CAROL Brown, a former student at the Hereford Royal National College for the Blind, regained the British Blind Acoustic Shooting Championship with a record score of 598 out of a possible 600.

She travelled up from her home in Devon to represent the Hereford club in the championship, held at Wolverhampton, and regained the title she first won in 2001 with a then record score of 593.

Last year she was pushed back into second place by Michael Whapples, of Worcester, but hit back to take the European Championship later in the year.

The two top blind shooters continued their rivalry at this year's championship with Whapples beating the old record with a score of 596 but having to be content with runners-up spot.

In May Carol will travel to Holland to defend her European title, with Whapples again providing opposition.

Three other shooters represented Hereford at the championships and produced creditable scores. Dave Marshall-Morgan finished with 575, Andy Bailey, 547, and Ann Nicol, 498.

l Pictured, Carol Brown, accompanied by her guide dog Bella, receives her championship trophy from Morris Bright, chief executive of British Blind Sports.