he ICPSA High Performance Programme received yet another boost today when the latest rankings were released by the International Shooting Sports Federation and the European Shooting Confederation.
Irelands World Championships Olympic Trap silver medallist Philip Murphy has shot up the listings and is now ranked number two in the world by the ISSF behind double Olympic Champion and the current World Champion and world record holder Michael Diamond.
Philip is also now ranked number one in Europe by the ESC which is a fantastic achievement.
Derek Burnett is now ranked in eleventh place in the ISSF world rankings which is also an excellent result at the seasons end and gives witness to the success of our current programme.
Both shooters have qualified and are now in preparation for the World Cup Finals which take place in Serbia later this month when they will compete against 10 of the worlds top Olympic Trap shooters for the chance to add to their individual haul of World Cup and World Championships silver medals and after this event Derek will be heading to Kuwait and a two week training camp with the Kuwaiti National Squad.
Philip meanwhile in addition to the €10,000 performance incentive payment recently awarded by the Irish Sports Council has also been allocated carding status for the remainder of 2007 and for 2008. This decision is to be welcomed as recognition for this outstanding achievement by Philip and as a further endorsement of our sport and the ICPSA High Performance Programme which already receives substantial funding from both the ISC and the Department of Sport.
We wish the High Performance Programme every success in the weeks and months ahead and we look forward to their next achievement under the stewardship of the H.P. Director Kevin Kilty and his support staff.
