Meet the Paralympians!
The Opening Ceremony for the Paralympic Games commences tonight from 19:00 on Channel 4 and there’s not long to wait before the Shooting Para Sport competitions start, they begin on 30th August. Tim Jeffery and Ryan Cockbill will be kicking off the British interest with the R4 – Mixed 10m Air Rifle Standing SH2 – Qualification at 12:30.
We thought we’d grab a quick chat with two of our fabulous Paralympians, Tim Jeffery and Issy Bailey, ahead of the Games and talk competing, kit bag and travel essentials!
Name: Tim Jeffery
Disciplines: R4 SH2 Standing Air Rifle
R5 SH2 Air Rifle Prone
R9 SH2 Prone Rifle 50m
Guns: Walther LG400e, Walther KK500e
Favourite Ammo: Eley
Proudest achievement: World Cup gold or making all three finals at the Paralympics in Tokyo
Photo courtesy of Eleanor Shorey @theshorey
Tim will be competing in his third Paralympics, competing in 2016 and 2020 previously. He is competing in 3 events, so will have a busy time at the Games! With 2 European Championship Bronze medals already this year, Tim is keen to see what Paris 2024 holds.
What’s your favourite thing about the Châteauroux Shooting Centre (Centre National de Tir Sportif)?
My favourite thing about the Châteauroux Shooting Centre is the location, it’s a really nice peaceful area and has lovely ranges to shoot on.
When you hit a goal or achievement (like Team GB selection) how do you treat yourself for a job well done?
It depends on the size of the goal or how long I’ve been working on it, for example, a smaller training goal I might reward myself with a half day off from training or buy some nice food, whilst something like World Cup medals or success at the Games is definitely worth at the very least, a short holiday somewhere nice to rest and enjoy a well-earned break!
How did you get introduced to target shooting?
I got into shooting through the Scout Association when I was 11 years old, I went along to have a go but was advised I may find it a bit difficult as I was a very small and slim 11-year-old, there was also the slight problem that most people tended to use 2 hands when shooting a rifle… But something about being told I might not be able to do it or would find it difficult seemed to spark something in me, a hunger to prove everybody just how capable I was and that just because I was missing my left hand, it wasn’t going to stop me doing something.
Outside of shooting, share with us something you get excited about / love to do?
I very much enjoy cooking and bouldering; I enjoy the physical and mental challenge of working out the problems and then going home to cook a well-earned tasty meal!
You’ve stopped at a service station to get a drink, what’s your order?
Lemon Fanta or green tea depending on if I want hot or cold.
Other than the essentials, what’s the one thing you bring with you when you travel for competitions and why?
I always travel with my pillow and a blanket, a pillow because you never quite know what you’re going to get in a hotel, and the blanket because no matter the country, you never know how warm or cold a range is going to be!
What’s your competition day routine?
I always start the day off with a bowl of granola and a mug of tea. I normally aim to arrive at the range just over an hour before athletes are called to the line, allowing time to move kit to the range and set everything up. Once all my kits at the range I’ll normally assemble my rifle, then I’ll sit for 15-30 minutes and just get comfortable with the temperature, light and noise in the range, after this I will spend 15 minutes stretching and warming up, this will normally give me 10 minutes before athletes to the line is called where I’ll get changed in to my base layers and shooting jacket before then moving my kit to the firing point. After the match, depending on if I’ve made the final and how long the wait is, I’ll make sure I’ve got a suitable snack to eat to keep my energy levels where I need them, I’ll normally aim to move my kit over the reporting area for the final about 45 minutes before reporting so there’s no rush and I’ve got a good idea of what the finals hall is like.
What’s your favourite item in your kit bag?
My foam roller or my blanket.
What’s your favourite place to travel to in the world and why?
For holiday, it has to be Italy because the food is incredible and the views are amazing, for competition I have to say I’m very fond of South Korea, the ranges are incredible, and the people are so friendly and helpful.
You’re ordering takeaway / fast food, what do you get?
It’s got to be a Wagas!
What advice would you give to aspiring Olympian / Paralympian Target Shooter?
Be patient with it, don’t expect scores and results over night, it takes years to build the skills you need, enjoy the little wins and be kind to yourself.
Anything you’d like to add?
A massive thank you as always to everyone who continues to support me, from the different practitioners and coaches at British Shooting who support me both as an athlete and as an individual, Eley for the continued support and excellent ammunition that helps keep me competitive on the world stage, Chris Lacey from Lacey’s Shooting Supplies who continues to help me both getting the best equipment and keeping that equipment running in tip top shape! And of course, all my friends and family that even though I’m not there half the time, still put up with me and all my shenanigans!
Name: Issy Bailey
Discipline: P3 - 25m Sport Pistol Mixed
Gun: .22 Pardini SP
Favourite Ammo: Eley
Proudest achievement: British record holder, 3 x Paralympian
Photo courtesy of Eleanor Shorey @theshorey
This is Issy’s third Paralympic Games having previously competed in 2016 & 2020. She recently achieved a P3 British Record in qualification at the Novi Sad Grand Prix, placing third. Issy is our only pistol shooter representative, and is looking forward to the Paralympics in Paris.
The Olympics and Paralympics are such special events in the competition calendar and through hard work, skill and determination you’ve been selected to compete at several Paralympics, what is it like compared to other competitions?
It feels different to other competitions when you realise than only the best of the best will be there. It’s what we’ve been working towards for the last three years and knowing we’ve made the cut is a big deal. There’s a lot more attention, media, bigger crowds and spectator numbers – that adds a little pressure but also a little reassurance, knowing there’ll be people in the crowd rooting for you.
When you hit a goal or achievement (like Team GB selection) how do you treat yourself for a job well done?
Haha! I bought myself some expensive shoes… and I suppose I’ve used it as an excuse for every mini-treat since then. If I want some fancy food or some new books, I tell myself I’ve earned them. I should probably stop now.
How did you get introduced to target shooting?
I fell into target shooting during my rehabilitation after spinal injury in 2013. By 2014, I’d made the GB team, and it snowballed from there, really. My first coach had big plans for me and pushed me hard from the start so I improved quickly. I’ve plateaued a bit since then, which has been difficult to manage, but my current coach is working wonders.
Outside of shooting, share with us something you get excited about / something you love to do?
I live to travel. I’ve already booked three international trips after Paris. You’d think I’d be tired of airports but I love nothing more than visiting new places and exploring different cultures. Shooting has taken me to a lot of faraway places and it’s opened my eyes to the wider world, but I still prefer to travel without firearms…
You’ve stopped at a service station to get a drink, what’s your order?
COFFEEEEEEEEE
Other than the essentials, what’s the one thing you bring with you when you travel for competitions and why?
Books to read and a journal for writing. A lot of what we do overseas is once-in-a-lifetime stuff and I like to make sure I remember it as it happened, writing it down when it’s still fresh, and looking back over the years.
What’s your competition day routine?
On competition day, I don’t change much from my training routine. I eat safe breakfast food, I drink coffee if I have a few hours before we start, and I hydrate well. I warm up with stretches and dry-firing. I talk with my coach, Sonal, who helps focus my thoughts on the match ahead and it’s usually a narrow focus on one specific part of my process, like trigger pull or breathing. I don’t have any unusual rituals or good-luck charms, I just do the work on the day and try to accept the outcome with a good attitude.
What’s your favourite item in your kit bag?
The new Games kit is really neat. My favourite things are the shoes.
What’s your favourite place to travel to in the world and why?
The USA – Texas. I always go back to Texas. Family and an ever-growing group of friends keep me circling back there every year. Not to mention the steak…
You’re ordering takeaway / fast food, what do you get?
I love a Chinese takeaway. Crispy duck pancakes, spare ribs…
What advice would you give to aspiring Olympian / Paralympian Target Shooter?
It’s taken me a long time to realise how differently coaches approach their work. My advice would be to try and find the right coach as soon as you can. The balance between instruction and listening has to be right. Work with different people and get a feel for whether they can truly get both the best athlete and the best person out of your career.
Anything you’d like to add?
Of course I’d like to thank British Shooting for their support over the years. Huge thanks must go to the Troops-to-Target programme that have shared their training facility, overseas trips and coaching with me whenever I’ve needed them. I owe them and Mick Brown an awful lot!
Steve Pengelly for all of his belief in me and the generosity of his time, whenever I need him. The UK Lottery, whose funding makes this Paralympic journey possible, and of course the friends and family around the world who check in on me, support me through the best and worst results, and will be cheering for the GB shooters at the Games.
Paralympics GB target shooting team for 2024 - left to right Ryan, Issy, Matt, Tim
Photo courtesy of Eleanor Shorey @theshorey
We’d like to thank Tim and Issy for for taking the time to chat with us and we wish them successful shooting for the 2024 Paralympics!
You can catch Tim in action on 30th August at 12:30 and Issy’s competition starts on 2nd September at 08:00.
