After Malta’s representation in the Milan 2008 World Bench Rest Championships, following which MSSF/MAAC was given the ERABSF affiliation to represent the Bench Rest Shooting discipline in Malta, it was the turn of MAAC, which is the only active airgunning club in Malta, to organise the first Air Rifle Bench Rest competition under ERABSF representation at national level.

This was held at the weekend at the Victoria Shooting Range, limits of Qormi, in a cloudy and force 4-5 windy morning. The competition was split into two classes. Class A for air rifles with 15ft/lbs or less for the 25m targets and Class B for air rifles with over 15ft/lbs of power for the 50m targets. Pellet calibers permitted in ERABSF competitions are .177, .20 and .22.

Targets consist of five targets on the left hand side for sighting and zeroing and 25 points targets. A time limit of 30 minutes is allowed to complete all 25 targets and only one shot is permitted in each points target.

Class A 25m was dominated by the only woman shooter, Ruth Gauci, and 14 year old Carlos Scorfna, who scored 234-3x and 228-3x respectively, followed by David Giardina with 225-2x.

Class B 50m winner was Anton Grima with 206-0x with Eric Camilleri, scoring 193-0x, in second place. James Bugeja placed third with 190-2x.

Next MAAC event is the Open Air Pistol Steel Plate Challenge (MAAC-APPS) on 12 October.