Student wins silver at British Championship

The second-year LLB (Hons) Law student is a member of the British Shooting Talent Squad, and her latest achievement follows a strong 2025 season in which she secured double bronze at the English Championships in both the junior and open categories.

Although Sophie only began competing internationally this academic year, she is already making her mark on the global stage. She is currently first in Airoshoot, which has qualified her for the Super Final in Belgium. This May, she will compete in the IRS Cup in Belgium, with sights set on qualifying for in the University World Games in Chinese Taipei this October, and the Walther Youth Cup in Serbia in November.

Reflecting on her progress, Sophie says, “This academic year, I began my international career in Luxembourg and, having come through the GB talent pathway, I now feel I truly belong within that group. Representing my country is always an honour, and these experiences have built my resilience and confidence to overcome any challenges, so I’m excited for what the rest of the year has to offer.”

Sophie was first introduced to shooting through Scouts, where she began using sporter air rifles, before going on to become a two-time Junior British Champion. She has since transitioned into Olympic air rifle shooting, continuing to progress rapidly at national and international level.

Alongside her sporting commitments, Sophie is working towards her ambition of becoming a family law solicitor. Balancing elite-level competition with a demanding degree can be challenging, but support from Solent’s Sport Excellence Programme is helping her thrive both academically and athletically.

Since joining the Programme, Sophie has achieved four personal bests in competition and eight in training. “Balancing training, competitions and a Law degree can be challenging,” she says, “but the support from the Sport Excellence Programme and my University lecturers is helping me succeed in both,” she says.

Tailored to students’ individual goals, Solent’s Sport Excellence Programme offers expert guidance, dual-career support and a high-performance environment. Student-athletes can also access financial bursaries ranging from £1,000 to £5,000, alongside state-of-the-art training facilities. Selected athletes receive additional support including strength and conditioning, sports therapy, psychology, nutrition and sport science testing.

The Sport Excellence Team at Solent are immensely proud of Sophie’s achievements. Kelly Simm, Athlete Support Officer, says, “Sophie has made a massive amount of progress in her sport over the past year. After just missing out on being selected for the Sport Excellence Programme last year, she demonstrated exceptional commitment and resilience to come back stronger and earn her place this year.

“She has gone from strength to strength as an athlete, excelling at British Shooting camps and competitions, all while balancing the significant demands of her law degree. Alongside her academic and sporting achievements, Sophie has also represented both the University and the Programme through open days, university podcasts and more. She is a brilliant example of a dual-career athlete, and we are excited to see what she will achieve in the months ahead.”

Photo credit: Eleanor Shorey