Shropshire archer Alison Williamson in record bid

Shropshire archer Alison Williamson was today battling to make her sixth Olympic games – and enter the record books as the country's most prolific Olympian.

The 40-year-old Church Stretton ace, who won a bronze medal at the Athens games in 2004, is taking part in a four-woman shootout for three slots in the British Olympic team at Lilleshall.

Williamson, a member of Long Mynd Archery Club, was third of the four women overnight, with only the top female qualifying automatically. The remaining pair will be announced at a press conference at Lord's Cricket Ground – where the Olympic archery will be staged – next month.

Williamson is competing against rivals Amy Oliver, Naomi Folkard and Charlotte Burgess. She has already competed at games at Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney, Athens, and Beijing.

Oliver was top of the rankings after yesterday's opening day of the three-day shootout. Pupils from local schools have been helping the team with its preparation by shouting, screaming and blowing whistles during the event to recreate the Olympic atmosphere.