Broadwindsor Target Rifle Shooter called up to England Team

Keisha Farley,19, earned her first cap in a match against Scotland in June – where she top scored for the team - and is setting her sights on making the next World Championships.

The teenager competes in the 762TR category which she described as being ‘like a sniper’ although no telescopic sight is used.

Having just missed the last under 25 World Championships in South Africa, the teenager is aspiring to making the next one on home soil.

Keisha Farley with her 762TR class rifle (Image: Keisha Farley)

Keisha said: "The next World Championships is in the UK in 2028, so I will be applying for the team then, maybe even in a management role."

Her rise to prominence within the national set up has been quick, having only started shooting when she was 13.

By her own admission, she was ‘really bad’ when she first tried it at her then-school in Berkshire, however upon falling in love with the sport she continued it through the Army Cadets.

She said: “It was an event at my school that I got to try out.

“I was really bad, but I enjoyed it and carried on from there and I got better as I went.

“The story was I was skipping my activities that we had to do on Wednesday afternoon, so I think to punish me they put me in shooting – but I fell in love with it.

"I then carried on with the Army Cadets in Berkshire before I moved to Dorset about three years ago."

Keisha Farley with some of the trophies she has won on her journey to being selected for the England team (Image: Keisha Farley)

Keisha described her England debut as ‘one of the best experiences’ of her life and was proud of her performance against Scotland.

She said: “Everything just clicked and I shot so well – it was an incredible experience – it all came together and shooting in a team was really amazing."

Her success meant she has now been selected to play against the USA in New Mexico in September - for which her and the team are raising funds for the trip by selling gin and looking for sponsors.

Before that though, Keisha has a busy summer schedule, competing in an international meet known as the Imperial Meeting at Bisley, in Surrey, as well as a Great Britain under-19 tour in Guernsey.

Keisha made waves last year after finishing 55th in her first Imperial Meeting, a competition that often sees 900 to 800 shooters gather and was top of her class for new comers.

The 19-year-old is targeting an even better result this year.

She added: “Imperial is the biggest competition, with people coming from all around the world,

“My goal this year is to come in the top 10 – I think I can do it.”