Laetisha Scanlan and James Willett of Australia secured the mixed team trap title at the ISSF World Shotgun Championship ©ISSF

Laetisha Scanlan and James Willett of Australia secured the mixed team trap title at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Shotgun Championship in Italy.

The Australian pair edged Russia's Iuliia Saveleva and Maksim Smykov in a shoot-off after both teams hit 44 targets in the gold medal match.

The triumph handed Australia their first crown of the World Championship in Lonato, close to Lake Garda.

Australia also claimed bronze as Penny Smith and Thomas Grice beat Ashley Carroll, winner of the women's trap gold yesterday, and Derek Haldeman of the United States 45-40 in the third place play-off.

Australia finished with gold and bronze from the mixed team trap event ©Shooting Australia
Australia finished with gold and bronze from the mixed team trap event ©Shooting Australia

It marked a successful outing for Australia in an event due to make its debut on the Olympic programme at Tokyo 2020 following controversial changes approved by the ISSF.

Zina Hrdličková and Fabio Beccari of the Czech Republic won the mixed junior team trap competition, beating Gaia Ragazzini and Matteo Marongiu of Italy by 43 targets to 38 in the final.

Bulgaria's Selin Ali and Ivan Georgiev took bronze with a 39-31 win over Spain's Adria Martinez Torres and Mar Molne Magrina.

The event is due to continue tomorrow.