New Zealand announces shooting team for IPC World Cup

“This is a great team and one of the largest New Zealand shooting teams to be sent internationally"

Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) has announced their team for the 2013 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Shooting World Cup Great Britain, taking place from 1- 4 July, 2013.

The team will be led by London 2012 bronze medallist and opening ceremony flag-bearer Michael Johnson. Johnson has only just returned from Germany where he had an outstanding performance at the International Shooting Competition Hanover, winning two gold medals.

He said, “I am happy with my success in Germany,” continuing “and this is driving me forward with my training. I have high aspirations for the World Cup event and bringing home medals for New Zealand.”

Johnson will be joined in Stoke Mandeville by experienced shooters Greg Reid and Grant Philip who have previously represented New Zealand.

The team of five also includes some new faces - Robert Smith and Phillip Skinner. This is the first international competition for these athletes and they will be looking to the gain valuable experience heading towards Rio.

Malcolm Humm, High Performance Director, PNZ said “This is a great team and one of the largest New Zealand shooting teams to be sent internationally. This is reflective of the work that has been going on for some time behind the scenes to identify and develop athletes within the sport of shooting.

“The input of our experienced shooters have been invaluable and has shown our newcomers what it takes to succeed in this complex sport where the difference between gold and sliver on the international stage is less than 1 millimetre.”

PNZ currently has a large pool of both development and performance athletes from around the country and as part of the strategy to grow the sport will be hosting a PNZ Performance Camp in Auckland with seven New Zealand shooters attending from 20- 24 May, 2013.

New Zealand shooters will then get to put their training to the test and match themselves against the Australians at the New Zealand Cup 1 Event held in Mount Eden, Auckland from 25 -26 May.

Michael Johnson - Air Rifle Prone R5, Air Rifle Standing R4

Greg Reid - Air Rifle Prone R3

Grant Philip- Air Rifle Prone R5, Air Rifle Standing R4

Robert Smith - Air Rifle Prone R5, Air Rifle Standing R4

Phillip Skinner - Air Rifle Prone R5, Air Rifle Standing R4