Last weekend, Malta’s top Airgun shooters participated in the first of three local shooting competitions that will see them competing with top shooters from all over Britain in the NSRA/Eley Postal Shooting Competition 2011.

Postal Shooting competitions are very popular in Britain as numerous shooters can take part without having the need for travelling.

The best of three scores are sent by the club secretaries to the UK’s National Shooting Body, i.e. the National Smallbore Rifle Association, for eventual classification.

After phase one, the top shooters qualify for the second round after which the best shooters in the various classes will take part in the finals at the UK National Shooting Ranges in Bisley next October 2012. Medals, silver and gold bars to the tune of £15,000 sponsored by Eley Ammunitions Ltd, await all these finalists.

All male and female shooters compete together and had to shoot 40 shots in 1 hour 15 minutes.

Eleanor Bezzina won the air-pistol event in grand style by registering a best score of 375/400 points. Another excellent score was achieved by Stephen Vassallo when he shot a personal best of 360/400 points for a merited second place. Ray Cacciattolo also did very well to take third place with a score of 354/400 points. Josette Calleja was fourth on 330/400 points, Martin Grech fifth on 307/400 points and Mario Mallia Milanes in sixth place with 260/400 points.

In the Air-Rifle event, Romeo Zuber was the winner in the mixed competition with 348/400 points followed by newcomer Alison Bezzina with 325/400 points.

The next competition valid for the NSRA/Eley Postal competition, will be held at the Bidnija Indoor Airgun Range on 17 December.