Local shooter wins gold medal at European championships

Update 9.15pm - Full report Local shooter Nathan Lee Xuereb won the European Championship for juniors after topping the double trap competition in Lonato, Italy, on Monday. This was the 18-year-old's third success after previously winning the title in 2013 and 2014.Xuereb was rock solid in the qualifying round hitting scores of 27, 30, 26, 25 and 26 to amass 134 points and finish fourth overall. Italy’s Jacopo Durpre De Foresta topped the standings when hitting 141.Xuereb turned on the style in the semi-final stage with an almost flawless performance when hitting 29 from 30 clays to finish top and progress to the gold medal final against Dupre De Foresta who placed second on 27.The final turned out to be a one-sided affair as Xuereb beat his Italian counterpart 29-24 to clinch his third European Championship gold medal.Gianluca Chetcuti and Liam Sciberras were the other Maltese shooters competing in the 13-man junior competition in Lonato. Sports parliamentary secretary Chris Agius congratulated Xuereb on the win, saying he had proven to be in "a class of his own" throughout the championships.