SALE sharp shooter Michael Chinnery has been selected for the Great Britain under-21 pistol shooting squad despite being able to see out of only one eye.

However, the impressive St. Ambrose College 14-year-old, said: “It's not a disadvantage - it's actually in my favour. I don't get double vision when I look down the barrel for a long time.”

Michael, 14, began shooting after a taster session with the scouts aged only eight-years-old and has since peformed superbly both for the scouts and for The Altrincham Rifle and Pistol Club in a series of local, regional and national competitions.

Michael, who uses a top of the range Olympic class Feinwerkbau p 44 pistol which he keeps permanently under lock and key, said: “You have to be extremely concentrated, very patient and disciplined and above all cool, calm and calculating. It's simply not a sport for hot heads.”

He is currently training with the GB squad awaiting his first competition and hopes to be able to travel throughout Europe in the international series.

He said: “Ultimately I would love to go to the Olympics, but the standard is exceptional at that level and there will be a lot more work ahead of me.”

Michael, who wants to combine his love of shooting with a career in engineering, added: “I'd like to thank my parents who have been wonderfully supportive and without whom I could have made the national team.”