Seven members of the Maryborough Rifle and Pistol Club travelled to Brisbane International Shooting Centre to compete in the 2022 Target Rifle Australia National Championships.

The five days of competition is open to any club member who is affiliated with QTS/TRA. The Maryborough members made the most of the competition and it was a hugely successful championship for the Maryborough club on a National stage as we came away with two National Champions with Gold Medals, a Bronze medal and Grade medals.

Savanna Stey’s performance was the amazing success story of the National Championships for the Maryborough Club winning a Gold medal and becoming the Womens 3 Position 50m Rifle National Champion in the prestigious 50m 3 Positions Rifle match.  Savanna followed up this brilliant success with a Bronze medal in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Final and a 4th place in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Teams Final. All three of these events are Olympic events and Savanna’s success in the 2022 National Championships continues to show that her dedication, perseverance and constant training is paying off.

Liz Amos, John Amos and Ken Richardson attended the National Championships for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed the experience as they competed in the 50m Benchrest Competition and shot very well.   Kevin Barden shot a Personal Best score in the TRA Benchrest competition.  Kim Faint shot consistently in the Men's 10m Air Rifle and made the Final.  Jamie Webb competed in the 50m Prone Rifle Jim Smith match over two days and received a C Grade Silver medal to back up the Gold medal he won in the 10m Air Rifle Supported open match.

The conditions for the 50m Prone and Benchrest shooters were very trying with the variable wind blowing strongly from all directions which provided extremely challenging conditions and rewarded competitors who really knew how to read the inconsistent and ever changing wind conditions.

Maryborough nearly had eight members competing however unfortunately Rodney Faint was prevented from attending due to car issues on the way to the event and we missed the pleasure of his company.

All in all a good weekend was had by everyone with a great social dinner for all competitors hosted at the range on the Saturday night by the Hornets Benchrest Club members.  A huge thank you must be extended to the volunteers and organisers who put in a lot of work over ten days and two competitions to make the 2022 TRA National Championships a big success with over one hundred competitors attending from all around Australia and New Zealand.

Authors: Kev Barden and Jamie Webb - 18 April 2022