0:00:02 > 0:00:05We follow clay pigeon shooter John MacDonald,
0:00:05 > 0:00:07from the Highlands of Scotland to Delhi...
0:00:07 > 0:00:10- Pretty much a dream come true, here. - ..and beyond...
0:00:10 > 0:00:12It's just dawned on me where I am.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15..as he strives to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17You can see how much it does mean.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19My main thing is just never give up.
0:00:40 > 0:00:4431-year-old John MacDonald, also known as Shonnie,
0:00:44 > 0:00:47is one of Scotland's top clay pigeon shooters.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51He lives in Acharacle in the West Highlands
0:00:51 > 0:00:55where he runs a deer stalking and venison business.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59Shonnie's family is hugely important to him.
0:00:59 > 0:01:03He lives with his girlfriend, Emma, and two minutes from his father,
0:01:03 > 0:01:06Fergie - the well known traditional musician -
0:01:06 > 0:01:08his mum, Maureen, and sister, Morven.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11He regularly plays in the family band.
0:01:12 > 0:01:13You're getting better, boy.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18With very little financial backing,
0:01:18 > 0:01:22Shonnie has to work full time to fund his passion - shooting.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26Shonnie is about to embark on a momentous 18 months
0:01:26 > 0:01:30as he tries to hard to represent Team GB in the London Olympics 2012.
0:01:33 > 0:01:38I had my first shot of a shotgun, I think I was about eight year old.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41We put a... I think it was a can of Coke up
0:01:41 > 0:01:45and I blew the can off the post, that was the first shot I ever had.
0:01:45 > 0:01:50When he was two, we bought him a gun and we put a cork in it
0:01:50 > 0:01:54and he used to sit in the pram and the flies on the roof -
0:01:54 > 0:01:57at two, he would plaster them.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00So he was two when he fired his first shot.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05As a youngster, he was an awesome shot
0:02:05 > 0:02:07and in fact was the Scottish champion.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09When he was 15 years old -
0:02:09 > 0:02:12not Scottish junior champion, he was the Scottish champion.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15He beat all the best shooters in Scotland.
0:02:17 > 0:02:18Shooting is in Shonnie's blood.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22His grandfather was a renowned sniper in World War I.
0:02:22 > 0:02:27They were sniping in no man's land, which must have been horrendous.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30His parents are also accomplished shooters.
0:02:30 > 0:02:36As far as Scotland goes, Fergie here was shooting for the men.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38Maureen here, she was in the ladies' squad.
0:02:38 > 0:02:43Then we've got John here. So that's Mum, Dad and John.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45It's a very family thing.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47I won a lot as a junior,
0:02:47 > 0:02:52I lost interest and I went for things like football and stuff.
0:02:52 > 0:02:53Just a few year ago there,
0:02:53 > 0:02:57I thought I'd go back and just have a go at it.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01Ranking wise, I'm lying in second position at the moment,
0:03:01 > 0:03:04obviously there's room for improvement.
0:03:06 > 0:03:11In terms of the Scotland team, at the moment I'm lying first
0:03:11 > 0:03:15so that's putting me right in line for the Commonwealth Games in India.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22In Great Britain, to qualify for the team, we have five selection shoots.
0:03:22 > 0:03:24There's none in Scotland, sadly,
0:03:24 > 0:03:28so they're all kind of away games for us, if we think about it like that.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32What people tend not to realise is that being away,
0:03:32 > 0:03:34as far up here as we are,
0:03:34 > 0:03:37I'm probably the first to leave of any of the shooters
0:03:37 > 0:03:39and probably the last to return.
0:03:39 > 0:03:44Shonnie has broken into this rich man's sport
0:03:44 > 0:03:47and is now shooting on the world stage.
0:03:47 > 0:03:52However, his financial circumstances dictate the number of competitions he can attend.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56People don't actually grasp how differently we live up here, really.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00When I'm away at these shoots, tensed up, needing to clear your mind,
0:04:00 > 0:04:02you think of good things.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05One of those things is always being with the deer.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08Away from the deer here, I always miss my stalking.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12It's quite hard to say that you miss your work
0:04:12 > 0:04:16but it's always good, returning home to it.
0:04:16 > 0:04:21Shonnie regularly goes stalking with long-term friend and mentor, Angus MacLean.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24Since Johnny was able to walk, he was coming up the hill,
0:04:24 > 0:04:30and now, of course, he's of course 150% better than me at it,
0:04:30 > 0:04:32but he's younger.
0:04:32 > 0:04:38It doesn't really matter what he does, it's 150% all the time.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40But you would never know it
0:04:40 > 0:04:43because he would be the last person to say anything.
0:04:43 > 0:04:48(That's them, they're in between these two hills ahead of us here.)
0:04:55 > 0:04:59People probably see me at home with all the pet deer thinking,
0:04:59 > 0:05:03"How on earth can he possibly kill an animal as beautiful as a deer?"
0:05:03 > 0:05:05And they are beautiful, but it's my work.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08As you can see, first class.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12And it doesn't matter what he does, whether it's shooting
0:05:12 > 0:05:15or playing music, he's got great things ahead of him.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18Shonnie leaves the hills of Moidart behind
0:05:18 > 0:05:22and turns his attentions to his first World Cup in Dorset, England.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25Each World Cup offers international shooters the chance
0:05:25 > 0:05:28to win an Olympic quota place for their country.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31A quota place guarantees that someone from that country
0:05:31 > 0:05:33will compete in the 2012 Olympics.
0:05:45 > 0:05:49At this World Cup, he's competing against people
0:05:49 > 0:05:54who've been competing at a world level, sometimes for 20 years.
0:05:54 > 0:05:58So for a wee boy from Acharacle, it's quite a thing to think about.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00Shooters will compete over two days,
0:06:00 > 0:06:03participating in three rounds per day.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05They will shoot 25 targets per round,
0:06:05 > 0:06:08getting two attempts to hit each clay.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11The boys that are shooting, they have a laugh -
0:06:11 > 0:06:15every time I appear at a shoot, I've got someone different with me.
0:06:15 > 0:06:21Not women, normally, but Mum comes with me, Dad comes with me, Emma.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24The first time I ever came to the selection shoots,
0:06:24 > 0:06:26it was my sister, Morven.
0:06:26 > 0:06:31It good having that, especially Emma, we're close, we get on well.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35Chocolate brownies, made on the premises.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38I need that for my shooting, that's part of my routine.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41She makes them... Even if she's not with me, she makes a box, don't you?
0:06:41 > 0:06:43Aye, which your dad was loving last time.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45He ate more than I did.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47"That brownie, I just love it, Emma."
0:06:47 > 0:06:50It's about the worst thing you could possibly eat
0:06:50 > 0:06:53but for the purposes of sport, I guess it's allowed.
0:06:53 > 0:06:57It's about the only time you're allowed something like that.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00Whether it's right or not, it works for me.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04I think you like eating it and using that as a good excuse,
0:07:04 > 0:07:05that's what I think.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07But it's damn good brownie.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10You need strong support in the background.
0:07:10 > 0:07:12There's a lot of women whose husbands shoot
0:07:12 > 0:07:17and what they don't get on well with is the fact that their husband
0:07:17 > 0:07:20loves something more than he loves them, and that causes a lot...
0:07:20 > 0:07:23And of course, it's expensive. Any athlete, it's the same.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27If the person that's with them doesn't want to go along...
0:07:27 > 0:07:28well, I'm sorry.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32Like it or lump it, it's a case of just get on with it.
0:07:32 > 0:07:33"Bye-bye, John."
0:07:34 > 0:07:39John, of course, manages this between rounds properly.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41The coolest person you could come across.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44Aye, but it's like the old swan on the surface of the water -
0:07:44 > 0:07:47you don't know what's going on with his feet.
0:07:47 > 0:07:48The feet below.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52He's a strong man, mentally, and that's what you've got to be.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56I suppose in his genetic make-up, with the father that he has
0:07:56 > 0:07:59and the grandfather that he has, and whatever else,
0:07:59 > 0:08:01it's just in him, aye.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06After a disappointing first day, day two starts well,
0:08:06 > 0:08:10with Shonnie shooting 24 clays out of 25 in his first round.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14However, he's beginning to realise how stiff the competition really is.
0:08:14 > 0:08:15It's a complete eye-opener -
0:08:15 > 0:08:19you've got to come here to see the best in the world,
0:08:19 > 0:08:23and they really are - averaging 24s, 25s all the time.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27In order to compete against that, that's what I've got to step up to.
0:08:27 > 0:08:2925 straight, can't complain at that.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35Shonnie is delighted with full marks for round two.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41Can he maintain his performance and make the final?
0:08:49 > 0:08:50Very proud.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54Shot as well as I could have hoped for.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57Well, at least I've got the backing there, anyway, eh?
0:08:59 > 0:09:01Despite not making the final,
0:09:01 > 0:09:06Shonnie leaves Dorset with an impressive 118 out of 125.
0:09:06 > 0:09:11It's been four months since the World Cup in Dorset.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14Shonnie is now ranking UK number one.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16However, he has had little time to think about
0:09:16 > 0:09:20or practice for the imminent Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23I've been three years building up to the Commonwealth Games
0:09:23 > 0:09:25and then they hit you with a date.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28You couldn't have picked three worse weeks in the year for me.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31I've been working up until the last minute here,
0:09:31 > 0:09:33flat out with the deer stalking.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36Once I got the last stag this morning, hanged it up
0:09:36 > 0:09:39and now I'm switched off from work and everything.
0:09:39 > 0:09:45I've organised it pretty well for the thing to run smoothly while I'm away
0:09:45 > 0:09:47so that should do, it should be fine.
0:09:47 > 0:09:52But it's just focusing now on Delhi and everything that's going to be
0:09:52 > 0:09:54thrown at me over the next three weeks.
0:09:54 > 0:09:59I spent a day and a half trying to install all this myself
0:09:59 > 0:10:02and I'm certainly no electrician or engineer.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07Putting it into perspective, I've got that here.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11Giovanni Pellielo - arguably the best shot that's ever shot Olympic trap -
0:10:11 > 0:10:15he's got his own 15-trap set-up, proper thing at home in Italy,
0:10:15 > 0:10:18so that's what I'm competing against.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21But in all honestly, I'm quite lucky
0:10:21 > 0:10:24because not many people can come out into their back garden
0:10:24 > 0:10:26and have a shot when they feel like it.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28I don't need a lot of practice,
0:10:28 > 0:10:30I just need a wee bit to keep my eye in.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33The top guys in the world,
0:10:33 > 0:10:37they're probably using 40,000 cartridges a year.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39This year - I just clocked it up, there.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43After the Commonwealth Games, it will be about 6,500 cartridges.
0:10:45 > 0:10:49That's the difference in a full-time shot and a part-time shot.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56I just try and compete with what I've got, you know?
0:10:56 > 0:11:00I've had a good year - this summer, I've been shooting for the British team,
0:11:00 > 0:11:02I've made it to number one in GB now,
0:11:02 > 0:11:06so all these wee things are just backing me up.
0:11:06 > 0:11:10But coming back and getting a chance to shoot for your own country,
0:11:10 > 0:11:12that's the pinnacle of it all.
0:11:12 > 0:11:17No-one's ever - from Scotland - come away with a medal.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19I'm confident I'll get a medal, yeah.
0:11:22 > 0:11:23Roll on Delhi, aye.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27Hours before Shonnie is due to fly to Delhi,
0:11:27 > 0:11:32he is still entertaining a shooting party from Germany.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34I'll certainly miss all this, yeah.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38It's the first time ever I've been away during the hunting season
0:11:38 > 0:11:41so if I come back with a gold medal, I'll be happy enough so.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46All the other events that I've shot this year,
0:11:46 > 0:11:49the big events, I've switched off, you know?
0:11:49 > 0:11:52No bother at all, it's been no problem.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55But this is a special time of year because of the feeling you get
0:11:55 > 0:11:58when the stags are rutting, the roaring's going -
0:11:58 > 0:12:00it's a great time of year.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02- Are you getting excited now, John?- Not really, no.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06- Oh, you are!- I'm not! It's everyone else who's getting hyped!
0:12:17 > 0:12:20With his business in safe hands,
0:12:20 > 0:12:22Shonnie turns his attention to packing.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27- There's your fudge brownie. - Oh, well.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29Oh is that... There's not more than that, no?
0:12:29 > 0:12:33- I can't fit anymore, unless you want the huge, big...?- Maybe, aye.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37I'm hoping he's OK away from home, because he's a bit of a home bird.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41It's not really in John to be going to Delhi and things like that.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44The most important thing of the lot would be the kilt.
0:12:44 > 0:12:49That's obviously for the opening ceremony and the closing ceremony
0:12:49 > 0:12:52and to woo the women as well, you know?
0:12:52 > 0:12:56He thinks I'm going to miss him so much when he's away
0:12:56 > 0:12:59but he's got another thing coming.
0:13:00 > 0:13:01All the best.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04It's 5am and Shonnie says his goodbyes
0:13:04 > 0:13:06before heading to Glasgow Airport.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11- And phone us. - Aye, I will do, aye.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13Remember us, here.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16Won't be doing that to Emma.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20Medal. Definite. If not, doesn't matter.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22Right, off you go, now.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24Right, good luck.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29BEEPING
0:13:29 > 0:13:32I can't believe it, I can't believe that's him
0:13:32 > 0:13:37away to the Commonwealth really, but, yeah, very proud.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42I'm really proud of him, really proud.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44Good to see him in the uniform
0:13:44 > 0:13:49and just hope that he does his best and I know he's capable of doing it.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52Can't get a better day to leave Moidart, anyway.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56The stags were roaring last night so they were saying goodbye to you.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58That's a good memory to take with us.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03Once you get across the ferry, for me, that's it,
0:14:03 > 0:14:04switch off and away we go.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20This is the best team we've had for many, many years.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23If they do not win a medal, I will be amazed.
0:14:33 > 0:14:34It's exciting, isn't it?
0:14:40 > 0:14:42Don't get shot.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44Who's going to shoot me?
0:14:44 > 0:14:47I don't know. Somebody might shoot you.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49Good luck with everything.
0:14:49 > 0:14:50Bye, babe.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52You'll be fine. I love you.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01When I come back down that one, I'll have a medal.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34This is six days we've been here, our cartridges haven't arrived
0:15:34 > 0:15:38so it's a bit of a nightmare, we can't really train.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40I haven't been feeling very good at all.
0:15:40 > 0:15:44In terms of thinking about home, it's pretty hard, actually.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47I'm missing it like hell, in all honesty.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50Here we are on day seven.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53It's been, pretty much, the most difficult one yet.
0:15:53 > 0:15:57Although I'm not meant to know what's going on back home,
0:15:57 > 0:15:58Andy, my best friend,
0:15:58 > 0:16:01who's helping me out with the stalking while I'm away,
0:16:01 > 0:16:04there was bad news about his wife - she was rushed to hospital -
0:16:04 > 0:16:08so obviously that leaves everyone with a bit of a problem at home.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11I've been thinking about it all last night, too, so in all honesty,
0:16:11 > 0:16:13I never got a wink of sleep.
0:16:14 > 0:16:18We've got a big day tomorrow, we've got the opening ceremony,
0:16:18 > 0:16:22so everyone at home, hopefully, will be watching that
0:16:22 > 0:16:24and maybe see me, somewhere.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28Here we go.
0:16:37 > 0:16:42Absolutely fantastic, great feeling, what an atmosphere - wow.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47Pretty much a dream come true, here.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58Despite missing out on a bronze for the pairs shooting round
0:16:58 > 0:17:03by just one target, Shonnie's overall solo attempts
0:17:03 > 0:17:06were disappointing and he failed to qualify for the final.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10Still feeling unwell and struggling to manage difficulties at home,
0:17:10 > 0:17:12Shonnie flew back a week earlier than expected
0:17:12 > 0:17:15without a medal for Scotland.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17Reflecting on the year that's gone,
0:17:17 > 0:17:21it's been, in all honesty, an amazing year for me.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24I've been in certain corners of the world that I would never,
0:17:24 > 0:17:28ever have dreamed that I would have been there,
0:17:28 > 0:17:32so it's opened my eyes up to the world a hell of a lot.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34My first plan was to, obviously,
0:17:34 > 0:17:39represent Scotland at the Commonwealths, which I've achieved.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41Not as well as I should have,
0:17:41 > 0:17:44but it was a good achievement even being there.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48Really, the Olympics would be the ultimate goal,
0:17:48 > 0:17:54and knowing what I'm capable of, I feel that it's something I can grasp.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58It's a big year ahead. Once I came back from the Commonwealth Games,
0:17:58 > 0:18:02I wanted to rid myself of the whole thing and I want to start fresh.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04With the turn of the year now,
0:18:04 > 0:18:09adrenaline's going and it's just starting to wind up a bit more now.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13The nearer I get to Sydney, that's when I'll really start drawing in.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15I guess everybody gets homesick to a degree,
0:18:15 > 0:18:17but I love my home more than anything.
0:18:17 > 0:18:21The more I'm away and the more of these events I'm at,
0:18:21 > 0:18:24I'll hopefully get better at being away.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30The home of MacDonald, there it is.
0:18:30 > 0:18:35It's scenes like that that really spur you on and give you heart.
0:18:35 > 0:18:40It's been the breeding ground for many a good murderer and so on, so...
0:18:40 > 0:18:42HE LAUGHS
0:18:42 > 0:18:44..hopefully it will be a breeding ground
0:18:44 > 0:18:47for a good Olympian sportsman from Moidart.
0:18:51 > 0:18:55On Hogmanay, the family prepare for their annual gig.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57- Are we going in then, aye?- Yeah.
0:18:57 > 0:19:02I said a seat right by the stage, so I can keep an eye on you.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04You should be as far away as possible,
0:19:04 > 0:19:08- so I can look at all the birds.- Aye, I'll be watching that roaming eye.
0:19:08 > 0:19:13It's normally just Hugh, Dad and myself when he's away gallivanting.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15Even if there's no medals to come home,
0:19:15 > 0:19:17we're very proud that he's there,
0:19:17 > 0:19:21representing Scotland and Britain at everything that he does.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24We get by, but it's nice when he's here, it's nice when he is back.
0:19:35 > 0:19:40So many things have happened this year, it's been absolutely incredible.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42The Commonwealth Games, becoming number one in Britain,
0:19:42 > 0:19:45it's been absolutely amazing - amazing.
0:19:48 > 0:19:542011, I would say a diamond ring and quota place for Sydney!
0:19:54 > 0:19:55Slainte mhor!
0:19:55 > 0:20:00Three, two, one, happy new year!
0:20:02 > 0:20:06BAGPIPES PLAY
0:20:12 > 0:20:15Shonnie travels to the other side of the world
0:20:15 > 0:20:19to represent Team GB at the World Cup in Sydney, Australia.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26Due to financial reasons, like Delhi, once again
0:20:26 > 0:20:29Shonnie is travelling without Emma or the family to support him.
0:20:36 > 0:20:40The Olympic team will be selected, really, on the performances
0:20:40 > 0:20:43at the major international overseas events
0:20:43 > 0:20:45leading up to the Olympic Games.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48This is the second World Cup of four this year,
0:20:48 > 0:20:50each World Cup having two quota slots.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53The big thing now is to win the second quota place
0:20:53 > 0:20:55which will then mean that two shooters
0:20:55 > 0:20:58will represent Great Britain at the Olympic Games.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01This is very important - very important indeed.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06After spending the week acclimatising
0:21:06 > 0:21:11and getting over jet lag, the three-day competition gets underway.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15Shonnie will shoot a total of 125 clays over three days.
0:21:15 > 0:21:19He will compete in five rounds, each worth 25 points,
0:21:19 > 0:21:24with the hope of winning a place at the coveted final at the end of the competition.
0:21:26 > 0:21:27A bit of a nasty start.
0:21:27 > 0:21:32Halfway through the round, Shonnie decides to change his technique.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34I started looking higher. It felt absolutely great.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38You'll not notice anything, unless I stand on one leg
0:21:38 > 0:21:41or pull my shorts down at the back a wee bit. HE LAUGHS
0:21:43 > 0:21:45At this level, it's not good enough.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48If I've got any chance of doing it, I'll probably have to shoot
0:21:48 > 0:21:53pretty much straight now. There's a team talk at 6:30 tonight
0:21:53 > 0:21:57and those of us who need our bums smacked or booted will get that.
0:22:05 > 0:22:06After a disappointing first day,
0:22:06 > 0:22:11the pressure is mounting for Shonnie to up his game.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13- How are you?- Tired. And you?
0:22:27 > 0:22:3023, 22, 22 - not good enough.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33It's unlikely now that I would ever get near the final,
0:22:33 > 0:22:37but back to the drawing board - never give up.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40# I guess it's still worth fighting for... #
0:22:41 > 0:22:46On a rare afternoon away from the ground, Shonnie has time to reflect.
0:22:46 > 0:22:51It's kind of just dawned on me where I am after 11 days.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53It really is spectacular.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56I wish I was standing here knowing that I'd shot
0:22:56 > 0:22:59probably 74 out of 75 and then I would be pretty happy.
0:23:00 > 0:23:05This is great just to see, but that's as far as it would ever go.
0:23:05 > 0:23:10I wouldn't swap my humble little abode at home with the deer surrounding us
0:23:10 > 0:23:13and whatnot, so, no, definitely not.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20Is that you, Ems? I know you're asleep, but I had to phone you.
0:23:20 > 0:23:25I'm down at the Sydney Bridge and the Opera House and that just now.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28It would be nice if you were here. Maybe I'd shoot better.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31Yeah, I love you, too. Get back to sleep now.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33Bye, Emma.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35Bye.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41She's wishing she was here. Quite sad, though, eh?
0:23:50 > 0:23:53After shooting 45 out of 50 on day one
0:23:53 > 0:23:55and 22 out of 25 on day two,
0:23:55 > 0:23:59has Shonnie's sightseeing trip revitalised him
0:23:59 > 0:24:04for the all-important day three - his last chance to make the final?
0:24:09 > 0:24:1624, so it seems too little, too late,
0:24:16 > 0:24:18but if I can finish on a high, anyway,
0:24:18 > 0:24:21that's something to take to the next place, wherever I go.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38APPLAUSE
0:24:38 > 0:24:41Another 24, so it's pretty cool.
0:24:41 > 0:24:45You know, your back's to the wall and then you pull that out of the bag.
0:24:45 > 0:24:53Possibly 119 will make the final. I'm 115, so four targets off that,
0:24:53 > 0:24:58which as I say, is not disastrous, but it's not good enough, basically.
0:24:58 > 0:25:05So next time. Beijing, here we come, all guns blazing.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11John shot very steady. A little bit disappointed, probably,
0:25:11 > 0:25:13with the first couple of rounds,
0:25:13 > 0:25:16but as the competition went on
0:25:16 > 0:25:19he got more confident, began to flow,
0:25:19 > 0:25:21and John, you know, has finished
0:25:21 > 0:25:25as the high-scorer of the Great Britain three-man team.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27Yeah, he's a consistent performer.
0:25:27 > 0:25:32Despite shooting the best score out of the GB team,
0:25:32 > 0:25:35it wasn't enough for Shonnie to win the quota place for Team GB.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38The saying that rings in my mind is,
0:25:38 > 0:25:42"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."
0:25:42 > 0:25:45That's how I kind of... how I view things and move on.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51Following another World Cup in Beijing and some important UK selection shoots,
0:25:51 > 0:25:55the GB rankings have now been reordered.
0:25:56 > 0:25:57It's not good news for Shonnie.
0:25:57 > 0:26:01He is now sitting at number four in the UK,
0:26:01 > 0:26:05one short of the all-important top three which make up Team GB
0:26:05 > 0:26:09for the next round of World Cups and the last remaining chances
0:26:09 > 0:26:12of winning a crucial quota place that would allow two shooters
0:26:12 > 0:26:15to represent Great Britain at the London Olympics.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19He comes to Glasgow to reflect on the last six months.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22This year, I've lived the life of, what I would call a professional shooter,
0:26:22 > 0:26:26to a degree and, actually, it hasn't suited me at all.
0:26:27 > 0:26:33After the Beijing World Cup, I think I was still lying number one.
0:26:33 > 0:26:37We got back and it was the beginning of the British selection shoots,
0:26:37 > 0:26:39and you know, I was confident,
0:26:39 > 0:26:43I felt good going to these things but performed really, really badly.
0:26:43 > 0:26:49It's shot me back out of the team and it's blown my chances
0:26:49 > 0:26:53of everything that I've been hoping for.
0:26:53 > 0:26:58Now, looking at it all, I took away my kind of natural edge
0:26:58 > 0:27:02by practising so much. It was doing probably more harm for me than good.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05For my Olympic dream, anyway, it's looking slim.
0:27:05 > 0:27:09I feel now it's probably too late and I feel that
0:27:09 > 0:27:12I've let everybody down to a degree.
0:27:12 > 0:27:17Realistically, I'm looking at the Commonwealth Games here now in 2014.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21I'm sitting here, all the boys are at the World Championships in Belgrade,
0:27:21 > 0:27:24and you know, there's nothing I can do
0:27:24 > 0:27:26and it is an awful feeling, you know.
0:27:26 > 0:27:30Sadly, this time, I think it's going to get away from me, you know.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43I think you can see how much it does mean.
0:27:44 > 0:27:49If it was my own choice, I wouldn't let this lie,
0:27:49 > 0:27:55and even for the next Olympics,
0:27:55 > 0:28:00I would make it, like. Yeah, definitely.
0:28:00 > 0:28:04In the grand scheme of things, well, to me, it seems very trivial,
0:28:04 > 0:28:07but I guess it's nice as well.
0:28:07 > 0:28:11I've been instructed that I'm the most-successful shooter
0:28:11 > 0:28:15that Scotland's ever had, but at the end of the day it's, for me,
0:28:15 > 0:28:21it's not enough, you know. It'll always be digging at me.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46# Resolute at the threshold
0:28:46 > 0:28:50# Of the North Sea of my mind
0:28:50 > 0:28:53# And a nod to the boredom that drove me here
0:28:53 > 0:28:56# To face the tide and swim... #