Gault wins fourth Melbourne medal

Gault celebrates with his fourth medal of the Games

Veteran shooter Mick Gault claimed his 15th Commonwealth medal and his fourth of the Melbourne Games when he won the 25m standard pistol on Saturday.

Gault stretched his record as England's most prolific Games medallist after a shoot-out with Irshad Ali of Pakistan.

The 51-year-old's win ended Indian Samaresh Jung's bid for a share of the record for the most golds at a Games.

Jung, who had won five straight events, was eyeing Ian Thorpe and Susie O'Neill's mark of six golds.

But he saw his bid ended due to a misfiring gun.

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"I noticed the pistol malfunction during training and tried to sort it out," said Jung. "But it happened again during the competition."

I just got better and better as I went through the Games Mick Gault

Gault had come into the Games with 11 medals to his credit before winning a silver in the 10m air pistol and a bronze in the 50m pistol pairs.

He then overhauled swimmer Karen Pickering's English record of 13 medals when he won silver in the men's 50m pistol.

"I just got better and better as I went through the Games," said Gault, who trains in Switzerland because of Britain's strict guns laws.

"I feel pretty cool about myself at the moment, I just want to phone home and tell the wife.

"The shoot-out brought back memories from Manchester when I had a shoot-off for bronze.

To win 19 medals is the highest ever by an England team at a Commonwealth Games England shooting boss Peter Underhill

"To do it again was amazing, my heart was pounding but after my final five shots I just had to sit and watch.

"I'm in shock and a bit surprised. I didn't expect to win. The score was one of the best I've had for a long time.

"To win today was a fantastic way to end a great Games for shooting."

Peter Underhill, England's shooting team manager, added, "I'm very pleased with what the whole team has achieved.

Shooting guide: Pistol

"Mick has been the big focus, with him overtaking Karen Pickering's record, but we mustn't forget the achievements of all the others, including several young talented shooters who've won medals and set personal bests.

"To win 19 medals is the highest ever by an England team at a Commonwealth Games."

Elsewhere, in the men's skeet Richard Brickell and Clive Bramley were unable to build on Gault's heroics, finishing 19th and 23rd respectively.