SEPTEMBER 11 - MATT SKELHON (pictured) won Britain’s first gold medal of the fifth day of competition at the Paralympis with a near perfect display in the R3-10m air rifle prone at Beijing’s Shooting Hall Range, beating the home favourite Zhang Cuiping by just half-a-point.

 

Skelhon equalled the world record in his first six series as every shot fired straight to a maximum 10 for an unbeatable total of 600 points.

 

He then scored 104.9 in the 10-shot final where fractions were needed to separate him from the Chinese shooter who’d also hit a maximum in the series.

 

A former archer and wheelchair basketball player, the 23-year-old only made his international debut last year and his performance today was hailed by shooting team manager Pasan Kularatne.

 

He said: “To score 600 out of 600 after just one and a half years of serious training is fantastic.

 

“I’m really pleased that Matt won gold and especially with an equal world record and perfect score.”

 

Skelhon, a student from Peterborough who sports a bright red Mohican haircut because “it really stands out”, seemed almost nonchalant about his performance.

 

He said: “I don’t know how I did it.

 

“I just calmed down and shot.”

 

He even had to be told his final score.

 

Skelhon said: “I didn’t know.

 

"I am satisfied with 704.9, although I could have done better.

 

"I actually put a lot of pressure on myself.

 

"I tried to calm down and just pulled the trigger.”

 

Skelhon’s victory continues a strong tradition for Britain’s Paralympic shooters following the three golds won by Di Coates in Seoul in 1988, Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996 and the two titles Isabel Newstead picked up in Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 after she switched from athletics and swimming.