On Saturday, the third Air-Rifle and Air-Pistol Shooting Competition of the season was held at the Larry Vella Indoor Airgun Range in Bidnija.

It was with great satisfaction to note that the two new female participants achieved very good scores in their first Air-Rifle competition. Alison Vella and Lorraine Vella placed 2nd and 3rd respectively after first placed Romeo Zuber in a very tense 40 shot 'open' Air-Rifle event.

In the Female Air-Pistol event, Eleanor Bezzina had the best score of the day with 371/400 to earn a merited first place. She was followed in second place by team-mate Josette Calleja with a good score of 332/400.

In the Men's Air-Pistol Event, Ray Cacciattolo was again the winner for the second successive time this season with a score of 540/600 points. Stephen Vassallo followed in second place with 533/600 points and Martin Grech finished 3rd with 482/600 points. Newcomer Mario Mallia Milanes achieved a good first-time score of 382/600 points for a fourth placing.

For the first time in our country, the Malta Air-Rifle and Pistol Shooting club will be participating in the coming weeks, in a Pistol Shooting Competition in conjunction with the National Smallbore Rifle Association of the UK. This will give the opportunity for our shooters to compete with other shooters from all over Britain, whilst shooting in their own country. Should any of the Maltese shooters make it to the 3rd phase of the competitions they will then have to take part in the finals at Bisley, England next October. This annual event is sponsored by international ammunition manufacturers: ELEY Ltd, to the tune of 15 000 Pounds Stg and winners will receive Gold & Silver Bars as well as Medals in the various shooting categories.