The Bidnija Airgun Shooting Ranges were, last Saturday, the venue for several interesting shooting competitions in air-rifle and air-pistol. Many new contestants took part in these competitions which had to be staggered over a period of seven hours due to the increasing popularity of this sport and the number of participants wishing to take part.
Meanwhile, the Junior Air-Rifle competition was first to commence and the exemplary behaviour, competitive spirit and the unending motivation of these youngsters was something not to be missed. After a gruelling three-hour competition, William Smith emerged as the sole winner with 591.0 points followed by newcomer Noah Vella who managed a creditable 569.4 points. Odin Sammut (546.1 points) and Michaela Azzopardi (329.1 points) were in third and fourth place respectively.
The Senior Open Air-Rifle event was won by Usama Mustafa with 596.0 points closely followed by Mark Sammut with 587.6 points and Joe Smith with 552.3 points in third position.
There was no beating Ray Cacciattolo in the Olympic 10 metre Air Pistol discipline who, with 639.1 points, won this event ahead of Martin Grech (590.0 points) and female pistol shooter Rita Zammit (442.8points).
The Olympic 10 metre Air-Rifle was the most popular event and attracted the highest number of participants.
In this hotly contested shoot, Lawrence Darmanin ended on top with a score of 655.9 points. Renato Brincat, who was returning back to this sport after a lapse of some four years, achieved a merited 2nd placing with a score of 618.2 points. Annabel Borg, one of the four female shooters participating in these competitions, managed to oust upcoming Charlo Chircop by a mere 1.3 points in a tense duel that ensued in the final, for a total score of 613.5 points and a merited third placing.
The competitions were professionally conducted by international judge Gino Galea and ably assisted by Ms Ben Chircop according to ISSF regulations.
In the end the attractive trophies sponsored by K&S Trading Ltd were presented by Mr Charlo Bonnici MP to all the proud winners of the various shooting events.