Tim Kneale grabbed the medal the Isle of Man craved at the 21st Commonwealth Games when he shot his way to silver in the men’s double trap competition on Wednesday.

The 35-year-old, who has been one of the leading shooters in the country for the past decade, produced a score of 70 in the final at the Belmont Shooting Range to finish four behind Scotland’s David McMath who hit a Games record score of 74.

Kneale made a bit of a shaky start in qualification on what he later agreed was a tricky, somewhat exposed range on the Queensland coast.

Ultimately he qualified third with a score of 135, two behind Ashab Mohd of India and eventual winner McMath, but one clear of James Willett of the home nation.

The final took place shortly around 7am (UK time), and many awoke to the news that Kneale had become the first Manx athlete in a 60-year association with the Games to win more than one medal - having achieved bronze at the 2010 event in Delhi.

’I always find it pretty emotional to represent the Isle of Man, and it is even more special to achieve a medal,’ said Tim.

’I had a shaky start in qualifying, we had all agreed that it is a difficult ring to shoot. I knew that I had to grind out some consistency and that’s what I managed to do.’

Fellow Manxman Jake Keeling finished 17th in the qualifying round with a score of 111. There were a total of 27 shooters in the event.

Full story in Thursday’s Manx Independent.