Traps shooting is the most popular event out of all gun sports at the Commonwealth Games.
The sport is widely practiced around the world, and was originally created to augment bird hunting and provide a method of practice for bird hunters.
It has been around since the late 18th century, making it another event steeped with history.
Real birds were originally used as targets before artificial birds were introduced around the mid-19th century, eventually developing into clay targets.
Why should I watch it?
Because Australia are huge favourites to once again take out a medal. Michael Diamond may be 41, but he’s still a machine with a shotgun.
He won gold at the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games, and took out silver in 2010. He also has two Olympic gold medals to his name in the trap event.
Diamond finished fourth at the 2012 London Olympics, after qualifying in top position, so will want to make amends this year.
What is it?
This is a sport all about one thing, accuracy. Clay targets are launched from traps in underground bunkers and shooters have to hit them using just two shots from five different ranges.
The targets, about 10 centimetres in diameter, are released at the shooter’s order. The sport requires balance, control and prevision and mental strain is crucial to success.
Who’s going to win? Big names
Australia, Canada, England, India and New Zealand are the main consistent winners. Emerging nations include Scotland, Singapore, Wales, Cyprus and Pakistan.
Aaron Heading took out gold ahead of Diamond at the 2010 Games, with Indian Manavjit Sandhu (bronze) also a strong competitor.
Sandhu won gold at the World Cup 2014 at Tucson, USA. Heading is relatively young compared to the rest of the favourites, at just 27 years old.
Aussies to look out for
This is Australia’s strongest ever shooting team, led by the unwavering talent Michael Diamond.
Despite reaching the age of 41, Diamond is once again in bookmaker’s sights for the men’s traps final. He is chasing his fourth Trap gold medal, and it will be his fifth Commonwealth Games.
Joining him will be Adam Vella, a bronze medalist in at the 2004 Athens Olympics and silver medalist at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games. He was once ranked as the world’s number one shooter.
Paul Adams is the young gun to look out for. The 21-year-old finished fourth at his first shotgun world cup, and is an exciting prospect for Shooting Australia.
The shotgun team is fresh off excellent results at the World Cup in Tucson, Arizona, USA. They finished second in the overall medal tally.
What happened last time? History of event
Three shooters fought out a tight battle in the men’s traps final at Delhi 2010.
Diamond was beaten to gold by Englishman Aaron Heading, with Manavjit Sandhu finishing in third.
Australian Adam Vella fell in fourth place, with Robert Auerbach (Trinidad and Tobago) and Mansher Singh (India) completing the top six.
Fast Facts
– Australia’s only previous shooting win was achieved by Donald Mackintosh, in the live pigeon shoot at the Paris Games of 1900.
– He killed 22 successive pigeons
– Shooting matches and competitions became popular in the 16th century
– The Glendale Park New York held in the 1880s attracted 600 shooters and 30,000 spectators
– Shooting was on the program of the first Olympic Games in 1896
– Live pigeons were abandoned after the 1900 Olympics
What to drink while watching
How do Scots celebrate a successful hunt? Probably with a glass of fine cask ale, or a sparkly lemonade for the driver.
This article was first published on the Tenplay website here.
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