Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Youtube
Lonato 2018: First world champions crowned
Finnish, Italian and Australian shooters make Para trap history 08 Oct 2018
Francesco Nespeca (C) won the first PT 3 world title in front of his home fans in Lonato
A cold, rainy finals day did not stop Australia's Scottie Brydon, Finland's Vesa Jarvinen and Italy's Francesco Nespeca from making history at the World Shooting Para Sport Trap Championships on Saturday (6 October) in Lonato, Italy.
The trio were crowned champions in their respective events at the inaugural Worlds for the shotgun discipline.
Final shot
For Jarvinen and Nespeca, their gold medals were decided with the last shots of the competition.
Helsinki-native Jarvinen became the champion in the PT 2 (mixed trap standing SG-L) with 43 targets, followed by Italy's Saverio Cuciti, with 42, and his compatriot Raffaele Talamo, with 30.
"I just knew I was going to win and that Cuciti was going to miss the last one,” Jarvinen said. “I was really focused. It's a great feeling to be a world champion."
In the PT 3 (mixed trap standing SG-U), Nespeca delighted the home crowd after beating Spain’s Meliton Antonio Brinas, with 37 targets, one more than the silver medallist. Italy's Paolo Bortolin secured bronze with 27.
"I am so happy,” said a smiling Nespeca, who missed out on gold to the Spaniard at the 2017 World Cup, also in Lonato. “I still cannot believe that I won on my home soil.”
Fully focused
Brydon did not have to worry as much in his PT1 (mixed trap seated SG-S) final, as he won gold by five shots from second placed Oreste Lai of Italy (31). The Australian carried the momentum from winning the PT 1 gold at the Chateauroux World Cup in September. Neofytos Nikolaou from Cyprus claimed bronze, with 25 targets.
"During the competition, I didn't realise how I was and who was in front of me,” Brydon said. “I was just focused on doing my job. Now, I am the first PT1 world champion. It feels amazing.”
Para trap was officially adopted as a discipline by World Shooting Para Sport in May 2017 and Lonato, Italy, hosted the first World Cup in September last year.
In total, 57 athletes from 16 nations competed in the World Shooting Para Sport Para Trap Championships. Hosts Italy had the biggest team (15 shooters) followed by Great Britain (11).
Full results are available on World Shooting Para Sport's website.
