Just back from the 11th. Muzzle Loaders Assoc. European Championships in Pforzhiem, Germany, two local shooters went up against the best in the world and carded very respectable 90-91 scores. The winning shooter (Ralph Dammann, German) only bettering them with 97.

Frederick Bowman, whilst producing a score of 91, was frustrated by several factors which prevented him from doing better. Not least was the fact that in training in Malta paper targets are used, whilst at the Championships and, for the first time in the history of muzzle loading competition, electronic targets were employed.

John Cassar, Frederick’s compatriot, scored 90 alongside him; both these scores were in the ‘Mariette’ discipline. Sometimes called ‘Replica Revolver’, which involves shooting black powder weapons that are normally historically accurate reproductions of period pistols.

Sixteen countries sent competitors to the event and as usual the size and strength of numbers, also experience assisted the Germans in placing well. France and Spain likewise generally do well in this event, though Norway surprised with a shooter at the bottom with 73.

Looking to the future however, next year in Bordeaux, France: the next World Championships will again be attended by shooters from a club affiliated to the Malta Shooting Federation. The AACTS hopes to send at least three, and so qualify for the team event too, in which they hope to place well in the top ten.

Valuable experience has been gained, time is available to hone skills and next year, to paraphrase Paul Revere, Europe beware, ‘The Maltese are coming!’