Rooney misses out on spot in final

New Zealand’s shooting team had a forgettable day at the Belmont Range today.

Rio Olympics silver medallist Natalie Rooney surprisingly failed to qualify in the women’s trap, and fellow New Zealanders Owen Robinson and Myles Browne-Cole are off the pace after today’s first day of the men’s trap qualifying.

Rooney, 29, opened with a first-round 20, which meant the day was always going to be a struggle for her.

She has strong shooting credentials, quite apart from her Olympic medal. She was fourth in Glasgow in 2014 and fifth in Delhi in 2010, and has two top 10 finishes at world championship.

Rooney, 29, did not look comfortable for a start today, but to her credit fought back. He three rounds were 20, 22, 24 and she finished in joint sixth position on 66. However, she missed out to Australian Laetisha Scanlon for the final qualifying position on a countback of inner bulls – Scanlon had eight, Rooney seven.

It was much the same story for New Zealand’s two entrants in the men’s trap, Owen Robinson and Myles Browne-Cole.

Robinson had the better time of it, finishing the day in 10^th position in the field of 40. He shot 23, 22 for a first-day total of 45.

Browne-Cole struggled in his second round and finished with 23,19 for a total of 42 and 25^th position. The top six finishers from qualifying move into the final.