Ballito shooters rewrote the rulebook on November 30, launching South Africa’s first Tac-X Games and redefining how tactical shooting is tested.

The Ballito Defensive Sports Shooting Club (BDSSC) hosted 28 competitors from across KwaZulu-Natal to showcase their handgun, semi-automatic rifle, carbine handgun and shotgun shooting skills on a specially designed course.

The event, endorsed by the South African Gun Association (Saga), was spearheaded by Avalon van den Heever of BDSSC, co-founded by Saga trustee Shaun Lyle, co-ordinated by his wife Jayne and designed by former Royal Marine Matt Reece. Blaize Swiegers took top honours with the best overall average score.

According to Lyle, the concept was born out of a critical gap in South Africa’s tactical sports shooting landscape. What began as a bold idea evolved into a full-scale platform for tactical skill, conceived, designed, co-ordinated and executed in just four weeks.

Lyle explained that South Africa lacks sufficient dedicated tactical shooting events, leaving the shooting community with few opportunities to demonstrate capability or test training under pressure. He stressed the need for performance-based evaluation through a mission-driven scoring model.

“We are rich in talent and strong in professionalism, yet underserved by events that test real-world ability rather than flat-range routine,” said Lyle.

“Tac-X is a competition where shooters must prove themselves, where skill under pressure matters far more than speed on a timer. Tac-X was created to change that.”

The course of fire and competition design pushed competitors to the extreme.

“Every design element, from ice-bucket dexterity shock to compromised positions and forced transitions, existed to test readiness beyond the comfort zone,” said Lyle.

Future plans include a multi-day winter event in 2026, progressive skill divisions and a national tactical championship series.

“The success of the pilot confirmed what we suspected. South Africans want an event where skill, pressure and decision-making matter.”

“We also needed a platform where tactical skill is measured honestly, fairly and professionally. Tac-X succeeded because the tactical shooting community recognised the value of being tested, not merely timed.”

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