Parr's Olympic dreams in the last-chance saloon (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Parr's Olympic dreams in the last-chance saloon

3:20pm Thursday 19th April 2012 in Sport By Graham Moody, Sports Reporter

Shooter Kenny Parr goes into the last chance saloon this weekend in his bid to make the Olympic Games.

The 23-year-old from Thornton Heath is competing in both the 10m rifle and 50m air rifle event at the ISSF World Cup at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, which doubles up as the Olympic test event.

Great Britain have just one spot available in the rifle events for this summer but Parr, one of five men targeting it, has not had the best year and knows he needs a performance if he is to remain in with a chance.

“Things have not gone quite as I would have hoped,” he said.

“I need to perform really well this week to put myself in with a chance but it is looking pretty slim.

“The European Championships in February was my last chance to get an outright place for GB but while my performance was good, it wasn’t quite good enough.

“I have shot good enough before but I need to replicate that in the bigger matches.

“It is difficult because there is much more pressure but it has come to the point where I need to show I am good enough – until the team is finalised I am still in with a chance so will keep trying.

“I am feeling pretty good ahead of this weekend and preparation has gone well.

“But it is going to be a difficult event as there is something like 800 competitors, which is double what the Olympics is going to be so it will be a good test to see if everything is up to it at the temporary venue.”