Local shots perform well at rifle champs
Limpopo Province Practical Shooting Association (LPPSA) hosted the third leg of the 2016 Rifle Championships in Polokwane on Saturday and Sunday. Eighty four competitors in 13 special stages shot mostly with .223 calibre semi-automatic rifles over distances between 50 m and 260 m. Limpopo’s top shots in the open division were Jan Bondesio (4th), Philip …
Limpopo Province Practical Shooting Association (LPPSA) hosted the third leg of the 2016 Rifle Championships in Polokwane on Saturday and Sunday.
Eighty four competitors in 13 special stages shot mostly with .223 calibre semi-automatic rifles over distances between 50 m and 260 m.
Limpopo’s top shots in the open division were Jan Bondesio (4th), Philip Smit (9th) and Paul Eksteen (12th) while the open division in the ladies category was won by local shot Marieta Botha with Daleen van Rensburg in third.
In the super senior division Gerrit Dokter finished third with Paul Zorn achieving a second place in the senior division.
In the standard division Thinus Botha (5th), Franco Rossouw (8th) and Ruben Rautenbach (11th) attained overall positions.
“We had the privilege of hosting competitors from Sweden and Finland. The open Swedish team known as Team Top Gun just clinched the gold with seven points from the Limpopo team. The team from North Gauteng finished third,” said LPPSA Marketing Officer Philip Smit.
Jan Bondesio in action at the shooting range. He attained fourth overall place in the rifle open division.
He added that LPPSA has expanded their shooting rage which can host more than 50 stages which might see Limpopo hosting a world championship in the near future.
“LPPSA has also introduced a new category of air soft to their club. Air soft pistols and rifles are gas operated and shoot high precision 6 mm pellets. The weaponry are of the same format and dimensions as genuine firearms with recoil and blow-back,” Smit said.
He said air soft is a safe way of participating in shooing sports and ideal to train youngsters and to introduce the sport to the public. The equipment cost a fraction of the price of real firearms and will fit in the holster and magazine pouches of real firearms as well.
‘Safe gun handling is top priority even though air soft weapons are used. The same principles and rules apply as if it is a dangerous weapon,” he said.
For more information contact Smit on philipsmitattorney@gmail.com or visit the South African Practical Shooting Association (Sapsa) website at www.sapsa.co.za.
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