James Huckle

James Huckle
Personal information
National team
Born (1990-09-17) 17 September 1990 (age 33)
Harlow, Essex
Years active2007-2012
Sport
SportShooting sport
Events
Medal record
Men's shooting
Commonwealth Games
Representing  England
Silver medal – second place 2010 Delhi 10 m air rifle pairs
Silver medal – second place 2010 Delhi 50 m rifle 3 positions pairs
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Delhi 10 m air rifle singles
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Delhi 50 m rifle 3 positions singles

James Charles Huckle (born 17 September 1990) is an English sport shooter, who represented Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics. He won three gold medals at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games in India and at the 2010 Commonwealth Games he won a total of four medals, two silver and two bronze.[1]

Early life

Huckle was born on 17 September 1990 in Harlow, Essex.[2] He is one of triplets with a brother and sister the same age.[3][4]

He started shooting after his father bought a rifle to deal with a rat problem on his farm and at the age of 16 he saved to buy his first competition rifle.[3][5]

Career

2008

His international debut for England was at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games in India where he won all three men's rifle events.[6]

2010

Huckle represented England at the 2010 Commonwealth Games held in Delhi, India. Competing with Kenneth Parr he won a silver medal in the men's 10 metre air rifle pairs. Parr and Huckle finished with a score of 1174 points, 19 points behind India's Abhinav Bindra and Gagan Narang who set a new Commonwealth Games record.[7] In the individual 10 metre air rifle Huckle came into the final in fourth place, two points behind Parr, but overtook his team mate to win the bronze medal, with gold and silver being taken by Bindra and Narang.[8]

In the pairs three position 50 metres rifle event Huckle and Parr finished in a tie for second, behind Narang and Bindra, having recorded the same score as Scottish pair Neil Stirton and Jonathan Hammond but were awarded the silver medal on the x count, an additional target within the maximum 10 target.[9] In the individual 50 metre rifle three positions Huckle scored 1254.9 points to win the bronze medal; Gold was won by Narang and silver by Hammond.[10]

As a result of winning four Commonwealth medals Huckle was awarded the Sports Personality of the Year trophy at the Essex Sports Awards 2010.[11]

2011

At the 2011 ISSF World Cup in Korea he broke double Olympic gold medallist Malcolm Cooper's British record in the three positions rifle.[12][13] In the 50 metres rifle prone event he achieved the minimum qualifying standard for the 2012 Summer Olympics with a score of 591 points at the ISSF World Cup in Fort Benning, United States.[14]

Huckle was named as one of the 2011 Team Essex Ambassadors for the 2012 London Olympics, receiving a £6,500 bursary from Essex County Council in exchange for visiting schools and community groups in order to inspire people about the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.[15] In November he was again named as a Team Essex Ambassador for 2012 and also won his second Sports Personality of the year award.[16]

2012

Huckle was selected as one of ten shooters to represent Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He competed in the men's 50 metre rifle three positions and men's 50 metre rifle prone events at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, and also the 10 m air rifle competition.[17]

References

  1. ^ "Shooter James Huckle maps out world class aim". BBC Sport. 28 October 2010. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  2. ^ "James Huckle union_flag". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 18 November 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  3. ^ a b Hubbard, Alan (21 March 2010). "Huckle aims high to take shot at glory". The Independent. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  4. ^ "Introducing our shooters — James Huckle". Eley Limited. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  5. ^ "James Huckle profile". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  6. ^ "Huckle completes his hat-trick in Pune". Inside the Games. Dunsar Media Company. Archived from the original on 11 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Commonwealth Games 2010: Shooters strike gold for India". BBC Sport. 5 October 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  8. ^ "Commonwealth Games 2010 shooting: England duo win gold". BBC Sport. 6 October 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  9. ^ "Stephanie Twell wins bronze in the women's 1500m". BBC Sport. 8 October 2010. Archived from the original on 26 January 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  10. ^ "2010 Commonwealth Games: North wins shooting gold". BBC Sport. 9 October 2010. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  11. ^ "James Huckle bags top award at Essex Sports Awards 2010". BBC Essex. 14 November 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  12. ^ Whyatt, Chris (29 May 2011). "London 2012: young James Huckle shooting for gold". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  13. ^ Mike Rowbottom (15 April 2011). "Huckle breaks British Three Positions Rifle record". Inside the Games. Dunsar Media Company. Archived from the original on 11 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  14. ^ "James Huckle achieves Olympic qualifying standard". GSE Sports Management Agency. 28 May 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  15. ^ "Olympic hopefuls named Team Essex Ambassadors for 2011". BBC News. 5 January 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  16. ^ "Olympic Dreams: 2012 Team Essex Ambassadors announced". BBC Sport. 11 November 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  17. ^ "Ten Shooting Athletes Selected to Team GB". British Olympic Association. 28 May 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2012.

External links