Dubai shooting event becomes a Mein-field

AMERICAN LEADS COMPATRIOTS, ANNA TOPS WOMEN

The Americans took control of the men’s competition as Sweden’s Anna Jarnald gained a stronghold in the women’s section on the second day of the Second Nad Al Sheba Desert Shooting Competition yesterday.

Defending men’s champion Gebben Miles, who was the overnight leader, made way for teammate Derrick Mein at the top of the standings, while fellow American Joey Bolton followed gamely in third. Mein had a superb round of 47 to complement his opening day’s 42 for a total of 89, while Miles returned with a 40 for a twoday total of 88.

Bolton had a round of 44 to add to his first round of 43 and Hungary’s Andras Szerdahelyl also ended the first two days with 87, thanks to his two rounds of 41 and 46.

Anthony Matarese, who took third place behind Miles and Spain’s Jose Manuel Rodriguez last year, put his campaign back on track with a solid second round of 47 to go along with a dismal 33 that he had against his name on Wednesday.

Overnight women’s leader Carolyn Smith of the US was not her usual self shooting from the third layout as Jarnald took advantage of the conditions to take sole leadership.

In hot pursuit

Jarnald complemented her first round score of 44 with a second round of 32 for a total of 76. A nurse by profession, Smith now lies in seventh place midway through the competition.

The leading Swede is being chased down by Britain’s Cheryl Hall and Frenchwoman Aurore Logghe with identical scores of 71, while another two British shooters — Emma Nelson and Katie Brown — were in pursuit with 70s to complete the top five.

Held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council (DSC), the event offers prize money of almost $900,000 (Dh3.3 million) for the top finishers in the two elite categories.

The UAE’s Olympic gold medal-winning shooter Shaikh Ahmad Hasher Al Maktoum, Chairman of the jury and organising committee, was pleased with the way the competition has been progressing.

“We have reached the midway stages of the competition and it is now time for the strong ones to step forward. These desert conditions can be quite tricky and can catch anyone off-guard. Whatever the case, we are assured of a solid final two days of shooting,” he said.

The third round of shooting for the 136 squads of shooters will be held today, while the fourth and final round will decide the champions the following day.

We have reached the midway stages of the competition and it is now time for the strong ones to step forward. desert condiThese tions can be quite tricky and can catch anyone off-guard. Shaikh Ahmad Chairman

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