Geikie won a bronze medal at the 2006 Commonwealth games

An Olympic hopeful from Devon has spoken of her frustration at having to practise her sport outside the UK.

Georgina Geikie is Britain's number one air pistol and .22 shooter, but the latter is outlawed in the UK.

The 24-year-old is consequently forced to travel to Switzerland from her home in Devon to shoot with the .22 pistol.

She told BBC Spotlight:"It's infuriating; I can practically count on two hands the number of times I've picked up the pistol this year."

She added: "I feel quite disadvantaged when I go to compete at World Cups and I have to stand next to my fellow competitors that can shoot and train with their guns every single day."

The .22 pistol has been banned in the UK since the Dunblane massacre 13 years ago. Although recently allowed back in the country, they still cannot be used.

And with her sights firmly set on the London 2012 Olympics, Geikie is determined not to let the restrictions hamper her.

She said: "You've just got to get on with it and make the most of the training opportunities that we have, so whenever we go to Switzerland we make the most of every single minute.

"London 2012 may be three years away but there's a lot of training that needs to happen to actually get there in the first place."

Geikie made her international debut at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, where she won a bronze medal in the air pistol pairs.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version