Mark paves the way for Aussie Gold

Russell Mark’s return to competitive shooting has been celebrated with an Australian Gold Medal in the men’s Double Trap Pairs at the Commonwealth Games held in Lilydale today.

Mark, 42, returned to the shooting range after four years out of competition, and won his inaugural Commonwealth Gold Medal to complement his Olympic Gold stemming back to the Atlanta Games in 1996.

Mark combined with teammate Craig Trembath to score 186 points – surpassing the Games record of 184 scored by Indian Rajyavardhan Rathore's team at the previous Commonwealth Games in Manchester, 2002.

Rathore himself starred, alongside teammate Vikram Bhatnagar taking the Indian tally to 179, which earned the pair a Silver Medal.

Ironically, Rathore was coached by Mark himself, and took out an Olympic Silver Medal under his tutelage in Athens, 2004.

England’s Steven Walton and Richard Faulds took out the Bronze Medal in tallying up 176 points.

In the two best of 50 rounds, Mark shot impressive scores of 47 and 46, with Trembath managing 46 and 47 to help piece together a comprehensive victory.

Whispers of retirement plans for Mark were dispelled by Trembath, declaring that he will still go around the shooting circuit once again.

"I will not let him (retire)," Trembath said emphatically.

"He may have won everything but there is nothing wrong in winning everything twice."

From the 15 shooting events staged to date, India have finished the strongest with six gold’s, Australia currently in second position in the shooting department with five.

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