Competition highlights
2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, Gold and Bronze pairs medals in prone and 3P respectively (with fellow Eley sponsored shooter and best friend, Jon Hammond)
2010 British 50m Champion
2009 British Long Range Champion (The Earl Roberts)
2008 Qualified for World Cup Final, Bangkok
2008 World Cup Silver medal, Munich and the British International Record of 603.2
2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, Silver pairs medal in prone
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Date of Birth: 15 February 1981
Nationality: British
Birthplace: Aberdeen
Discipline(s): Prone, 3P and Air rifle
Website: N/A
Coach: Donald McIntosh
Background
Neil started target shooting at the age of 12, after being taken hunting one day and realising that it just wasn't for him, and that he much preferred aiming at stationary targets. He looked up ‘Target Shooting’ in the Yellow Pages and found Denwood Target Shooting Centre, and its resident club Bon-Accord Rifle club. After a year of using club equipment he went on to buy his first rifle, a lightweight BSA Mk III.
A few years in to the sport, and progressing well, he moved on to an Anschutz 1913 action with a Shillen barrel, combined with a laminated Anschutz stock. This trusty rifle lasted well and saw achievements such as a Commonwealth Games Silver in Melbourne, and winning numerous national titles.
Neil currently shoots a Bleiker in a GE600 aluminium stock, and holds the British International Record of 599 + 104.2 = 603.2 from the Munich World Cup in 2008 where he won Silver in prone.
Neil did 5 highers + CSYS (6th year studies) before going on to the University of Aberdeen in 1998 where he graduated with a 1st Class Honours in Computing Science.
A local Oil and Gas service company gifted Neil with the Iain MacDonald Memorial Scholarship when he started University, which also opened the door for him to do a work placement with them during his time at University. After graduating, Neil went to Japan for 5 months and ran his E-Commerce business from there. Upon returning, he got a full-time position back with the same company, which was excellent at supporting his shooting requirements in terms of time.
Neil decided to try shooting full-time for 6 months in March 2008, and it was then that he shot 598 and 599 in Munich, winning silver only 0.1 behind Martynov. Through the winter months of 2009/2010 he worked for a different service provider establishing their Emergency Response Centre’s core systems. Since March 2009, Neil has been shooting full-time and is very focused and driven towards medalling at the Olympics.
Did you know?
• Neil lived in Malaysia for 3 months in 1998 and Japan for 5 months in 2002/2003
• He loves meeting new people on his travels and within the sport
• Tries food from locations around the world (when not away competing)
• Playing badminton, cycling and general exercise.
• Loves driving – His mum used to be a rally driver in her 20s and taught him to drive at an early age.
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