ADAM Bagnall has been crowned British champion for the second time.

The 49-year-old from Tyldesley won the FTR shooting title in Bisley, Gloucestershire, at the weekend.

It was the last of seven rounds in long-range full bore rifle shooting this year, with each individual’s best four scores counting in the championship reckoning Distances shot vary between 500 yards and 1,200 yards.

The self-employed internet power seller also won the event in 2010 but lost his crown last year by one point to the current world champion, Russell Simmonds.

Bagnall started competitive shooting 15 years ago.

He has been County of Lancashire Champion several times and was capped to shoot for Great Britain for the first time in 2009.

Bagnall said: “Winning the British Championship is obviously a great feeling, but nothing compared to the pride of wearing a jacket with the Union Flag on it.”

Maintaining his place in the GB ranks has resulted in team gold medals for the last five European Championships.

Next year he will be taking part in the World Championships in America, individually and with the GB team.

Bagnall, a member of the 101 Rifle Club based in Altcar, Formby, practises once a week at a military range and also at the National Shooting Centre in Bisley, Guildford, several times a year.

Such is the range of profile the sport carries across the world, Bagnall admits to being better known globally than within his own country.

He hopes that winning the British title will earn him more sponsorship to continue shooting at the highest level.