Rooney strikes silver in World Cup event

Timaru trap shooter Natalie Rooney has struck silver at the second round of the ISSF World Cup series in Mexico.

The Olympic silver medallist qualified for the top six semi-final and then went through to the final with American Ashley Carroll.

Carroll and Rooney were then tied 42-all at the end of the scheduled 50 targets, forcing a sudden death shoot-off.

The 28-year-old Rooney then unfortunately missed her first target to hand the American the win at the Club de Caza Tiro, in Acapulco.

Rooney said she made the mistake of not refocussing before sudden death.

‘‘I kind of brought it on myself. Obviously it was not what I wanted and sadly I missed the first target.’’

Rooney said it also took some to get accustomed new scoring and semi-final system.

‘‘The top six shooters are found after 25 targets and then the lowest shooter drops after each five shots, until the top two go through to a 10-shot final.

‘‘I had 22 after the first 25 shots, then 20 in the next 25.’’

Rooney showed her sense of humour, saying that was also a new world record.

‘‘Of course it is only the second time the system has been used.’’

At the start of the trap competition there were 33 shooters representing 16 nations.

It was however a pleasing finish for Rooney, the world’s second ranked women’s trap shooter, after a disappointing start to the World Cup in India, where she finished 21st.

Mexico however is turning into somewhat of a lucky spot for Rooney as it was where she had her breakthrough medal in the World Cup in 2015.

At the same event two years ago, Rooney held her nerve to grab the bronze in a shoot-off and on the way became the first Kiwi woman to medal in the trap at a World Cup event.

‘‘Being back here on the podium certainly brings back some fond memories. I guess it was the reality of being able to compete with the world’s best.

‘‘Any time you get a medal amongst world class competition you have to be happy.’’

Rooney’s next World Cup outing will be in on April 5 and then there is a break until the world championships in Moscow at the end of August, with the World Cup final in October in Delhi.