SSAA National Big Game Rifle Championships

July 19 saw the 2014 National Big Game Rifle Championships held at the SSAA Fraser Coast range, located just outside Maryborough, Queensland. In Queensland, there is a saying about the weather: perfect one day and better the next. Unfortunately, the Nationals did not quite live up to that saying, being cold and accompanied by a lazy wind instead.

In all, 24 shooters competed, with Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria being represented. For the first time ever, the Big Game Rifle Nationals had an Under 15 Junior competitor, Loughlin Commens. Along with an Under 18 competitor, this meant that both Junior categories were represented, which was great to see.

All eight Big Game Rifle ‘core’ events were shot using the 2013 rule book. As usual, the top spots were keenly contested, and at the end of the day, it was Mark Hibbert from Queensland in first place, followed by Graeme Wright also from Queensland in second and Bob Christopher from Victoria in third. In the teams event, Queensland came first, Victoria second and a scratch-up team for New South Wales came in third place. As always, the Veteran category was well represented and Graeme Wright came out as the winner.

A presentation dinner was held at the Maryborough RSL Club. This was followed by the Big Game Rifle Discipline Meeting.

A sincere thank you to SSAA Fraser Coast and a special thanks to Hazel Bozic, Greg Klein (range officer), Val O’Brien and Barry Hartfiel (scoring), Julie and Mark Hibbert (computer scoring) and the rest of their team in running a great shoot.

by BGR National Discipline Chairman Graeme Wright