Mike Wixey will have bragging rights in his Abergavenny home when he returns from the Gold Coast having out-gunned his wife, Sarah, by trumping her shooting bronze with a magnificent gold in the men’s Olympic trap.
Shooting at his fifth Games for Wales, the 46-year-old Wixey was inspired by Sarah’s bronze the previous day in the women’s event, but went even higher on the medal rostrum as he beat England’s Aaron Heading in the final with a score of 46/50 to win by three shots.
He won a bronze at Manchester in 2002 in the Clay Pigeon Trap Pairs, but proved his gold medal potential for 2018 when he picked up a silver medal at the Commonwealth Shooting Championships at the Games venue in November.
Self-coached, Wixey has represented GB at numerous World Cups and European Championships, but this was the biggest day in the career of the Tata Steel engineering director who was first introduced to the sport by his dad, who owned and ran a small shooting ground, at the age of nine.
“It feels fantastic and it is still sinking in,” said Wixey, 46.
“I have been shooting very well and I knew I was in with a chance. I was in first place in qualification going into the final and I was just very determined to go for a medal and come away with the gold. It clearly worked out for me.”
It was a second family medal in 24 hours and a fifth shooting podium position for Wales on the Gold Coast.
“We had a brief celebration after Sarah’s medal last night and we will do that properly now,” said Wixey.
“The Welsh team has won five medals and done very well indeed and I think it’s the best Games ever for Welsh shooting.”
Gareth Morris and Chris Watson, who won shooting silver in the Queens Prize Pairs, couldn’t add to their medal tally in the individual event.
Morris finished 10th, while Watson was 16th. Mike Bamsey failed to qualify for the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions final, placing ninth.