Sweltering moments in the 25m Lapua European Cup in Tallinn

The sweltering and hot weather welcomed me in Tallinn harbour, when I entered from Tallink Silja My Star ferry.

The thermometer showed +28C in shadow. Last time when I visited in Tallinn, it was nice winter. This weather is something special, while usually visiting Tallinn in the summertime, it has been nearly always raining. This is wonderful; Estonia is showing the best!

There are participants from eight countries in the 25m Lapua European Cup: Azerbaijan(1), Finland(7), France (5), Latvia(12), Lithuania(1), Portugal(1), Republic  of Turkey (2) and of course hosting country Estonia: 35 athletes in the Standard Pistol, 24 athletes in Centre Fire Pistol and 10 Mixed teams. The 25m Lapua European Cup takes place on 18-20th July in The Männiku Shooting Centre.

When looking backwards, the participant number of the athletes and mixed teams in this year will be the record! Congratulation ESSF!

Before the Lapua Cup, on the 17-18th July, the Estonian Shooting Sport Federation organised the 5th Ranno Krusta Memorial in Rapid Fire Pistol. Ranno Krusta was on one of the best Estonian coaches of all time. Krusta coached f.ex. Olympic shooter Peeter Olesk, who defended his last year victory. And he did it well by winning the competition

French Theo Moczko won the Centre Fire Pistol

The first Lapua Cup event was the Centre Fire Pistol. After the Presicion stage France had a double leading: Kevin Chapon on the top position with result 294 -15x(inner tens). Only one point behind was his Chapons´s teammate Theo Moczko (293-15x) and one the third position Lapua Cup rookie Özgur Varlik (TUR), with result of 291-13x.

In the Rapid Stage Moczko continued his strong performance by shooting his season best result 585 – 29x (293+292) and took the clear victory. Chapon didn´t manage do his best and he finally dropped on to the fourth place with result 579-19x(294+285). Latvian Lauris Starumanis passed Chapon with the better number of inner tens (21) and won bronze. Silver won Ruslan Lunev (AZE) who shot into the last serie perfect 100. His silver result was 581-23x(287+294).

France best in Centre Fire Pistol teams

France was even superior in the team competition by winning Team Estonia I by 24 points. Their victory result was 1735. The victory team consisted of Theo Moczko (585), Kevin Chapon (579) and Yann Fridrici (571).

Second was Estonian Team 1 with result 1711(Olesk, Virolainen, Raukas) and bronze team was Finland (Voutilainen, Talvitie, Savola).

Estonian Team II leading the 25m Mixed Pairs

Hosting country Estonia is leading after the precision stage the Mixed pairs. Team consists of Triin Kuusik and Erik Amann. Their leading result is 382 (193-3x + 189-2x). Only two points behind is Latvian Team II(Starumanis – Alksnina) with 380. On the third position after the first day Estonian Team IV with result 379(Kirss-Tabur). 

On Sunday the pairs will shoot the rapid stage. There were totally 10 teams participating to the 25m Pistol Mixed Pairs, which is the record number of participation.

Risto Aarrekivi

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