Seniors, Wellness and Social Development
February 19, 2015

TeamNL Golden Again at 2015 Canada Games

Samantha Marsh Wins Second Gold in Target Shooting

Samantha Marsh has won a second gold medal at the 2015 Canada Winter Games, this time in women�s individual air rifle. Earlier this week, Samantha, along with her teammate Hayley Barrett, won gold in the women�s 10-metre rifle team event. This is Team Newfoundland and Labrador�s fourth medal win at these Games.

�To reach the podium at any Games is a tremendous accomplishment, but to win back-to-back gold medals is truly remarkable. I offer my sincere congratulations to Samantha, her family, and all those who have coached and supported her along the way. She is an inspiration to her sport and to future athletes in our province.�
- The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development

Samantha is the first athlete to win multiple gold for Team Newfoundland and Labrador since the 1999 Canada Winter Games in Corner Brook, where Lee Churchill of Hodge's Cove took three gold medals in cross-country skiing.

Team Newfoundland and Labrador�s four Canada Games medals, to date, have been in target shooting. Earlier this week, William Dalton and Daniel Dimitrov won silver in the men�s 10-metre rifle event and Margaret Coady and Emily Keeping won silver in the women�s 10-metre pistol team competition.

�I could not be more proud of Samantha and her accomplishments at these Games. This achievement demonstrates that hard work, dedication and perseverance do indeed pave the way to excellence.�
- Rod Snow, Chef de Mission, Team Newfoundland and Labrador

Ms. Marsh, 20, of Mount Pearl has been a core member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Shooting Association Junior Team since 2008. This is her second appearance at a Canada Games. At the 2011 Canada Winter Games, she finished sixth in the individual 10-metre rifle event. For biographical information, see the backgrounder below.

The Canada Games were established in 1967 and Newfoundland and Labrador has been represented at every event since. The Games are held every two years, alternating summer and winter. The province hosted the 1977 Canada Summer Games in St. John's and the 1999 Canada Winter Games in Corner Brook.

For photos, updates, athlete profiles and more about Team Newfoundland and Labrador and the 2015 Canada Winter Games, visit: www.swsd.gov.nl.ca/teamnl and www.teamnl.ca .

QUICK FACTS

• Samantha Marsh has won a second gold medal at the 2015 Canada Winter Games, this time in women�s individual air rifle.
• This is TeamNL's fourth medal win at the Games.
• TeamNL is composed of more than 220 athletes, coaches, managers and Mission staff.
• At the 2015 Canada Winter Games, Team Newfoundland and Labrador is competing in alpine, biathlon, men�s curling, gymnastics, women�s hockey, speed skating, target shooting, badminton, cross-country skiing, women�s curling, figure skating, men�s hockey, judo, squash, synchronized swimming and table tennis.
• For photos, updates, athlete profiles and more about Team Newfoundland and Labrador and the 2015 Canada Winter Games, visit: www.swsd.gov.nl.ca/teamnl and www.teamnl.ca .

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BACKGROUNDER
Biographical Information � Samantha Marsh

Since 2011, Samantha Marsh has competed at the Canadian National Small Bore Championships. She placed fifth overall in both air rifle and the three position competition at the 2014 event.

In 2012, she was named to the Canadian National Junior and Senior Development Team in air rifle, 50-metre. This earned her the opportunity to participate in the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in 2013, where she placed sixth in the women�s 50-metre 3x20 category and then went on to represent Canada at the first International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior Cup in Suhl, Germany, in 2014.

She competed in various major competitions in the United States in 2013 and 2014, including the Champion of Champions, the United States Nationals, and most recently the Winter Air Gun Championship, where she set a personal best in a qualifying relay.

Ms. Marsh specializes in 10-metre air rifle and 50-metre three position rifle. Over the years, she has either won or medalled at the four North Atlantic Air Gun Challenges in which she competed.

Under the guidance of her current coach Dave Woolridge, Ms. Marsh holds the provincial record in women�s air rifle with a score of 404.3 out of a possible 436.0.

Ms. Marsh is a recipient of the Premier�s Athletic Awards, receiving awards each year from 2010 to 2013, as well as an Elite Athlete Award in 2014.

2015 02 19                             10:00 a.m.