Burnett on target, China take first gold

Longford's Derek Burnett made the best possible start in the Olympic men's trap shooting competition in Athens this morning.

Longford's Derek Burnett made the best possible start in the Olympic men's trap shooting competition in Athens this morning.

With a bright blue sky and baking temperatures, reaching 37 degrees when competition started at 7am Irish time (Athens is two hours ahead), the Athlone-based competitor hit all 25 clays in the first round.

He was one of 12 men to hit the perfect score.  There are two more rounds to be completed later today and two tomorrow, when the final will also take place.

Cyclist Mark Scanlon is also in action in the men's road race.  Former world junior champion Scanlon, who rides for the AG2R Prevoyance team, has just taken part in his first Tour de France and will be looking to do well in the Greek capital.

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Boxer Andy Lee, meanwhile, faces a tough first-round bout against Mexico's Alfredo Angulo Lopez in the middleweight division t 5 p.m. this evening.

Gerald Owens and Ross Killian will take part in the men's 470 sailing competition today, and David Burrows goes in the Finn class.

Meanwhile, Du Li of China won the women's 10 metre air rifle gold medal in the shooting competition. It was the first medal of the Games.

Lioubov Galkina of Russia took the silver and Katerina Kurkova of the Czech Republic the bronze.