Hundreds showcase their sharpshooting skills at nationals

The Elsjan Shooting range, between Marloth Park and Komatipoort, sounded like a war zone last week during the SA Practical Shooting Association Handgun Championship.

On Saturday and Sunday a total of 335 competitors had their turn to face each of the 17 stages, set up by the various Mpumalanga clubs to reflect real-world scenarios.

The aim was to shoot as accurately as possible in the shortest amount of time and competitors had to focus to hit the various stationary and moving targets and avoid those that would cost them points. The two official match days were preceded by two pre-match days for match officials, stats officials and support staff.

It was the first time in many in years that the championship was held in the province and the Mpumalanga Practical Shooting Association pulled out all the stops to make it a true Bushveld experience.

Competitors were divided into one of five divisions, based on the type of handgun they use, and then into categories of junior, lady, senior and super senior.

People from all over the country, as well as a few from Zimbabwe, Namibia and the USA, participated, with 55 match officials keeping a watchful eye on everything and ensuring the safety of competitors and spectators. A few of the match days proved challenging due to strong winds, but both the match officials and competitors enjoyed the Lowveld weather.

The Lowveld region’s SANParks Honorary Rangers created an oasis next to the shooting range, with a table filled with rhino anti-poaching memorabilia, a bar for after hours as well as an extensive kitchen and seating area, where competitors could relax between sessions.

The group held braais for the spectators and match officials on a couple of the evenings and hoped to raise awareness surrounding anti-poaching and conservation efforts. The group often do fund-raising events such as this one and will donate the proceeds to the K9 Centre in the Kruger National Park. “We hope to have an anti-poaching dog at each gate and have a specially designated area and kennel for each, but it’s an expensive mission,” representative Jacques Malan explained.

Thomas Holder of the local shooting club invited interested marksmen and hunters to contact him on 082-801-1773 for enquiries regarding the Elsjan Shooting Range and the activities they host.

The championship was concluded with a prize-giving ceremony at the Buffalo Hotel in Hectorspruit on Sunday night.

Results:

Classic division:

Overall:

First: Tiaan Vermeulen

Second: Albert Wessels

Third: Johan Wheeler.

Seniors:

First: Wayne Hammond

Second: Abraham Jansen van Vuuren

Third: Jan van den Berg.

Open division:

Overall:

First: Thomas Montgomery

Second: Eddie Smith

Third: David Pruitt

Ladies:

First: Kirsty Shovlin-Bohler

Second: Alexis Biermann

Third: Susan Kriel

Senior:

First: Eddie Smith

Second: Hubert Montgomery

Third: JJ Kriel

Super seniors:

First: Andre Saaiman

Second: Carlo Belletti

Third: Jim Vaughan.

Production division:

Overall:

First: Alex Gogos

Second: Thomas Affleck

Third: Tristan Hopper

Junior:

First: Jaco Biers

Second: Markus Breytenbach

Third: Janu Muller

Ladies:

First: Carmen Sales

Second: Sasha-Lee du Plessis

Third: Karen Shawe

Seniors:

First: Hendrik Engelbrecht

Second: Rob Hopper

Third: Malcolm Christie

Standard division:

Overall:

First: Keith Rolls

Second: Justin Peacock

Third: Hermanus Engelbrecht

Ladies:

First: Eurika du Plooy

Second: Joey Fischer

Third: Sebella O’Donovan

Seniors:

First: Sean O’Donovan

Second: Martin Erasmus

Third: Kevin Rolls

Super seniors:

First: Andre van Straaten

Second: Kobus de Wet

Third: Willie Lubbe.

View more photos here.