YOUR local
YOUR GOOD-NEWS PAPER ISSUE 004 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2017
2018 world shooting champs in Wagga
www.yourlocalwaggaweekly.com.au
pennie scott IN a society decrying firearms it’s interesting to see a spike in the number of people taking up shooting sports. In 2017, the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia has 180,000 members and the Australian Clay Target Association (ACTA) has 14,000. Australians are among the world’s best in this category of Olympic sports with the present open Down the Line (clay target) World Champion, Matt Schiller, from Boorowa. At the last world championships in Ireland in 2016, Australians also claimed world titles in the Ladies and Veterans categories. Australia has an enviable record in clay target shooting at Olympic level with the names of Susie Balogh, Michael Diamond, Adam Vella and Catherine Skinner household names. James Willett is another young Australian prominent in the 2016 Games, shooting an Olympic record score to make the final round. People in Wagga and the Riverina have the chance to see these elite sportspeople in action in March 2018, as the Australian Clay Target Association (ACTA), with head-quarters in Wagga, hosts the World Championships on 26, 27 and 28 March. As well as hosting this international event, the executive officer of the ACTA, Tony Turner, is overseeing the construction of the $6.1 million club house, conference centre and dining area for 600 guests. “Thanks to a substantial grant from the NSW Department of Sport and Recreation, we will have world-class facilities in place for international competitors, their entourage and visitors,” Tony explained. “We open in early March and already have events booked in to the conference centre for later in the year.” Three shooting sport clubs are collaborating in the development; as well as the National Clay Target Association, the Wagga small bore rifle and Wagga pistol clubs, which currently is located close by, will share the world class facilities. Matt Schiller, who will defend his world champion downthe-line title in March, has an impressive list of achievements, including representing Australia on five occasions and wining the world junior down-the-line competition in 2012. In that year, he also was awarded the Mackintosh perfect score trophy for shooting 250 of 250 targets. During the world championships, many functions will be held in the new centre, which will be available for other events. “This is the only venue in Wagga which can hold so many people for both conference and dining simultaneously. The audiovisual facilities are state-of-the-art, while our location is quiet and private, looking over paddocks,” Tony described. “At present, ACTA brings $1.5million into the local economy. However, with the new facilities, our turnover will increase exponentially. “With 800 competitors in the world championships, accommodation in Wagga is already booked out as that is the same weekend as the Food and Wine Festival and the Country Club’s Pro-Am tournament.” continued on page 2...
World champion marksman, Matt Schiller from Boorowa, holding the silverware from his win in Ireland in 2016.
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