptionally well by passing through all the qualification rounds. However, he did not make it into the final of six shooters.

The statement said the Shooting competition is known as the sitting Olympic Trap and comprises of five shooters rotating between 5 stations and shooting 125 clay disc targets per 5 qualification rounds for men and 25 additional targets in the final round for the six best shooters.

“The clay travels at 40mph in six directions in a 45 degree arch giving the shooter approx. 1–1.5 seconds to ascertain and shoot the target. It is a sport of mind to eye co-ordination and super fine tuned reactions and one in which disabled athletes can successfully compete against able bodied and win,” the statement noted.

Mr. Walsh said Professor Marco Bernardi, the Scientific Director of the Italian Paralympic Committee monitored the matches in order to develop a specific classification system for Shotgun Shooting events for disabled shooters.

He mentioned that International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) and Federazione Italiana Tiro Volo (FITAV) authorities stressed the importance of the cooperation between ISSF and International Paralympic Committee (IPC), in order to further develop the sport among disabled athletes and now promote it for inclusion in the 2020 Para Olympics.

According to GNRA, the event started with classification and official training. The rigorous classification proved to be difficult for some participants where the medical staff assessed the strength, balance, mobility, extent of the disability and then monitored the practice and competition to obtain a benchmark for a new system.”

“The system mentioned was to grade the participants from 1 to 10, 1 being minimal disability maximum ability and 10 being maximum disability minimal ability. Professor Bernardi has been asked to develop this system for submission to the International Paralympic Committee later this year for approval,” it added.

The association said Ivor Greenstreet was very fortunate in meeting up with Tony Brogden who was representing New Zealand and a former three time world champion. 
Daily Express learnt that Tony Brogden took Ivor under his wing and dedicated a huge proportion of his time in coaching him and getting him ready for the event. This was crucial and the results of his fantastic efforts gave Ivor the confidence and ability to compete as he did.

“Trap shooting and indeed Para Shooting is a fledgling sport in Ghana being established under the Ghana National Rifle Association (GNRA). Currently the GNRA is developing West Africa’s first ever Trap range where both able-bodied and para shooters can train and compete,” GNRA said.

The GNRA said with the fantastic support of Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), the GNRA has two GAF personnel competing in the upcoming All African Shooting Games being held in Cairo in November this year, which is an Olympic qualifier.  

The Milan Olympic Trap was run by the International Shooting Sports Federation, IPC and the Italian Shooting federation. Also present at the competition was Killian Walsh, President of the Ghana National Rifle Association (GNRA).


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