World’s Best Shotgun Athletes to Compete in Tucson World Cup
OutdoorHub 02.17.12
USA Shooting has announced the selection of the Tucson Trap & Skeet Club as the host site for the 2012 International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) Shotgun World Cup with more than 250 of the world’s best expected to compete March 24-31.
The 2012 ISSF Shotgun World Cup will be one of two final World Cup stops contested prior to the 2012 Olympic Games in London. As a result, USA Shooting anticipates a large number of shooters, as many will use this as one of the last major shooting tests prior to the Games getting underway July 26. Shooters will compete in the three different international events of trap, double trap and skeet.
Among the world-class field of shooters will be American Kim Rhode (El Monte, Calif.) as she begins her quest for Olympic history. The four-time Olympic medalist has the opportunity to become the first U.S. female to win five individual medals in five Olympic Games if she accomplishes the feat yet again in London.
“I’m looking forward to the Tucson World Cup as a measure of what I need to do to prepare for the London Games,” said Rhode. “Plus, this will be my first opportunity to post an MQS [minimum qualifying score] and qualify for the London Olympics in trap as well. It is going to be nice to have the home field advantage for a change, and being Tucson Trap and Skeet Club is a premier shooting range, we can expect high scores.”
Four additional 2008 Olympians will also be a part of the USA Shooting Team represented in Tucson including gold medalists Vincent Hancock (skeet/Eatonton, Ga.) and Glen Eller (double trap/Katy, Texas) as well as women’s trap bronze medalist Corey Cogdell (Eagle River, Alaska). Jeff Holguin (Yorba Linda, Calif.), a fourth-place finisher in double trap, is also set to participate. A full list of top competitors will be released after February 23.
The Tucson Trap & Skeet Club has recently constructed international trap bunkers to add to their current trap and skeet competition capability. Not only will the event bring added tourism revenue, but it will also allow the city of Tucson to display its historic roots.
“This event is a tremendous opportunity to not only showcase our incredible year-round weather and warm hospitality, but also to show that Tucson is one of a handful of sites in the United States that can host this type of event for many years to come,” said Tucson Sports Director Vince Trinidad.
“We look forward to partnering with Tucson Trap and Skeet Club to host a 2012 ISSF World Cup event,” said USAS Executive Director Robert Mitchell. “The club has added Olympic-style shotgun fields to an impressive facility that has hosted many large American shotgun competitions previously. The World Cup will be an individual qualifier for the 2012 Olympic Games in the Trap, Skeet and Double Trap events and thus will feature intense competition and provide a preview of things to come in London.”
