South East locals shine at national shoot event

Burrungule Park hosts top quality competition with Mount Gambier shooter Jeremy Kent taking the title

Almost 100 Sporting Clay Shooters travelled to Burrungule Park to compete in the 20th Sporting Clays Australia English Sporting Nationals over the last weekend of May.

This was the first national event at the range in more than three decades.

Competitors from South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania nominated for the 200 target event hosted by South East Field & Game Association.

Sponsors for the event were LaPorte Australia, Bronzewing Australia, Nobel Sport Italia Australia and Torresan Estate. Ken Atkin and his hard working crew of volunteers set two grounds, each comprising of 50 targets all shot single barrel in pairs to test the shooter`s skills and concentration.

Day one saw competitors shooting in calm mostly dry weather conditions and the scoreboard at the halfway point had Jeremy Kent tied with the experienced John Younger both having shot 97/100.

Heavy rain dampened the spirits of the early squads on Sunday morning of Day 2 however once the skies cleared the sun came out to create near perfect conditions.

Jeremy Kent hit the accelerator early on to grab an early lead which he never gave up. Kent finished up on 193/200, this being a personal best score, and claimed the overall High Gun to win the Australian English Sporting Clays Championship.

Three Victorian shooters Xavier Russell, Robert Hall and Chris Brown all finished on 186/200, seven targets behind Kent, and needing a shoot off to determine the podium positions in the Open category,

The highly talented Russell prevailed over his more experienced Fellow Australian team sporting clay shooters.

John Younger claimed the Senior’s Title with 187/200, this being six targets behind Kent and second highest score of the weekend.

Runner up in Seniors was John Leach and local Bruce Oakley from Dartmoor, finished in third position.

South East member Ron Rhook shot 178/200 to take out the Veterans category from Rob Shawyer and Eddy Magee.

The Masters category was won by the experienced John Torresan with 156/200, runners up were Pros Van Der Zalm and Daryl Mawson.

Ben Hastings is a third generation shooter from South East Field & Game and used his pedigree to score 159/200 and claim the Junior Championship from promising young Adelaide shooter Jimmy Papaioannou and Tyler Brown in third.

Renae Birgan, the 2018 Ladies FITASC world champion, shot 172/200 to claim the Ladies title over Bianca Norris and Janette Densley. The well-travelled Birgan said after the nationals that the event at Burrungule Park was as close you can get to shooting English Sporting in England.

“It was a flawlessly run event from the office, target presentations and canteen, by a group of dedicated volunteers,” Birgan said. “You guys nailed it and should be really proud of the event you created.”

A Grade was claimed by Max Colenso scoring 159/200 from Daniel Torresan and South East local Tim Lloyd. Malcolm Price took out the B Grade with162/200 from Rohann Stebbings from Tasmania and Jody Wallace back in third.

SUCCESSFUL NATIONALS: Australian English Sporting Clays ChampionshipHigh Gun winner Jeremy Kent; Jeremy Kent in action; Junior chamlion Ben Hastings takes aim; Veteran champion Ron Rhook was on target & Ladies champion adn former world champion Renae Birgan is a picture of concentation.