WITH only one full year remaining to fine tune her skills for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, one of Britain's top woman's pistol shooters, Georgina 'Gorgs' Geikie of Okehampton, is training intensively for her second shot at Olympic success.

Gorgs was the only British pistol shooter to qualify for a quota place at London 2012 after her performance at the 2011 European Championships in Belgrade, and competed in the 10 metre air pistol and 25 metre sport pistol events.

She is already hard at work, doing her utmost to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Gorgs said the support of local organisations and facilities is paramount to her achieving her best. She said: 'I train every day, either at home, Okehampton Smallbore Club or Budleigh Farm Shooting Club.

'The clubs are so welcoming and they are who helped me start my journey in the sport. Without Bernard and Yvonne Rendle and Arthur Harvey I wouldn't have achieved what I have. 

'Additionally to shooting technical and psychological training, physical training is very important to me. Part of this is done at Parklands Leisure Centre in Okehampton. I'm very appreciative of their support and of Ali Sizmur massage.

'Now I'm looking forward to competitions in Amsterdam, Germany and the UK in the first half of the year. The competition in the UK is tough, but there's great team spirit.'

Gorgs looks back on the London 2012 Olympics with fond memories, but is aiming to repeat her fantastic feat of qualifying for those games.

As well as representing Team GB in London, Gorgs was one of the lucky few chosen to carry the Olympic torch during the relay around the country.

She carried it through the heart of Okehampton cheered on by hundreds of well wishers and spectators.

'Nothing can compare to a home Olympics in 2012. Being the first British pistol shooter in history to qualify and compete at any Olympics, I know how much of a tall order it will be to repeat this in 2016.

'But I'm giving it my best shot!'

Helpful Holidays has been Gorgs' principal sponsor for two years. Helen Hayes, Helpful Holidays' PR manager, said: 'It's been a privilege to help Gorgs hone her outstanding talent over the years.

'We've been impressed by her unwavering discipline and commitment and it's not long now until she sets her sights on a gold medal to bring home to Devon'.

Gorgs visited Helpful Holidays just before Christmas. She said: 'I'm really appreciative of the continued support Helpful Holidays is giving me in my sporting journey.

'The 2012 Olympics was an amazing experience and now I'm looking forward to 2015's competitions, training and achieving my next goals.'

You can keep up with Gorgs at http://www.gorgs4gold.com">www.gorgs4gold.com, on her blog on the 'About Us' page on http://www.helpfulholidays.com">www.helpfulholidays.com or @GorgsGeikie on Twitter.