Cockbill secures World Cup bronze and Paralympic quota spot

Two-time Paralympian Ryan Cockbill provided another boost to ParalympicsGB after claiming a brilliant bronze at the World Shooting Para Sport World Cup in Al Ain.

The 28-year-old held his nerve in the eight-person Mixed 10m Air Rifle Standing SH2 final to complete the podium and secure a quota spot at Tokyo 2020 for ParalympicsGB.

He qualified for the final in sixth place before raising his game in the shootout to post a final total of 229.2, narrowly missing out on the chance to go for gold or silver.

Korea’s Geunsoo Kim went on to take the gold medal with a final total of 252.4 ahead of France’s Tanguy de La Forest, who clinched the silver medal with 251.5.

Cockbill’s success follows the triumph of compatriot Tim Jeffery, who won gold in the R9 Mixed 50m Rifle Prone SH2 in the UAE earlier this week, ahead of fellow Brit James Bevis.

Jeffery, who missed out on the Mixed 10m Air Rifle Standing SH2 final by the narrowest of margins after coming ninth in qualifying, also secured an all-important quota spot for ParalympicsGB as a result of his victory.

It now means GB shooters have sealed four quota places for Tokyo 2020, with Bevis and Matt Skelhon securing one apiece with victories in Chateauroux last year.

Beijing Paralympic champion Skelhon won gold at the World Shooting Para Sport World Cup in France in September in the R3 10m Air Rifle Prone Mixed SH1 event.

His win followed that of Bevis, who secured ParalympicGB’s first quota place thanks to his victory in the R9 50m Rifle discipline earlier at the same World Cup event.

And there could yet be more success for GB shooters in Al Ain this week, with Skelhon and Lorraine Lambert in action on Friday in R6 and Bevis, Jeffery and Cockbill competing on Saturday in R5.