A head-to-head battle between Australians Catherine Skinner and Laetisha Scanlan, the Commonwealth Games gold medallist at Glasgow 2014, had been anticipated prior to the competition.

However Rooney, who qualified for the final in fourth position, was able to produce a series of accurate shots throughout the final to earn gold and secure the one quota place on offer.

Australia had already secured Rio 2016 berths prior to the Championships and their shooters completed the podium as Emma Cox claimed silver, while Skinner picked up the bronze medal.

There was further success for the host nation in the men’s 25 metres centre fire pistol event as Gary Mullens finished with a score of 569-12x to finish ahead of his team-mate Peter Fitzpatrick, who ended on 557 - 11x.

New Zealand’s Jason Wakeling finished ahead of his compatriot Gerald Nobes by scoring 552- 7x.

Meanwhile Freddy Yen Kway of French Polynesia finished top of the mixed 25m PISTOL standings after ending with a total of 554 - 13x, with New Caledonia’s Johan Perchard ending second on 528 -  8x.

Yen Kway’s team-mate Gabriel Lan San finished in third with a total of 524 - 3x.

The men’s trap competition is set to be one of the highlights of tomorrow’s schedule.

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November 2015: Australia bag hat-trick of golds and places for Rio 2016 at Oceania Shooting Championships