Rifle shooter Ryan Taylor was unable to convert his impressive qualifying effort into a medal today.
Competing in the men’s 50m prone rifle shooting, Taylor qualified second. He peeled off scores of 103.8, 103.6, 103.5, 102, 103.6, 102.9 for a total of 619.4, just behind the leading qualifier, Australian James Daly.
In the final he seemed to be going along quite well through the two rounds of Stage 1. Into Stage 2, the elimination section, he lasted four rounds before bowing out in fifth place. Oddly, Daly, who had looked so good in the morning qualifying, finished sixth.
The event was won by Welshman David Phelps, who set a Games record of 248.8.
Taylor, 38, certainly brought a wealth of experience into the event. He is a three-time Olympian, going right back to Athens, 2004. In addition, this is his fourth Commonwealth Games. Though he has consistently been in the top eight in the pairs and individual 50m prone rifle events, his fifth placing today was his best finish.
John Snowden and Brian Carter, New Zealand’s Queen’s Prize fullbore pair shooters, climbed from their overnight position of eighth to a final placing of fifth.
The New Zealand pair totalled 296 over the first three rounds. In the final two rounds today, Snowden shot 71, 71 and Carter 72, 69.
The New Zealanders finished with 581 points, fourth equal with South Africa, but dropped down to fifth on a countback of V-bullseyes.
England won a tight contest with 584 points.