CLAY PIGEON SHOOTING:AS THE 2008 Beijing Olympics wind down, another only slightly less hotly anticipated international sports event is getting under way on the banks of the river Shannon.
The eighth bi-annual World DTL Clay Pigeon Shooting Championships opened under ominous skies at Esker Shooting Ground on the Galway-Offaly border yesterday.
The event, which is being held in Ireland for the first time, has attracted almost 700 entrants from 13 countries. A total prize fund of at least €22,600 is up for grabs, with €5,000 going to the overall winner, to be decided on Saturday.
Countries represented include Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.
Despite its low profile, DTL (or Down The Line) is a very competitive discipline within clay pigeon shooting. Irish team member Jim Doherty from Donegal estimates that he drove 3,800 miles around Ireland in qualifiers alone.
He was full of praise for the facilities at Esker, saying they are as good as he has seen in Europe.
His friend Henderson Hume of Northern Ireland, a world champion in 2004, agreed.
Four years ago, Hume won the overall title in England, by scoring 300 on three successive days. (This involved hitting every target with his first shot, equivalent to a snooker player achieving a 147 break in every frame.)
Asked how they hoped to fare today, neither was too forthcoming. The standard here is so high, Doherty explained, that even a score as high as 295 would probably put one out of contention. Hume agreed. Total concentration is required over the three-hour shoot, he said.
The slightest distraction costs targets. As he spoke, two young members of the French ladies team turned heads as they sauntered by in chic white tracksuits.
The Irish Army have lent the organisers 10 tents for the duration of the championships.
It is here that many competitors huddled to avoid the early rain. Body warmers, baseball caps and ear muffs were the order of the day.
Double-barrelled shotguns, broken and unloaded in accordance with the law, were slung over most shoulders.
In one of the tents, breakfast rolls and curry chips were being served up.
Tracey Barton (18) from Canberra is one of the youngest members of the Australian team. From a family of champions in the sport, she has been shooting competitively for six years. But while she's enjoying her visit to Ireland, she's not so taken with the weather.
Her team-mate Lars Vager even speculated that the conditions - wind, rain and ever-changing light - might be an advantage to the host nation.
Irish team members, though, rejected that assertion, good naturedly wondering if mind games might not be at work. All participants compete in the same conditions, they said. Luckily, by mid-afternoon, the weather was considerably brighter.
About 2,000 spectators are expected over the next two days and facilities at Esker have been expanded to accommodate the influx, with a €1 million extension by local architect Donal Burke officially opened this week.
The number of firing shelters has been increased from six to 16.
It is hoped the expanded range will serve as a satellite centre for the shooting competitions at the 2012 Olympic Games.
