I may have to give Scotland the bullet to get a shot at gold
WORLD CHAMP’S FEARS OVER OLYMPICS Shooter in plea for new training facilities
A world champion has admitted she may have to quit Scotland to fulfil her dream of shooting for gold at the Olympics.
Seonaid McIntosh was left with inadequate training facilities after her regular practice venue closed down for renovations.
Now the 22-year-old may have to move to England unless someone can help rescue her dream of competing at Tokyo 2020.
The crackshot – whose family are also champion shooters – struck gold in the 50m rif le prone at the World Shooting Championships in S ou th Kor e a in September.
The victory followed two bronzes at the Commonwealth Games in Austra l ia earl ier this year.
But she ha s struggled to find a firing range big enough for her to train on since she returned from the Gold Coast. Meadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh shut for a £ 47million refurbishment last December but Team McIntosh were allowed to continue practising there until demolition work began in April. Heriot-Watt electrical engineering student Seonaid – who is coached by her dad Donald – hopes someone will provide an indoor alternative. She said: “Not finding suitable facilities could have a disastrous impact on my life. “I’d have to move away from Scotland, which would mean my dad would no longer be able to train me unless he also moves. “I’m in my fourth yea r at u n i and couldn’t move until June. Moving would affect my education as I want to go back to university to do a master’s degree.
“Not finding a 50m range closer to home would mean a massive amount of upheaval. I really hope someone can help.”
Seona id wa s voted Br i t i sh Shoot ing ’ s Olympic Athlete of the Year and Scottish Sportswoman of the Year a t the Scot t i sh Women in Spor t awards. Her sister Jen reti red f rom the sport in