Rio Paralympic Games: Ryan Cockbill taking a shot at medal success

Ryan Cockbill, a world champion shooter from Aldridge, will be competing in this summer's Paralympic games and has set his sights on winning a medal.

But Mr Cockbill will not be the only athlete from the West Midlands heading out to the games as he will be joined by Richard Davies from Stourbridge. Davies will also be competing at his second Paralympic games.

Mr Cockbill, 26, said: "I am over the moon to be going. I have been working hard throughout the year to get selected and now I am hoping to get some medals. The last 18 months have gone really well.

"I started with the sport after my accident, it has given me the opportunity to represent my country.

"London was a really good experience but I feel that I didn't perform at my best.

"There is the two of us going over from the West Midlands. Me and Richard have known each other for a few years. There is a friendly rivalry between us because we shoot in the same category."

Asked about the moment he found out he had been selected for the squad, Mr Cockbill added: "It was really good. This time I was at the training base and we were called into meetings one by one to see if we had made it or not. For London it was just a phone call."

He took up the sport after breaking his neck in a freak paddling pool accident.

In 2013 Mr Cockbill set a world record in the 10-metre air rifle competition in which the gun was resting on a tripod.

He achieved a qualifying score of 629.8, before racking up 210.6 points over 20 shots in the finals. The score, which is judged on accuracy, set a new world record and won him a trophy.

Ten shooters in total are heading out to Rio for the Paralympic games.

The team leader, Pasan Kularatne, said the group would have 'everything covered' in their preparations for the games.

He said: "The announcement is the culmination of years of hard work from these athletes, and I'm very proud of their contribution to this sport. We have enjoyed great success this cycle, with countless World Cup medals but the highlight must be a world title for Matt Skelhon with a World Record score. We know just how high the standard of competition is internationally, so we will make sure we have everything covered in our preparations for the Games."

Penny Briscoe MBE, ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission for Rio 2016, added her congratulations to the shooters who had made the team.

She said: "I am absolutely delighted to welcome these athletes to ParalympicsGB and would like to congratulate them on their selection to the team.

"This sport demonstrates incredible strength in depth and all of these athletes have proved themselves by delivering consistent results in international competition, giving us real confidence heading into the Games."