As the 2013 Clay Shooting season starts to unroll, we’ve chosen some shooters we will be keeping an eye on over the season to see how they progress.
One of our tips for 2013 is Caroline Povey who has just been selected to shoot Olympic Trap for Great Britain at the World Cup in Acapulco in March.
I caught up with Caroline to find out a little bit about her – and what targets she has for the 2013 season.
ShootClay : Caroline – thanks for taking time to talk to ShootClay – lets start by finding out a little bit about how you got started with clay shooting?
Caroline : Although I come from a shooting family (my dad is Joe Neville; Olympian, Commonwealth Gold Medallist, multiple British Champion and Great Britain Coach) I actually did not start shooting until I was 20! When I met my husband Paul, he was a keen sporting shot and after marking his card on a Sunday morning for about a year, I finally decided to have a go. A few weeks later I was the Derbyshire Champion and I never looked back!
SC : Where do you usually shoot?
CP : I usually train at my dad’s ground in Matlock, Derbyshire. It is a small but perfectly formed ground with international standard targets that attract some of the country’s top shooters.
SC : What have been your key achievements so far?
CP : I have been in the Great Britain team since 2004 and have won the UK Championships a record 4 times. I have also shot for England winning the Home Internationals and won numerous county titles. I also won the British University Championships many years ago!
My biggest achievement for me personally is coming straight back in at the top of the sport, after taking time off from shooting during 2009-2011 to have my daughter. I won the first selection shoot I had competed in for 18 months in May 2011 and also the UK Championships and the Home Internationals. I also qualified for the World Cup in Tuscan where I finished 9th and achieved the best result of the British Ladies.
SC : Looking forward what are your goals or aims for the 2013 season?
CP : I am training hard at the moment (when a break in the snow allows!) to prepare myself for the Cyprus Grand Prix at the end of February and more importantly the World Cup in Mexico in March. I am really excited to be representing my country again and want to do myself, my family, coaches and sponsors proud. I then need to focus on doing well in the selection competitions so that I qualify for the remaining World Cups of 2013 as well as the European and World Championships.
SC : Is there a specific area of your shooting that you will be focusing on during the season, what have you and your coach been working on during the winter break?
CP : I had a break for a couple of months before Christmas and took some time to reflect on the year as well as spend time with my family and friends. Since January I have been working with my dad (who coaches me) to build a solid technique that gives me a great foundation to perform under pressure. And importantly ‘get some lead up the barrel!’.
Outside of shooting, I have been selected to be one of the elite athletes that form part of the newly formed Derbyshire Institute of Sport. They are providing me with lots of support such as physio, psychology and strength and conditioning which is a great help and will enable me to really improve my fitness over the next year.
SC : What’s your equipment setup going to be for the 2013 season?
CP : I will be shooting with my trusty MK38 which I have had for about ten years now, and Hull Cartridges which I find really nice to shoot with and don’t give me any recoil problems.
I have also been lucky to secure some sponsorship for 2013 and I am so grateful for their help. Thanks to Adelphi CNC, Irwin Mitchell Solicitors and Hunters Tweed.
SC : Which shoot are you most looking forward to taking part in during the 2013 season?
CP : Shooting on the World stage is always exciting and such a privilege to be part of, so it has to be the World Cup in Mexico. However I sincerely hope that this will be the first of many internationals during the year.
SC : And which shoot would you most like to win in 2013?
CP : Again, it has to be the World Cup! However it is always special to win the UK Championships and I would love to win it for a 5th time.
SC : Final question – if you could build you dream squad to shoot a major competition with – who would you shoot with?
CP : I would put together a squad of fantastic British shooters who have all been so generous with sharing their knowledge and expertise with me and who have become great friends as well as mentors. They are; Ian Peel (Olympic Silver medallist and a fountain of knowledge), James Birkett Evans (Welsh and GBR International who always adds humour into any situation), Anita North (Commonwealth Gold medallist and my lovely ‘roomie’), Sarah Wixey (Olympian and always there with words of encouragement) and last but not least Joe Neville (Top Shooter, Top Coach and Top Dad!)
SC : Thanks again Caroline for taking the time to talk to us – we’ll be cheering you on throughout the season and keeping a close eye on results.
