‘She’s our little mascot’: Shooting couple say baby daughter helps break the tension between rounds

Shooters Edward and Abbey Ling with baby Amy

Shooters Edward and Abbey Ling have described baby daughter Amy as their “little mascot” for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Edward, 34, has represented Great Britain at three Olympics and his wife has been world team champion twice, but the couple, who married in 2014, have never competed at a major multi-sport games together until now.

Abbey, 30, said one-year-old Amy is “our little mascot. She was only three months old when she went to her first championships. And she was four weeks old when I did my first competitive shoot. She already has her vest and ear defenders. Wherever we have gone, she has gone.”

The shooter, who is from High Wycombe and now lives on the Ling family farm in Somerset, said that even while giving birth she had sport on her mind.

Edward and Abbey Ling have never competed as a couple until this year

“I was in labour and I was thinking, ‘I do not want a C-section as if I do I won’t be shooting in the first selection shoot for the Commonwealth Games’,” she said. “It would have still been possible, but I would have had to make sure the next three were good. So yes, I guess I was still competitive even then.”

The couple — who met through shooting as teenagers with Abbey admitting, “I dumped him at first. I didn’t like him. He was too nice” — said Amy was a welcome presence between rounds during tense shoots. Edward said: “Before, you always had to find ways to distract yourself. Do you play cards? Listen to music? But with a baby time passes fast.”

The couple will encourage Amy to take up the sport. Edward said: “We were at the Perazzi makers in Italy recently and the guy said as soon as she is big enough, he will make her a gun.”

Edward and Abbey Ling described baby Amy as their "little mascot"

Abbey, who will compete on Friday at the Belmont Shooting Centre in Brisbane, was left out of the 2012 London Olympics shooting squad — and did not trial for the Rio 2016 squad.

But she said the experience had made her a better competitor. “I am one of the top shots in Britain, it is just doing it on the day and having that little bit of luck. I never give up,” she said. Edward will be competing on Saturday.

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