Sporting ups and downs

By Isabel Newstead
British Paralympic shooter

After a good early part of the season, some health problems knocked me back a bit but now I feel like I am coming back to full fitness again.

I arrived at the BPA training camp in Cyprus at the end of April ready to put in some hard work.

I was struck down by a pain but I ignored it, thinking it would disappear. Eventually it got worse and I had to go to hospital where they told me that I either had or had had a kidney stone.

Newstead on target

It was very disappoining and I spent 10 days in hospital but a week later, I was back in action in a competition in Holland. I took a break after that and now I am feeling the benefits of that.

Although I knew I wasn't on top form in Holland, I was pleasantly surprised to shoot well for three-quarters of the match and equal the world record.

I then shot a new British record at the National Championships in Stoke Mandeville which was a nice boost.

Although the British record is actually nine points ahead of the world record, world records are only ratified at the major championships but it is still nice for Britain to be ahead of the game.

After a difficult couple of years for the sport in Britain after the Dunblane tragedy, shooting is gradually increasing in popularity again.

At the time of Dunblane, I was preparing for the Atlanta Paralympics and when I heard what had happened, I just wanted to put my guns in the crusher and have nothing more to do with the sport.

Taking away firearms hasn't eliminated gun crime

It was hard to pick up my training again but then the sheer injustice of thousands of innocent firearms licence holders being punished took over and that really pushed me into getting back involved.

I had to hand in my .22 pistols and now it means that air pistol is the only event that I can compete in at the Paralympics.

I don't want to sound bitter about it but the whole situation is somewhat unfair and could have been avoided.

At the end of the day, taking away firearms has not eliminated gun crime.

I have one more domestic competition and that will be it until Athens. But I am not hiding away - I will have squad weekends which will involve plenty of competitive exercises.

At the moment I am also making a point of having some recreation time and I am enjoying pottering around in my greenhouse and catching up on some gardening.