Article
British Shooters at the Olympic Games
British clay target shooters have enjoyed highs and lows at the highest levels of competition over the years. Trap – the clay pigeon discipline – was introduced to the Olympics in the 1904 games – not being included in 1904 or from 1924-48. Skeet was introduced in 1968 and Double Trap in 1996. Women’s Trap was introduced in 2000 along with Skeet – four years after the Women’s Double Trap was introduced in 1996.
Here is an event-by-event history, starting with the 1908 Olympic Games.
Part 1
1908
In 1908, more than 100 years ago, Alexander Maunder won bronze in the Trap event held in London. Maunder was also in the winning Trap Team event that year, while another GB team won bronze. The table was littered with Brits: Charles Palmer (5), Richard Hutton (7), Frank Moore (10), George Whitaker (11) and others further down.
1912
Held in Stockholm, GB shooters managed to achieve silver in the Trap Team event while Harold Humby came equal fourth in the Men’s Trap.
1920
George Whitaker came in 12th in the Trap event and Enoch Jenkins followed him on 13th equal with five others. The event was hosted in Antwerp, Belgium, two years later than would be expected. This was due to WWI.
1924
Enoch Jenkins headed back across the channel to represent the UK, this time to Paris, France. Enoch bested himself hitting the 11th equal spot in the Trap event in a tight top end of the leaderboard. John O’Leary trailed him at 24th equal and one Cyril Mackworth-Praed came in 30th equal.Team GB came in 8th in the Team Clay Pigeon event; the team included John, Cyril and Enoch along with Hans Larsen, George Neal and William Grosvenor.
To read part 2 covering clay pigeon disciplines at the Olympics from 1952 - 1964, click here.