Hill sets sights on Olympic shooting career

Sharp-shooting Amber Hill already has a number of titles under her ammunition belt, but she is setting her sights on more despite still being only 11 years old.

The multi-talented Claires Court School pupil took up clay pigeon shooting two years ago and is already targetting a career in the sport.

So far, Amber is the Berkshire junior colt champion, the British schools junior high gun champion and is the youngest ever shooter to qualify for the second round of the prestigious Mitsubishi Championships. She also regualrly shoots against girls up to 18 years old and has represented her county.

But Amber is taking it all in her stride, as she told the Advertiser, saying: "My Grandad got me into shooting and I love it. I don't know what it is about it, but it's something I really enjoy. None of my friends do it, but they always ask how I am doing.

"I was selected for the county hockey and netball teams, but I had to turn them down to concentrate on my shooting. I am doing some county shotput at the moment, but that's just a bit of fun."

Amber shoots for the Four Counties Club in Chieveley, near Newbury, and to encourage their prodigy to even greater successes in the future, the club have presented her with a new Berretta 20-bore shot-gun and sponsor her with cartridges.

Amber's future in the sport appears bright and she is certainly aiming high, saying: "I shoot whenever I can and would really like to go and shoot at the Olympics one day."

She added: "That would be so great, but I will have to keep practising and see how much better I can get. At the moment it's just a lot of fun."