GREAT Britain marksman James Bevis has shot his way to a bronze medal at the World Cup in Aylesbury.

The Herefordshire ace missed out on a silver medal by a decimal point as he came up against the world’s best shooters in the 10-metre Air Rifle prone.

It was Bevis’ first major international competition of the year and he was very pleased with his medal-winning display against a strong line-up.

He was on the verge of finishing fourth until he fired an outstanding 10.9 - the highest possible scoring shot– to break into the top-three.

“I go out to win gold but sometimes the added pressure will open up my ammunition groups,” added Bevis, who lives in Devon.

I managed to claw the top-two back in the final but I missed out on a silver medal by 0.1 which is nothing in shooting terms.”

“I had prepared in every way going into it and I knew I was on for a medal but, like the Paralympic, I wasn't sure what medal I would come home with.”

Bevis, who had a few nerves, had qualified for the finals after shooting 634.6 with 60 inner tens.

He kept in the middle of the field until the last four shots and, being a knock out final, he was fourth and on the verge of going out.

He said: “I could hear the crowd getting noisy and I knew I needed a big shot but I didn't know I needed a 10.8 at least.

“In my sport, 10.9 is the biggest shot you can achieve. I had a slight movement in the barrel from the pressure but just kept my trigger control perfect and shot a 10.9 and went into the bronze medal position.”

Bevis has enjoyed an excellent year – he has also just won the British free rifle competition to add to his National indoor prone and Prone British titles.

It was Bevis’ first time at the British free rifle competition, which is an outdoor event from a distance of 50 metres, and he won gold after shooting 586.

Bevis said: “The line up was all the disabled 50 metre rifle men and women and I must give a massive thanks to Arthur Harvey at Budleigh Farm Target Shooting Club for allowing me to use his great facilities.”