One of the first athletes into the Olympic village was trap shooter Derek Burnett, accompanied by shooting team leader and coach Kevin Kilty.
For the next week Derek will train at the Royal Artillery Barracks shooting venue in Woolwich. Olympic Trap is a shotgun event where a clay target disc is thrown at speeds of over 100kph in a direction unknown to the shooter. It is a sport that demands cat-like reflexes, steady nerves and a cool head.
Derek is a veteran of three previous Olympics and is looking forward to his 4th Olympics. Burnett said of this “I’ve been privileged to have been at three Olympics before London and the experience really counts. The field of athletes here is the strongest I have seen at any Olympics and this will make for a very exciting competition. I’m really looking forward to it!. I must thank the Olympic Council of Ireland for the great job they have done here for the athletes. The facilities are great and the welcome is fantastic.”
Burnett begins his competition on the 5th August with a two day qualification competition which finishes on the 6th.
