Shot to pieces

Richard Faulds' bid to deliver Great Britain's first gold medal of the Olympics foundered in spectacular fashion today after the defending double trap champion failed to even make the final.

Faulds, who won gold in Australia four years ago, began the defence of his crown in the worst possible way, missing nine shots in his opening qualifying round - a poor start from which he could not recover.

Despite staging a brief recovery during his second round - his best spell coming when he took down 13 pairs of targets in a row - Faulds' third-round score of 45 was not enough to earn him qualification.

The 27-year-old finished with a final score of 130 from 150, way out of contention.

Faulds was in confident mood going into the event and hopes were sky-high in the UK that he would lift the gloom caused by the exits of shooting team-mates Ian Peel - the Sydney trap silver medallist, Ed Ling and Sarah Gibbins.

Team GB's shooting medal hopes now lie with Richard Brickell in the skeet and Michael Babb in the 50m rifle prone.