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Valeport’s Robert shoots for success

Posted 15 September 2021  |  Company news

Congratulations to machinist and accomplished shotgun shot, Robert Dietz, who has qualified for the England Shooting Team and will head to the Internationals competition on 17th and 18th September to represent his country.

Hotshot Robert, who first started clay pigeon shooting nine years ago, qualified over a number of competitions across a 3-month period earlier this year to earn his place as a member of the England Down The Line Clay Pigeon Shooting Team.

Clay shooting is the popular and growing sport of shooting flying clay targets with a shotgun. Robert is one of five clay target athletes from the South West region to make the cut and earn a spot in the England squad of 20 shooters.

The competition takes place in Wrexham, Wales and Robert and the England squad will compete against teams from Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland. This will be the second international cap for Robert who commented, “I’m really looking forward to the Internationals, like most sports there hasn’t been the normal competitions for the last 18 months, so this year’s event feels even bigger and probably more intense, especially as our team is weaker on paper than previous years.

“In 2017 when I first qualified to shoot for England, we were the runners up to Northern Ireland in this competition, beaten by a very slim margin of just five points. So this time around it feels a bit personal for me, I can’t wait to take them on again and hope that we can return the favour!”

Robert’s success as a member of the England squad follows a solid track record of achievements in the Down The Line Trap (DTL) discipline. As a member of the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association, he competes regularly and has represented Devon multiple times in the DTL and Single Barrel disciplines, captaining the Devon county team more than once, and winning a number of County Championships and South West Region Championships.

Valeport has supported Robert’s shooting since 2017 by sponsoring his cartridges. Commenting on Robert’s trip to the Internationals later this month, managing director Matt Quartley said: “We’re very proud of Robert for qualifying for England, it’s a real achievement to be selected to represent your country and we’re delighted to have such an accomplished sportsman on our team.

“We’ve followed Robert’s shooting career for a few years now and we’re very pleased to have been able to support him. We wish him, and the England team, every success for the Internationals.”