A TEENAGER from Whitchurch will represent his nation next month in Italy at the European Shooting Championships.

Arran Eccleston, 18, will take his place in the Great Britain junior team in Lonato, competing along side the senior team, whose roster includes two Olympians.

Arran received the call up after achieving consecutive personal bests in the last two Great Britain Olympic Skeet Selection shoots, in which he took a gold and a silver.

This call up also comes after representing England in the Home Internationals held in Northern Ireland on August 10, where he was part of the winning senior team.

Arran's father Darran said his son is delighted to received the call up.

"Arran was over the moon to be informed by British Shooting that he had been selected to represent Great Britain in the European Championships," said Darran.

"Earlier this year Arran changed his personal coach and began training with two time Olympian and Commonwealth games gold medalist Richard Brickell, and has seen his performances go from strength to strength.

"This accumulated in the most recent Great Britain Selection shoot in early August were he shot his PB of 118/125 to take gold.

"This score is also a minimum qualifying score (MQS) for British Shooting Juniors and Arran is now one of only two juniors in the country to hold an MQS.

"These recent results have now qualified Arran in first place for the televised end of year grand final to be held a Fauxdegla Shooting Ground, Wrexham at the end of September."