Champion sportswoman in High Court shooting drama As a leading member of the Great Britain shooting team, Nicola Heron has an unblinking eye for the target. The champion sportswoman has, however, allegedly found herself in the cross hairs of her own association. Mandrake can disclose that Heron, who was a member of the team that won the European championship in her discipline of helice in 2007, has taken the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association to the High Court, seeking libel damages of up to £50,000. Heron claimed that two emails written by Terry Bobbett, the director of the sport's governing body, were defamatory. The messages alleged that she had been guilty of bullying and harassment. Bobbett is claimed to have said that the allegations were so serious that Heron could not be trusted to communicate with the 12 members of staff of the association, which has 25,000 members. Heron, a member of the Royal Berkshire County Shooting Team, said the emails seriously injured her reputation and caused her substantial embarrassment and distress. She sought aggravated damages, as she claimed that Bobbett knew his allegations were false, or was reckless as to their truth or falsity, and published them with the improper motive of damaging her reputation. Bobbett, she claimed, had cleared her in a 2008 investigation after a complaint by the association's former commercial manager, Jenny Andrews, who said Heron had targeted her in an unacceptable manner. Heron, who had been an association member for more than 20 years, admitted that she criticised Simon Barber, the current commercial manager, in an exchange of emails involving another member, but says she was courteous, and her implied criticisms were self-evidently justified. Solicitors for Heron and the association say a settlement has now been reached.