A CLAY pigeon shooter from Ramsbottom will join Team England's squad for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Triple British shooting Champion Jack Fairclough, aged 20, said it was a 'huge honour' to be selected to compete in Australia.

The former Bury Grammar School (BGS) pupil is one of just 11 shotgun shooters who will stand for Team England.

Jack is ranked number one in both seniors and under-21s in England for 2017, as well as among the top five in Europe for under-21s.

He is also the current British Record Holder for International and Domestic High Score in Olympic Skeet.

Jack said: "I am delighted to have qualified in first place after the Team England qualification shoots.

"To be selected for the Commonwealth Games 2018 for my country is a huge honour and I cannot wait to go back to Australia and compete again on the new range in Brisbane.

"I have been really pleased with my shooting this year. I shot the test event in Brisbane last month, winning the shoot off against the Australian Olympians to finish the qualifying in first place. I was thrilled to take home the silver medal in a great final."

Jack, a member of British Shooting's Elite World Class Programme, has also been selected to shoot for the Great Britain Team in the World Cups in Mexico and Korea.

Jack joined BGS Sixth Form in 2014, and was supported by the school to pursue shooting alongside Chemistry, Maths and Biology A level.

The straight A-grade student is now studying Real Estate at The Royal Agriculture University alongside his shooting.

"I hadn't had a chance to do much training going into the competitions as my lecture timetable at university is pretty intense", Jack said.

He added: "I drew on the time management skills I picked up at BGS when I was juggling my A level timetable with my shooting and so far it seems to work.

"My teachers at BGS were a great support in my final year, letting me have time off to shoot at competitions and train. They helped me with any catch up I needed to do."

Bury Grammar School Boys' headmaster Devin Cassidy, who taught Jack Chemistry A Level class, said: "We are very proud of Jack's achievement but never doubted that he would be so successful.

"His achievements in the classroom were also superb and evidence of what can be achieved with the right work ethic."

Jack's accuracy and concentration will be called upon as the squad tackle four shooting disciplines - Fullbore, Pistol, Rifle and Shotgun - for Team England.

The Games take place in the Belmont Shooting Centre, in Brisbane, between April 8 and 14.