Hotshot Philip Thorrold, from Thelnetham, has won a European clay pigeon title in Russia with a record score.The championships are held over three days with about 500 taking part from all over Europe.

Hotshot Philip Thorrold, from Thelnetham, has won a European clay pigeon title in Russia with a record score.

The championships are held over three days with about 500 taking part from all over Europe.

The Compak Sporting event comprised 75 targets on the first and second days then 50 on the final day.

Thorrold scored 198 out of 200 after hitting 75 out of 75 on the first day, 74 on the second and 49 on the last day.

“It smashed the highest recorded score in Russia which stood at 195,” said Thorrold, who left a French, Portuguese and Russian shooter in his wake.

“This means I have yet to be beaten at any major competition in Russia from my first visit in the 2004 World Championships. This is a shooting record in itself.”

Thorrold is a professional shooting coach, and does private lessons on his shooting range at his farm at Thelnetham.

“People come to me if they have problems with game shooting as well as clay target shooting.

“I travel the world teaching. Some of the countries are very interesting. I toured China for three weeks teaching at different gun clubs two years ago and had such an interesting time.

“The clubs there are not so up to date as the UK but over the next five years they are building new and hi-tech shooting ranges.

“I have coached in Cyprus, USA, Spain and Latvia - I suppose most countries in Europe.

“I first went to Russia in 2004 to shoot the world championships.

“I won and after being world champion I then got many invites to go teaching at gun clubs in Russia. I enjoyed the country and people so much I spend a lot of time in Russia working.

“I won the Sporting and Compak Sporting Russia Open titles in 2006 and 2007.”