Forres shooting star Lucy Evans retains her junior title at the British Open Airgun Championships then claims Scottish Open Championships crown at first attempt

FRESH from retaining her British title, Forres sharp shooter Lucy Evans has celebrated a triumph at her first-ever Scottish Championships.

The 19-year-old Edinburgh University student defended her crown at last month’s British Open Airgun Championships in Bisley, claiming the 10m junior women’s air pistol title she won in 2020.

It was an impressive return to action after almost two years without competitions due to the pandemic, but Evans picked up more silverware last weekend in her debut at the Scottish Championships.

She finished second in the junior championships but found her true aim the following day in the open championships, finishing with three perfect 10 shots to claim top podium spot.

“I was also honoured to win the Wilkinson sword for the highest scoring resident Scottish pistol athlete, which I am delighted with,” she said.

“Overall it was a really positive weekend and gives me confidence for competitions later in the year.”

While Covid-19 put paid to international competition for the former Forres Academy pupil, tournaments are coming thick and fast.

As well as retaining her junior 10m title in the British last month, Evans also entered the university championships for the first time and came third.

Last Saturday she entered the junior Scottish championships, as well as taking part in the open championships the following day.

"On Saturday I shot a really positive qualification match which I was pleased with and I qualified for the final in first.

"The final was very close but a few mistakes from me meant that I finished in second, however on a podium 1-2-3 of Scottish girls which I was really proud to be a part of.

"On Sunday I shot the same qualification score as Saturday, again qualifying me for the final in first.

"The final was again very close, however my last 3 shots were all tens which gave me a four-point lead over second to win the open championship."

Evans is keen to give credit to her Hungary-based coach Sonal Gyorik Ramendra - who also coaches the Scotland international team - for her fine start to the year.

"I spent both weeks prior to British and Scottish championships training with her in Budapest so I’m very grateful for her support."

A product of Forres Smallbore Air Rifle and Pistol Club, Evans is studying to be a PE teacher and is part of Edinburgh University’s individual performance programme, training on a daily basis at their range.

Winning two British titles back-to-back, albeit two years apart, has given Evans a surge in morale and she is aiming to compete at this year’s junior world cup.

She was disappointed to see her sport removed from the Commonwealth Games this year, but hopes it will be back in four years time and she can even shoot for a chance at the Olympics in the future.

After winning her British junior title, Evans said: “It had been a difficult few months coming back after Christmas.

“I had been struggling to find my feet in the first few competitions of this year so I did some good training (in Hungary with her coach).

“I feel I achieved my goals for the competition, obviously one of them being a placing and my qualification matches were good.

“There is always room for improvement but I was really happy with how it has progressed from the start of the year, especially in the final.”

Her travel to Hungary for training and competitions all over the UK has been supported by the Berry Burn Community Fund.

Established by the owners of a UK wind farm, the fund offers grants to people in Forres, Elgin and the surrounding area.

“I’m very grateful for their support,” she said. “I am fully self-funded just now and this has made it a bit more accessible for me to be able to go and work with my coach in Hungary.

“That was really helpful for the trip and also other training and competition costs as well. It is always welcome.”