Strathallan pair shoot into Under-21 World Championships

Following a series of strong performances at the British Schools and Young Shot Championships and Cluny Clays, Strathallan School's Ben Addison-Scott and Alasdair Lightbody have qualified for next month's World Clay Pigeon Championships.

Strathallan team members, left to right, Keir Hail-Brown, Ben Addison-Scott, Rory Morrison-Low and James Day. Picture: Neil Hamilton

Both Upper Sixth pupils at the Perthshire school, they will now compete in the Scotland Under-21 team at the World Championships at EJ Churchill in High Wycombe on the last weekend of the school term at the end of June.

With the other spot going to a 20-year-old, the two 18-year-old pupils have performed exceptionally well for their age, showing great potential as up-and-coming stars of 
the sport.

During last month’s British Schools and Young Shot Clay Championship in Bedfordshire, Strathallan’s A Team finished second to Millfield.

As the only school in Scotland with clay-shooting facilities, Strathallan was the sole representative from north of the border.

A score of 211/300 secured the runners-up position and the school’s Keir Hail-Brown 
finished second in the individual High Gun with a score of 41/50.

The B Team also performed very well at the Schools’ Championships, finishing third. Iain Galloway, a fourth-form pupil, shot an excellent 43/50, dropping only two targets going into the final two stands.

Ben and Alasdair will now be led to the World Championships by an external coach, Eddy Buchan, who is a champion clay pigeon shooter and the youngest certified clay coach in Scotland.

The boys will also be supported by their proud teacher and Strathallan clay coach, Paul Vallot, who has seen a particularly talented wave of pupils come through the school in recent years.

“This group of pupils competing at the Schools Championships have shown a great deal of dedication as well as natural talent,” commented Vallot.

“As a teacher, I am delighted to see them perform as well as they can at such a high level.

“Some of our younger pupils in particular have been shooting extraordinarily well and I have seen them come out of their shell and build their confidence through the sport.

“It has been fantastic welcoming Eddy into the team too. I am a biology teacher by day, and not the best shot, so it has been hugely beneficial having a coach of Eddy’s calibre spend time with the pupils, particularly Alasdair and Ben ahead of the World Championships next month.”