Shooting Career

Influenced by his father, Malcolm, Ben was introduced to shooting at an early age. It was intended as a father-son activity, which his father saw they could do together. Shooting would later become his career, it wasn’t something which he chose but rather it chose him. After winning many competitions as a junior and giving others tuition from the age of 14, it was a career path in which Ben could clearly excel.

On his first outing, he showed a natural flare for the sport. Ben enjoyed the joys of Game and clay shooting equally, but through his other love of Rugby Football, he found that the game season clashed with the football season, so he found himself more drawn to clays.

As Ben progressed, he found that he enjoyed more of a variety of targets, not knowing what targets he would be presented and with the rules and regulations were too much in the trap disciplines, Ben was very well suited to sporting and FITASC.

1998 was one of his most successful years as a junior, winning the World Junior FITASC, World Junior Sporting and also the European FITASC championships; Ben showed his potential and was ready to take on the seniors.

As in many sporting events shooting is at the Olympics, unfortunately sporting isn’t represented. Ben has no regrets choosing sporting rather than the Trap disciplines as being a world champion in sporting shows that you are the best shooter on any target rather a fixed target.

Ben’s greatest shooting moment was winning the World FITASC in 2006 and more recently the World sporting in 2010. Ben is modest about his achievements but also credits his number one fan, his father, for his continued support, along with Brian Du Quesney, and his many sponsors, because without them, his victories would not have been possible.

Sport

Playing for his local team Rugby Lions RFC, Ben is a keen amateur Rugby Union player. Playing in the number 8 position he has to keep a high level of fitness. As co-ordination plays a large role in both rugby and shooting, it is no surprise that he can transfer these skills between sports. The 2013/2014 season was filled with notable successes with the team as Ben was proudly selected as Captain for key matches.  The Rugby Lions experienced a historic season as they won the Midlands Vase Final and traveled all the way to Twickenham for the Vase final on May 4th against Longlevens.