AMACS shooter Mario Cassar placed fifth in the ‘Standard Senior’ class in the IPSC Czech European Open tournament held last month in Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic.
He was one of three shooters from the Association of Maltese Arms Collectors & Shooters (AMACS) who represented Malta in the first three-gun competition to be organised in Europe by the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC).
Seasoned shooters from all over Europe competed using a different firearm – pistol, shotgun and rifle - on each day of the tournament.
Practical shooting is an extremely exciting target shooting sport that combines speed, accuracy and power with shooters engaging demanding courses of fire (known as stages) using pistol, revolver, rifle or shotgun.
The AMACS shooters’ team was composed of David Casha, Mario Cassar and Louis Farrugia. None of the Maltese shooters had ever participated in IPSC competitions, let alone in an international one. Moreover, they never had the chance to practise IPSC shooting here in Malta owing to legislative prohibitions that are about to be lifted with the enactment of the new Arms Act recently approved by Parliament.
Yet, despite these heavy limitations, all three shooters shot admirably with all three firearms. Their results were commendable and they fared better than quite a number or regular foreign expert shooters! What is perhaps even more important at this very early stage is that none of the Maltese shooters had a single penalty or disqualification imposed upon them.
AMACS is fully determined to build on this successful participation and will exploit the excellent relations established with fellow European IPSC regions to introduce IPSC shooting in Malta immediately the new Arms Act comes into force. As an IPSC Region, Malta is represented by AMACS which is a member of the IPSC world governing body.
The week preceding the tournament, five AMACS shooters attended a professionally organised course in IPSC regulations and shooting techniques.
Course participants were the three competitors and another two AMACS members, Eric Camilleri and Chris Stafrace. The course was over three days and was very intensive as participants were instructed in the skills of IPSC pistol, rifle and shotgun shooting.
The course itself was very well organised and run by the world famous Czech arms producer CZ.
AMACS is an association which is made up of five clubs, four of which are dedicated to target shooting with Pistols and Rifles, Black Powder guns, Field Target Airguns and Crossbows.
Anyone interested in AMACS activities may contact the association at PO Box 44 MSD 01 or [email protected]