No charges against shooter Stanton

Commonwealth Games medal prospect Nadine Stanton will not be facing any charges as a result of an incident last month, in which she threw her shotgun to the ground during a club event.

Stanton, a Games gold medallist four years ago, admitted throwing the firearm during a Waikato Gun Club event in Hamilton, a serious offence in shooting circles.

The Waikato club and the New Zealand Shooting Federation (NZSF) both conducted investigations into the incident and Stanton, 30, was issued with a formal warning.

A complaint was also made to the police firearms department.

Senior Sergeant Freda Grace from the Hamilton police said it was not a matter that would ever have merited criminal charges.

The firearm was not loaded and no one was in danger from Stanton's actions.

"She has been spoken to by police and the matter is now resolved," Ms Grace said today.

Stanton is regarded as one of this country's top gold medal contenders at the Games in Melbourne in March, having already picked up gold in the double trap pairs with Teresa Borrell and silver in the double trap in 2002 at Manchester.

She again proved her international credentials by finishing sixth in the same event at the Athens Olympics in 2004.

- NZPA