Pat hits target in major sharp shooter victory

IT was the perfect shot across the bows of international shooting for Killorglin man Pat Foley when he represented Ireland last July during the prestigious ‘Mackintosh’ shooting competition held in Co Down.

But Pat didn’t want to “make a fuss” about the victory and it was only when fellow gun club members in Killorglin read of Pat’s achievement in the ‘Irish Shooters Digest’ that they felt it was only fair he let people know of his achievement in the internationally acclaimed tournament.

“We won it last July in Co Down and I had the misfortune to bring a copy of the shooting digest to the club recently where the lads were adamant that I speak about it. I’m just not that type of person to make a fuss of such things,” said Pat.

The Killorglin man was part of a team of five shooters to represent Ireland in a Veteran Team which finished top of their category seeing off the challenge of nine countries, which included marksmen from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Canada and the UK.

“I suppose we’re also a very much a minority sport so it’s hard to get coverage. Would you believe we didn’t know we’d actually won until the results appeared in the Irish Shooters Digest a month after the competition.

“I was absolutely delighted with it. It’s my second international medal but this is a special achievement,” added Pat.

The Mackintosh Trophy International Team event is one of the most prestigious competitions in the world which has run annually since 1939 attracting sharpshooters from commonwealth countries and Ireland.