Pace, Farrugia obtain MQS scores in Nicosia

Shooters Frans Pace (trap) and Clive Farrugia (skeet) both achieved ISSF Minimum Qualifying Standard scores in their respective categories during the European Championships in Nicosia, yesterday.

Competing in the trap event for seniors, Pace, who on Wednesday hit 67 from 75 clays in the opening three rounds on Wednesday, completed the final two rounds of the preliminary phase with excellent scores of 24/25 and 23/25 to finish 50th overall with a total of 114 from 125 - an ISSF MQS score.

The gold medal went to Germany's Karnsten Bindrich who claimed top spot in the standings after the final barrage with 149 points - three better than Czech duo David Kostelecky and Jiri Liptak.

The other shooters who qualified for the barrage were Italy's Giovanni Pellielo (144) and Massimo Fabbrizi (143) and Slovenia's Madej Snidercic (143).

The 17-year-old Farrugia, making his first appearance in the European Junior Championships, gained a commendable result in the skeet competition.

After a creditable score of 68/75 in the opening three rounds on Wednesday, Farrugia kept up the momentum with scores of 24/25 and 23/25 to achieve an ISSF MQS of 115. He finished 22nd in the overall standings.

Greece's N. Adrianopoulos clinched the gold medal in the junior skeet after winning a shoot-off with A. Zemlin of Russia. The two shooters had finished level on top with a score of 148/150. Sweden's S. Nilsson took bronze with 146.

Pace and Farrugia are due back in Malta this afternoon at 2.