By Tom Degun

Nathan_Milgate_06-09-111September 1 - Britain's top Paralympic shooters laid down a substantial marker for the London 2012 Paralympic Games next year as they dominated a major shooting event at Stoke Mandeville Stadium by capturing gold in five out of seven events.


The three-day International Paralympic Committee (IPC) shooting competition at the birthplace of the Paralympics saw total of 75 athletes from 15 countries in action, with the British team in rampant form, while New Zealand and Hungary picked up the remaining two gold medals that the hosts missed out on.

The standout performer for Britain was Nathan Milgate (pictured) who shot an astonishing 597 out of 600 in the qualifying round of the SH1 men's air rifle standing R1 competition and then went on to win the gold medal in the finals.

The 24-year-old from Canterbury is likely to be a strong gold medal prospect at the Paralympics next year but attributed his superb form to the recent ParalympicsGB camp that was held at Bath University for London 2012 hopefuls.

"I was helped by the fact that the team came straight from the ParalympicsGB simulation camp in Bath to this competition, which is the way it will be prior to the Paralympic Games next year," said Milgate.

"It was great to get a record-breaking score, and hopefully this will send out a message to the world that Britain is a force to be reckoned with."

His compatriot Matt Skelhon was another strong performer at Stoke Mandeville as the Beijing 2008 Paralympic champion won the R3 air rifle prone mixed SH1 event

James Bevis with 705.7 was another British gold medallist at the event, winning the air rifle prone R5 mixed SH2 event, while Pamela Grainger took another victory for the hosts in the air pistol event.

Britain's final gold came from veteran Deanna Coates.

Coates, who is on course for her eighth Paralympic Games next summer, claimed victory in the standing air rifle SH1, while her long-time rival, Elizabeth Kosmala of Australia, who likely to compete at her 12th Paralympic Games in London, took silver.

Gyula Gurisatti scored 657.8 to capture Hungary's first-place finish by winning gold in the air pistol P1 men's SH1 final, while Michael Johnson struck gold for New Zealand with 705.7 in the R4 air rifle prone mixed SH1 event.


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