Hereford-BASED Carole Brown won the British Blind Shooting Championships at her first attempt with a record score of 593 out of a possible 600.

Carole, who hails from Devon, is a student at Hereford's Royal National College for the Blind. She is a member of the Hereford Acoustic Target Shooting Club, based at the college, who sent seven members to the British Championships at Wolverhampton.

She started shooting only five months ago, but has made such good progress that, although entered in class B, the second of the three categories, she posted the best ever score to eclipse all the category A competitors.

Club colleague Vikki Thomson came third in class B with a score of 574.

An immediate reward for Carole and Vikki was an invitation to represent Great Britain in the World Championships in Holland later this year.

A third club member, Derry Laviolette, came fifth in class A and he has been named as a reserve for the World Championships.

Blind shooters use air rifles fitted with a photo-electric cell which converts light reflected from special targets into sound which varies as they zero in on the centre.

All six previous British champions have been females and Hereford club coach Harry Hancox, naturally delighted with the success of his team, suggests that they might listen more attentively than men.