Shotgun U18 Championship: A launchpad for young talents

109 young athletes from 20 countries gathered in Osijek to fight for the major international awards at the European Championship U18 Shotgun.

The competitions included five events in both Trap and Skeet – Individual, Team, Solo, Duet and Trio. The professional environment and live broadcasts provided a crucial stepping stone for the participants.

Irish athlete Jamie Coogan highlighted the immense value of this experience:

"I definitely think this Championship U18 will help boost my confidence to perform under pressure in front of other people. You don't really get too many chances to compete like this. So, I definitely think this could help my career."

In Individual events the medalist were determined after 75 targets. In Skeet Men, Bulgaria's Ilia Iliev took the top spot with a new European record, while the Bulgarian team also claimed the victory. The absolute winner of the 2025 European Championship Spain's Irene Del Rey finished first in Trap Women Individual, with the AIN athletes taking the team gold. Great Britain's Jessica Hambrook excelled in Skeet Women Individual, and Poland's Antoni Soltys won the Trap Men Individual title with another European record, while the Czech athletes established a new team record in the same discipline.

The Solo events, based on the Olympic system with direct elimination, delivered intense competition and memorable moments. In Trap, Kira Papina from team AIN claimed the women’s title, while Cyprus’s Antreas Germanos secured the men’s victory. Notably, his parents traveled to support the champion and were the first to run and congratulate their son! The Skeet gold medals went to Great Britain’s Jessica Hambrook and Czechia’s Frantisek Bostik.

The Duets and Trio events further showcased Europe's rising talents. Irene Del Rey together with Jose Barrero from Spain took the top spot in the Trap Duet, while Sotiroulla Christou and Andreas Michael brought gold home to Cyprus in the Skeet Duet. In the Trio categories, Greece triumphed in Skeet Trio Men, Czechia captured the gold in Trap Trio Men, and Ukraine’s lineup proved unbeatable in Trap Trio Women.

The competitive field proved incredibly close, with Czechia topping the final medal standings with 6 awards, including 3 gold. The AIN team secured second place with a total of 9 medals, including 2 gold, while Great Britain completed the top three with 5 medals, also claiming 2 gold.

The high results and the opportunity to compete for more medals provide a powerful boost for national federations to develop youth sport. Consequently, the U18 format received strong praise from the coaching community for helping elevate youth programs and identify future talent early on.

Dainis Upelnieks, the Latvian National Junior Team Coach, emphasized the impact of the tournament:

"This format is very important for our country, because it's not easy to compete against the strongest nations across Europe. As a great example, last year we secured our country’s first-ever medal in a Shotgun event when one of our athletes won silver. Thanks to that, he received financial support from the National Olympic Committee. It is absolutely vital for young athletes to take these first steps in their shooting careers."

Missed any of the thrilling moments? You can catch up on all the action with our full broadcasts on YouTube. Dive into the daily photo reports on our website, and don't forget to follow our Instagram for exclusive, behind-the-scenes content!

---

Leave a comment