Whittlesey Rifle Club president, Matt Skelhon, is aiming for Paralympic Gold in Paris this summer. Matt, aged 39, learned to shoot at the club before winning a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, followed by silver and bronze at London 2012.
After a tough few years with no medals at the subsequent games, he has fought his way back to form.
He is representing team GB, competing in the R3 10m air rifle prone contest on September 1st.
On September 5th he will be taking part in the outdoor R6 50m rifle prone competition, where he is both European and world champion, which also helped secure his Paralympic team selection.
Matt said: “I know I haven’t won a medal for a couple of Games, but I am not going to put any more pressure on myself this time. I just need to be confident in my preparation and rely on my skills.”
Whittlesey Rifle Club disability officer, the writer and actor David Proud, said: “Everyone at the club is incredibly proud of Matt’s achievements. He is a fantastic role model for the sport. We will all be routing for him as he heads for Paris.”
Club chairman Andy Surtees added: “Everyone in the club is willing Matt on and we know he will do his utmost against elite opposition.
“His competitions will be televised, and we hope to hold supporters’ events if there is enough local interest. Our club members will certainly be cheering him on.
“Please follow our website and Facebook posts for timings and updates. Seeing strong local support will really give him a boost.”
FACT FILE
Whittlesey has had a rifle club in the town for around 100 years and the current club building, which was built by Fenland District Council, has been run by volunteers as a community amateur sports and social club for nearly 50 years.
If you would like to follow Matt’s progress and/or are interested in trying target sports, you can find details on Facebook or via the club’s website (see links below). All ages and abilities are welcome.
Whittlesey Rifle Club – Community Amateur Sports Club
