A SHARP-SHOOTING local markswoman is to represent England in the Commonwealth Games.

Helen Vincent, from Oswaldtwistle, will take part in the Women's Prone 50-metre rifle event when the Games kick-off next week.

And, according to her coach husband James, she a great chance of winning a medal.

Helen, who is sales administrator and credit controller at Isothane near Accrington, took up the sport when she was doing her Duke of Edinburgh Gold award back in the mid 80s and also met James, an IT specialist with local accountancy firm PM&M, through the scheme.

She said: "I chose marksmanship as one of the options for the award and James was my coach at the Rifle club.

"We got married in 1990 and though James carried on with the sport, I didn't really take it up again seriously until about five years ago."

A member of the British team for four years, Helen won her event in the English Championships earlier this year and will shoot in the pairs category on July 30 and the individual competition on August 3 on the new Malcolm Cooper Range at the National Shooting Centre in Bisley, Surrey.

She already spends two full days practising each week and will add a further three sessions during the week leading up to the Games.

On top of that, she has to find time for fitness training too.

Helen said: "You don't need big muscles, but it is important to have stamina, cardiovascular fitness and to be supple. People assume that it's all about having a steady hand and good eyesight, but there's an awful lot more involved, especially in the mental preparation."

Each competition lasts for one and a quarter hours, with 10 minutes' preparation.

Once the clock starts, Helen will spend time sighting, taking into account weather and wind conditions, until she is confident that she has everything right.

Once she presses the electronic match button she has to fire 60 shots which count to her final score, all within the allotted time.

And thanks to James' employer PM&M, which has offices in Burnley, Nelson and Clitheroe, she won't run out of ammunition either.

She explained: "I was thrilled when Jeremy Stirrup, the senior partner, offered to sponsor me with 5000 rounds. It means a lot to have that support because shooting is not exactly high-profile when compared to the popular events like athletics.

Stirrup said: "We felt that Helen really deserved our help through sponsorship -- the minority sports always seem to be overlooked.

"Our only concern is that next time James says that he might get shot if he is late home, it might be with PM&M ammunition!

"We are all willing Helen to turn our lead into gold!"

Helen added: "I'm coming into form and really looking forward to the matches. Shooting, like any other sport at this level, is very much a mind game. You have to believe that you will win to be able to win. I think my chances are pretty good." she admits, cautiously.