A TEEN shooter hit the bulls-eye on his 15th birthday by being selected to join the Great Britain Olympic Talent Pathway.

The hidden talent of Monmouth School student Charlie Smith, from Kempley, was only spotted last year when as a virtual novice he shot 10 out of 10 clays at a game fair.

British Shooting now believe he could go all the way to the Games as a trap shooter, and are fast tracking him with tutoring by some of the leading coaches in the country.

Mum Mary Smith said: “He’s really excited about the opportunity and is dreaming of going to the OIympics at some point in the future.

“He had a lesson about two or three years ago, then left it until we went to the game fair at Ragley Hall last year, where he amazed the instructor, hitting 10 out of 10.

“He said only about six people out of 1,300 managed to hit all 10, and the other five were probably all experienced shots, and urged Charlie to get shooting.

“Charlie’s now got his shotgun licence and has attended some Olympic Pathway training sessions in Hertfordshire and near Knighton, but it’s all very new to us.

“He’s been shooting at Trowgreen Farm Shooting School in St Briavels and done well in some competitions, and he’ll be getting his own gun which will make a big difference.”

The timing of Charlie’s call-up was perfect as he was celebrating his 15th birthday and had just received his shotgun certificate.

He was also presented with skeet vest, cap and shooting glasses, generously donated by Geoff Norman of Browning, by his Trowgreen-based shotgun coach Dave JR Brown.