ROYSTON marksman Chris Hector collected gold and bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia. The 37-year-old, of Palace Gardens, won the 50m rifle prone pairs on Saturday, before picking up a bronze in Monday's 50m rifle 3 positions.

ROYSTON marksman Chris Hector collected gold and bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia. The 37-year-old, of Palace Gardens, won the 50m rifle prone pairs on Saturday, before picking up a bronze in Monday's 50m rifle 3 positions. The result means that Hector has gone one better than in the 2002 Games in Manchester, when he won silver and bronze. With Hector having now competed in five successive Games, this week's triumphs leave him one medal short of equalling the English record of 13 medals in the Commonwealths. The record is shared between his team-mate Mark Gault and swimmer Karen Pickering. Hector is due to compete in the 50m Three Position Rifle Singles tonight (Thursday) as he looks to grab a share of the record. Hector partnered Mike Babb from Macclesfield for his gold medal on Saturday, and the pair edged out Scotland to take England's first shooting medal of the championship. The pair won with a score of 1182 - three clear of Scotland, who took silver, while bronze went to Wales. Hector admitted that the victory had been a nerve-wracking experience, adding: "The previous day Mike and I had discussed the wind conditions and tactics. "We agreed to be patient and shoot straight, waiting for the right wind conditions. "I thought our medal chances had disappeared in that last 10 minutes. I put my gun down and my heart sank as I saw perfect wind conditions on the range. If only I'd been more patient. "I turned round to try to find a friendly face. Robin my coach was there nodding. 'I think that's enough', he said, "I looked up and saw Mike and I in second and third place, and knew as a pair we had got the gold. It was like a rollercoaster." Hector and Jason Burrage took bronze in the men's 50m rifle 3 positions. The pair won silver in the same event in Manchester four years ago. Despite his experience, Hector revealed he battled to keep his cool during the competition. "I was trying so hard to keep it together at the end," he said. "It was exhausting out there. You have to keep your energy levels up. I felt elation when I realised we got the bronze." Hector also competed in events on Tuesday and Wednesday, but failed to finish in the medal positions.