The action at the Frontier shooting ranges in Stilfontein, North West, was as hot as a pistol during the 3rd round South African national practical shooting (formerly combat shooting) recently.
In the production class (9mm pistol), the Free State women represented well and looking at the results one would feel that the highly skilled sport was easier than shooting fish in a barrel.
Madelein van Rensburg (Bloemfontein), Mari Benecke (Welkom) and Frieda Alberts (De Aar) got the lead out and "hit the mark" by claiming 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Van Rensburg, who claimed the first spot, told Courant it’s always a treat shooting at the Frontier. "It was fantastic, the ranges are incredibly organised.
"At a national level there are always range officers, so everything is very strict and very organised.
"Frontier was really an awesome shoot, the competition was quite tough, it was by no means an easy competition, but it was a really enjoyable competition," said Van Rensburg.
The competition ranges from short, medium and long courses. The short course is a standing shot with 9 rounds fired, while the medium course seems anything between 12 and 20 rounds fired. The long course sees between 24 and 32 rounds fired and includes magazine changes and running.
For the three ladies, they have three more Free State league events this year which promises to be very interesting.
With the three top shots in the country all representing the province, the competition will be stiff to determine the eventual Free State champion and only time will tell if Alberts from De Aar retains the FS title.
The standard class had more shots in the past, but the production class is starting to attract more women shots, and Van Rensburg says this provides healthy competition.
"We were a total of seven or eight shots in the class, it is still very small and still growing, but the competition was there," the champion explained.
Following their regional events, the trio will set their sights on the Africa Championships, which will take place in Kraaifontein, Cape Town in March 2015.
