Andres Golding of Denmark is the new Skeet Men ISSF World Cup Champion. The 28-year old Olympic Silver medallist secured the Cup with an overall score of 149 hits out of 150 targets.
One target from perfection.
Golding, currently ranked second in the world after winning Silver at the London Olympics, finished with 149 hits, just one target shy of equalling the World Record of 150 hits.
The Danish shooter passed through the two-day qualifications with a score of 124 hits out of 125 targets, after missing a low-house clay on the reverse double on station four, during yesterday’s last qualification round.
Making it into today’s final in the lead, with a two-target head start on his followers, Golding did not leave many chances to his opponents. Hitting all 25 targets – a perfect match - he climbed upon the highest step of the podium winning his first ISSF World Cup title.
Olympic Champion in second, for the fourth time.
USA’s Vincent Hancock, the reigning Olympic Champion, finished in second, today. It’s not the first time: Hancock, the best Skeet shooter of the world since two Olympic cycles, has never won an ISSF World Cup Final. Since 2005, indeed, he finished four times in second place (2005, 2008, 2009 and 2012).
Making it to today’s final match with 122 qualification targets, he marked 24 hits in the final, pocketing the Silver with an overall score of 146 hits.
“This was my last international competition as a member of the US Marksmanship Unit: I am leaving the Army in a couple of months.” Hancock said.
“I have been in the Army for more than 6 years, now. It’s time to move on. I am planning to open a Shooting Academy, with my father, in Georgia. I want to dedicate some time to my family, now.” The 23-year old father of two said.
Russia’s Shomin secures the Bronze.
Valery Shomin, the 41-year old Russian shooter ranked third in the world, finished on the ISSF World Cup podium pocketing a Bronze medal.
Shomin had entered the match tied to Hancock, with 122 qualification hits, but then missed two clays in the final, sliding back in third with a total score of 145 hits.
Following him, the 2008 Olympic Bronze medallist Anthony Terras of France placed in fourth with144 (119+25) hits, as well as Cyprus’ Georgios Achilleos, fifth with 144 (121+23) targets. Golding’s teammate Jensen Hansen closed the final match in sixth, with 143 (121+22) hits.