The first ever World Rimfire and Air Rifle Benchrest Championships took place in Milan, Ital, recently.

Twelve countries participated in this event – USA, UK, Italy, South Africa, Australia, Germany, Ireland, Czech Republic, Russia, Finland, Belgium and Malta.

The event was dominated by strong contingents from Australia, South Africa, Italy, Czech Republic and the UK.

USA and Italy dominated the podium. Malta was represented by Kris Debattista from the

Malta Allied Airgunners Club who competed in the Unlimited Rim fire Class 50 metres.

Rim and Air rifle Benchrest has been practised for many years in a number of countries. The UKBR22 association together with other rim and air rifle Benchrest associations in Europe, officially formed the European Rimfire and Airrifle Benchrest Shooting Federation (ERABSF) on 22 September 2007 after the first European Rim and Air Benchrest championships held in Milan that year.

Since then other European nations showed interest to join this growing federation. Other nations beyond Europe such as USA, Australia and South Africa also showed interest in Rim and Air Bench Rest and hence the worlds 1st Rim and Air Benchrest championship was set for 2008, less then a year since the formation of ERABSF.

The Malta Shooting Sport Federation recognised as the ERABSF representative for Malta

Maltese Air rifle and Rimfire enthusiasts. It also showed interest in this shooting discipline and interest in joining this federation.

The recently formed Malta Allied Airgunners Club (MAAC) which is an affiliated

member of the Malta Shooting Sports Federation (MSSF), immediately showed interest that Malta should join ERABSF.

MAAC submitted a formal application with full support of MSSF to join ERABSF. In a relatively very short time, it was decided that MSSF/MAAC should have at least one shooter present during this event. With some help from some sponsors, MAAC and Debattista’s own expenses, Malta was represented in the Milanevent. Here Kris shared the emotions of an international event and gained valuable experience.

Contacts between MAAC and ERABSF officials made it possible also for Kris to compete in one of the events. Although Debattista, like all other Maltese enthusiasts, had no opportunity yet in Malta to practice Rim Fire Bench Rest, he used his “short” experience in Air rifle Benchrest.

A few days of intensive training after working hours with air rifle bench rest shooting at the Victoria Shooters Range made it possible for him to compete in one of the most sought after classes, the Unlimited Rim Fire Class 50 metres.

A member of the Italian BR team offered his €4,000 Anschutz BR 50 rifle and other equipment necessary for Bench Rest for Debattista to compete in this Class. Although the equipment was top notch, it is not just the equipment that contributes to good scores. Other elements and experience along with a good knowledge of your equipment is key to success in Bench Rest Shooting.

Debattista was a bit unfortunate, since complications arising in the event on Friday lengthened the Light Varmint class duration, and all training time available for shooters had to be cancelled.

Kris literally had to shoot the Anschutz BR50 without any preparation. A total of

85 competitors took part in the Unlimited Rim Fire Class event the next day.

Debattista’s first shots were on the scoring targets. During the event three official scoring targets must be shot at a 50 metre distance. Each target has 25 scoring targets that must be

completed within 30 minutes. The maximum score for each target is 10 points. Hitting a 2mm circle in the centre zone of the target, and obliterating it, gains you a bonus X. The maximum score for each score card is 250-25X in Rim and Air Bench Rest discipline. On his first run, Kris missed one target due to time out, but scored 228-1X.

In the second run, he managed 231-3X and ended the third run with 238-1X.

Not bad for a first timer – Well done Kris!

With this score Kris ranked 83rd place from 85 international shooters in his class. The score total for Kris is 697-5X and this is more than satisfactory considering all the odds and the huge experience of the other shooters.

In Debattista’s class, i.e. The Unlimited 50 metres, the top three shooters were.

1st Danny Allan Hepler – USA- 250-8X: 249-8X: 249-10X Total : 748-26X

2nd David Kenimer – USA – 247-12X: 249-5X: 247-7X Total: 743-24X

3rd Jan Fokt – CZ – 249-8X : 249-6X : 244-9X Total: 742-23X

The lowest score in this class was from Roberto Giarletta of Italy with a total of 486-2X.

It is good to mention that Danny Allen Hepler (USA) walked away with five medals including three golds.

The Malta Allied Airgunners Club members have gained some experience in Air Rifle Benchrest during competitions organised locally this year. When one analyses the Air Bench Rest results from the first World Championships and compare the results with those obtained locally, one can say with respect to Air Bench Rest, the Maltese Air Bench Rest enthusiasts are not far away from such results. The results gained locally by Maltese Air Bench Rest enthusiasts on a local level will place us within the top half of the classification results obtained by other international shooters in the first World Championships in both the Hunter AR Class and the Unlimited B Air Rifle Class.

The World first Rim and Air Benchrest Championship ended with an Annual General Meeting. During which the ERABSF and world delegates had ,among other items on the agenda, the approval of Malta to join the ERABSF organisation. Two applications were presented for Malta. The first was rendered invalid since the original applicant was no longer representing the organisation any more. The organisation that submitted the first application did not show interest to renew that application, after several attempts and reminders from ERABSF. Thus the application of MAAC in the name of MSSF and the presence of Debattista (MAAC) in the first World Championships sealed this affiliation.

MSSF is now the official ERABSF representative for Malta.

The two delegates representing MSSF for Malta in ERABSF are Stanley Shaw and Kris Debattista.

Without doubt, it is also a must to have private ranges licenses issued in Malta as soon as possible to provide the required environment for Maltese Bench Rest enthusiasts in Rim and Air Bench Rest to start developing their skills. The Maltese rim fire bench rest enthusiasts must start gaining the required

experience without further delays. At the moment only air rifle bench rest is possible.

The Malta Allied Airgunners Club shoots air bench rest together with other air gun disciplines like Field Target (FT) at the Victoria Shooters Range, Limits of Tal-Handaq Qormi. Although cartridge shooting for civilians can now take place at AFM range in Safi, rim fire rifle shooting is not allowed yet. It is also very important that bench rest facilities are included in future private ranges and in a future National Shooting Range complex.

For more information about other air rifle and air pistol shooting disciplines and bench rest shooting, one may contact the Malta Allied Airgunners Club (MAAC) on [email protected] or visit the website, www.malta-maac.blogspot.com .

There, one can see all relative information about the disciplines practised and MAAC activities.