MINSTER’s Daniel Eley claimed the title of Field Target World Champion with the last shot of the competition.

Eley won the three-day airgun event at the German Military Training Ground in Ebern, after out-shooting English teammate Tim Williams in the final round of the competition.

The outdoor tournament had 74 entrants, with nine other nations, including Holland, Norway and the United States taking part. Eley was just pleased to be representing his country, and wasn’t expecting to come back as a champion.

He said: “It was a nice surprise to be selected for the English team. I went this time and didn’t have particularly high hopes, but I didn’t want to let the team down.

“I was delighted with the win, it was excellent, fantastic. I put in a consistent performance and for the first two days I was three shots off the lead.

“Then on the last day I had my best round. And the leader had his worst. I don’t know whether it was nerves, but he dropped the shot on the last target, giving me the chance, and I won by one shot.”

Eley approached the event with only one goal, to give his best. He said: “My philosophy was to be in with the leading half dozen on day one and hold it for the second day.

“Then on the third I would have nothing to lose. As it’s the last day you might as well put in all you’ve got, you have to give 110 per cent.”

This was the second time Eley, the twice British champion, had been selected to represent England at the championships. The last was in 2000 when he finished 4th for the B-team, which actually finished above the A side.

The world event is the longest and one of the most difficult on the sporting calendar and Eley admits it was tough going at times.

“On the second day I was absolutely shattered and found it mentally draining. The course was the hardest I have ever done. But it was really well organised with typical German efficiency and it was a good weekend.”