GB retains World Rifle Championship in Australia

Great Britain retained the team world title, recording a third successive win.

Richard Jeens won the individual world title, taking over the honour from team mate and 2007 winner David Luckman, who finished an admirable third on this occasion.

Another GB team member, Jane Messer, was fourth ? men and women rightly compete on an even footing.

In the Australia Match (at both short and long ranges), Great Britain was also victorious, again beating the South Africans into second place.

The Palma Match, or World Championship of Long Range Rifle Shooting, is the most prestigious team event in the sport, held every four years with teams preparing for it for three years each time. Shooters have competed for this honour since September 1876, when the Great Centennial Rifle Match was held on Creedmoor rifle range in New York State.

The match is shot over two days with 16 firers divided into 4 target teams, each with its own wind reader optimising performance in the weather conditions under the guidance of a ?main coach? or tactician.

All firers shoot fifteen shots to count at a 50cm bullseye from 800, 900 and 1000 yards away each day.