IAN Peel was ready to celebrate his silver medal success the best way he knew how -- with a few beers!

The Great Harwood shooter was preparing to down a few pints and have a meal with his fellow shooters as it gradually began to sink in that he had clinched Great Britain's second medal of the Olympic Games.

"It's something you can't put into words. It's unbelievable going onto the podium, watching the flag being raised for you.

"It's only my second Olympics and I didn't do well in my last one 12 years ago. But I have got better with age and even though I've won things like the European championships in my 25 years in the sport, this is the pinnacle of my career," he laughed.

Peel had to hold his nerve in a tense final -- and then hold his news in as he waited for a reasonable hour to ring his wife Mary at home in Blackburn.

"We competed in the early hours in British time so I had to wait to ring Mary but I don't think she minded being woken up too much," said the 42-year-old.

But what Mary may mind is Ian is now thinking over whether to retire or not.

He had promised his wife he would after the Olympics but admitted before the Games that a medal could change his mind!

Peel's competition began in the early hours of Saturday morning when he had his first 75 shots at the clay pigeons, released 16 metres away.

"I did all right, I was lying third with 70 hits," he said and was ready to take that form into the final day -- Sunday morning.

The leader at this stage was defending Olympic champion Michael Diamond, an Australian, who hit 72 of the 75 targets.

"We then had another 50 shots Sunday morning in the last stage of the preliminary round to decide which six competitors reached the final," explained Peel.

"Michael got 50 out of 50, he was unstoppable and I hit 48 to take my total to 118. So he was already four shots ahead and I knew he was going to take a lot of catching. He'd hardly missed anything all weekend so he wasn't going to miss four in the final." Peel was in second spot, two shots ahead of his nearest rivals, as six began the final 25 shot showdown.

"It was quite close going into the final but the Czech and Italian, on 116, missed one each early on so it tended to calm my nerves a bit although I then went and missed one.

"I was still three in front though and it does take some catching and I managed to pull my way through.

"It will take a lot of sinking in. I put all my effort and concentration in trying to win so all the emotions were still in control.

"But I'll have my beers and a meal and a party with the shooters and see how I feel when I wake up.

"I always thought I had an outside chance if I performed to my best. I was just hoping I was good on the day because the Olympics are only once every four years and are so special.

"Michael was four shots ahead going into the final and I knew even with the home pressure he wouldn't miss four shots.

"I had beaten him on the same course in March this year but he was in top form. He deserved his victory.

"And the crowd were brilliant. I've never seen a crowd of 3,500 at a shooting event before. They were all cheering for Michael but that did not bother me, It was just great to have a crowd like that."

Peel will be back in Blackburn on Thursday morning.