by Alex Hoad at the Royal Artillery Barracks

Gold medal shooting prospect Nathan Milgate was left hugely frustrated after agonisingly missing out on a place in the Paralympic final.

Canterbury-born Milgate, who grew up in Herne Bay, had 60 shots at the target in the R1 10m standing Air Rifle SH1 qualification round at the Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich, on Friday morning, with a maximum 10 points on offer from each shot.

However despite hitting the '10' 48 times, his score of 588 was only good enough for 10th place, with the top eight making the final.

To make matters worse the 25-year-old was just one point behind the two shooters above him, so a distance of a millimetre denied him a place in a shootout for the single spot remaining in the final.

It was a bitter blow for Milgate (pictured), who is World No1 and had hoped to challenge for gold, having missed out on the medals in his Games debut in Beijing four years ago.

The damage was done in the first ‘string’ of 10 shots as the methodical Milgate failed to get to grips with chilly conditions on the range, dropping four points in his first 10 shots.

Milgate admitted: “It’s obviously not the result I’d like. I expected to have shot better, to be in the final and to be up there for the medals.

“Unfortunately the range conditions were not ideal. The temperature was a bit unusual for an air rifle range, very, very cold.

“For me and the style of shooter I am, very slow and relaxed, it didn’t really suit me. I struggled really to get that rhythm and feeling, just from being cold.

“I think it shows that the quickest shooters are the ones at the top of the leaderboard. The less time you spend there and shooting the less cold you get.

“Unfortunately my style of shooting is not like that. I have always been a very slow shooter which didn’t suit today.”

He explained: “I was just a bit tense and tighter than normal and with shooting that’s a sport where being still and having a tight hold really matters.

“When you’re a little bit tense and cold it’s easy to hit the nine unfortunately. It was one of those days.

“I’m annoyed and I’m disappointed but what can you do. It is what it is. Every athlete has the same conditions. You can’t blame the weather.”

Milgate finished strongly with 199 points from a possible 200 in the final third of the competition, however he admitted: “After dropping four points from the first 10 shots you know it’s going to be tough.

“With the calibre of shooters we have here it’s going to be tough to get back from that, and coming into the last 20 shots I knew I would have to shoot well and it was going to be very close whether (my score’s) going to scrape into the final or not. Unfortunately not.”

Milgate must pick himself up quickly as he has the qualification round of the Mixed R3 Prone 10m Air Rifle competition on Saturday lunchtime.

He said: “It’s a learning experience. I’ll bring some hot water bottles and a few other things with me.

“It was frustrating to be so close today but it gives you the kick up the backside that you need sometimes to bounce back tomorrow.

“Tomorrow is a faster event and I have the ability to shoot better and quicker.

“I’ve still got another competition to go, irrespective of whether I had come last or won gold today, and I still want to win.“

Milgate was supported by an army of Union Jack clad friends and family and added: “ It’s a shame they didn’t get to see what I’d want them to see, but that’s sport, that’s the way it goes.”

Of the London 2012 experience he said: “It’s fantastic. Very few of my friends and family have seen me shoot in competition before so it’s a great experience and opportunity for them to see me compete in a home Games.

“The Kent fan club was there and it was a fantastic experience to have them there. “

He also assuaged any concerns about the pressure of a home Games, adding: “For me I know that everbody’s cheering for me. They’re not looking to put me off or put me under pressure, they’re there to cheer me on and support me as much as possible.

“It’s a great help to have them there.”