SHARP SHOOTING Okehampton factory supervisor Paul Batten has been chosen to shoot for England.

Paul, 53, a member of the Okehampton Smallbore Club, will represent his country in the forthcoming Commonwealth Shooting Federation Games at Bisley on August 24 and 25.

He will shoot first of all in the pairs and then in the individual competition.

Paul has been shooting for 30 years — the last ten years with Okehampton Smallbore Club where he trains regularly.

For several years Paul has been at the top of the national rankings and in 1998 narrowly missed selection for the Commonwealth Games.

In May 2000 he came third in the English Championships and in May 2001 second. It was due to his results this May that he was selected as one of only two air rifle shooters in the English team for the Commonwealth Shooting Federation Games.

As a result he stands a good chance of being selected for the Commonwealth Games in 2002.