Callingham brings home shooting bronze

Georgina Callingham continues to set her sights on 2012 Paralympic gold after scooping more medals at a prestigious international shooting event.

The 18-year-old from Cookham, who has hemiplegic cerebral palsy, has just returned with the GB team from Poland, and the first disabled event since the Beijing games, with a bronze medal around her neck.

It continues her medal-winning streak in 2009, as she explains: “I was really pleased to win bronze as I was not sure how I would do. I won it in the falling event, and finished sixth in both the standing and prone events.”

But it was not the sharp-shooter’s first taste of success this season as she won gold in Canada in February, at a disabled event attached to an able-bodied tournament, and she also won gold and silver in Luxembourg.

Callingham took part in the events to extend her international experience, but coming back with some degree of success is also crucial.

Callingham is now facing a busy time. She said: “It’s the Turkish Cup next month and I certainly hope to make a final and maybe take a medal.

“It’s important I continue to do well. If I had not reached minimum grades in Poland then I would not be going to Germany which is the event after Turkey.

“There’s quite a lot of pressure to do well and get the funding you need. I have to maintain standards otherwise I might not get picked by GB.”

Looking ahead, Callingham added: “I’m currently doing a national diploma in sport at Berkshire College of Agriculture (BCA) and then after the summer I’m off to Sheffield Hallam University to do a BSC in sports coaching.

“I don’t think going to uni will affect the amount I am able to train, but it depends on the facilities I find when I join a club up there.”

She added: “I have had a lot of support from BCA, who have allowed me time off and some financial support where they can. They’ve been great to me for the past two years and I would really like to say thank you.”