Damien Marangon to retire as Shooting Australia CEO

After seven years with Shooting Australia–six as Chief Executive Officer–Damien Marangon announced his resignation today.

Shooting Australia President Cath Fettell praised Damien for his leadership of the organisation. “Damien has been a terrific CEO and he has done a wonderful job delivering tangible outcomes and professionalising Shooting Australia. During his tenure the sport has delivered Olympic gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the best-ever individual gold medal tally at a Commonwealth Games and continues to deliver consistently on the world stage.”

Fettell continued, “Damien leaves our sport in a strong position with a high-performance program that delivers consistent world-class results, excellent relationships with Federal and State governments, increased funding, new partnerships with the National Institute Network, and a peak body organisation which is respected nationally and internationally.

Marangon reflected on his achievements during his time with Shooting Australia: “It has been an honour and a privilege to lead this sport and I am truly grateful for the opportunity. I leave knowing that the sport is in a great place and that its future is bright.”

“Perhaps more than anything else I am proud of how Shooting Australia now sees itself: as a professional and successful high-performing organisation.”

Marangon’s last day with Shooting Australia will be Friday 12 April 2019.

Media Contact
Kelly Wright – 0411 149 995

Bronze for the Mixed Team

Day two medals two! Natalie Smith and Glen McMurtrie have taken the bronze medal in the inaugural Rifle Standing Mixed Team at the World Shooting Para Sport World Cup in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates at the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club

“It’s an honour to be among the first medalists in a brand new WSPS event,” said McMurtrie when asked after the win.

“Our shooting seemed to complement each other and it was fun to work as a team.” said Smith about the bronze winning team. “I’m glad that it (the Rifle Standing Mixed Team event) will be kept in the program going forward.”

High Performance Team Manager Kurt Olsen also added: “This is a great result, showing what we can achieve as we work together and take on the rest of the world”

Action in Al Ain continues until 24 February, with live results available on World Shooting Para Sport’s website.

Anton Zappelli takes Bronze

In a great start to the year for our Para Shooters Western Australian Anton Zappelli has taken the bronze medal in the R3 10m Air Rile Prone Mixed SHI on day one of the World Shooting Para Sport World Cup in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates at the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club.

“I’m happy that all my hard work is starting to pay off,” said Zappelli when asked after the win.

High Performance Team Manager Kurt Olsen added: “This is a great start to the Al Ain World Cup. It gives us a great platform to build momentum for the rest of the week and then on to the World Championships in Sydney later this year.”

The Al Ain World Shooting Para Sport World Cup is an important chance for our athletes to secure qualification slots for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and will run run 16 to 24 February.

Richard Sammon confirmed as Shotgun National Team Coach.

After a recruitment process generating national and international interest Shooting Australia has named Richard Sammon as Shotgun National Team Coach. “Richard is a well-established member of our Shotgun community and we are delighted with his appointment,” commented Shooting Australia High Performance Director Adam Sachs.

“Richard is a very genuine person with strong values and high integrity,” Sachs continued. “These assets, complemented by his passion for learning and helping others to learn, will make him an excellent leader of our Shotgun National Team.”

Sammon has already provided critical support to the Shotgun National Team at national camps and international events as an Assistant Coach, developing strong working relationships with the Shotgun athletes and their personal coaches.

“I am honoured and excited to lead our National Shotgun Team through the 2019 season and into the Tokyo 2020 Olympics,” said Sammon. “I am grateful to have the opportunity to build on what is already a strong program with a group that has enormous potential.”

There will be little time to settle in, with the International Season kicking off in March 2019 with the first Shotgun World Cup in Acapulco, Mexico.

“The direction in which our Team is heading is very exciting and I can’t wait to get started helping our athletes achieve their goals leading into 2020,” observed the new coach. “Our focus for this year is attaining additional quota positions to add to the two quotas already secured at the 2018 World Championships in Changwon, South Korea.”

Sachs added, “With fewer than 18 months until the 2020 Olympic Games Richard and our athletes have important work to do. I am confident that Richard’s energy and professionalism, and the fantastic working relationships that he has already developed with the athletes and their personal coaches, are a strong foundation for the success of our Shotgun National Team in Tokyo next year.”

Top Guns Aislin Jones and James Willett

Monday, 21 January 2019

Victorian Institute of Sport’s Aislin Jones created history last week at the Australian Clay Target Association National Championships being the first ever woman to win a High Gun title.

The High Gun is awarded to an athlete whose qualifying scores from back to back competitions (Commonwealth Competition & National Competition) add together to equal the highest.

The VIS skeet shooter won both the junior and open women’s championships as well as posting two senior World Championship qualifying scores of 121 and 118.

Her combined total of 239/250 was enough to make her the Open High Gun award winner, the first ever woman to win the title.

Fellow VIS skeet shooter Keith Ferguson was runner up (236/250) after he took out the National Men’s championship.

The Trap shooters were also in fine form with Victorian Institute of Sport scholarship holder Penny Smith winning both the Commonwealth and National Open women’s titles as well as posting two World Championship qualifying scores across the week (114 & 123).

Runner up to Smith in both events, was VIS teammate and Commonwealth Games champion, Laetisha Scanlan who also posted two World Championship qualifying scores (115 & 115) and combined with VIS’ James Willett to win the Commonwealth Mixed Pairs title.

James Willet won titles of his own though, winning the Commonwealth and National titles in the Open men category which won him the High Gun title in the Trap division (240/250).

In the juniors Victorian Institute of sport young gun Mitch Illes won both the Commonwealth and National titles whilst also placing third in the open men’s, enough to have him High Gun runner up (239/250).

Original article by Victorian Institute of Sport can be found here

A Sport for All Australians

SHOOTING AUSTRALIA: 2018 SA Open. November 2, 2018. SISC, Cecil Park, NSW, Australia. Photo: Narelle Spangher, Shooting Australia: Gold Sally Johnston, Silver Scott Craig, Bronze Anton Zappelli – 50m Rifle Prone Mixed

The SA Open is target shooting’s pinnacle domestic event and the finale of the Performance Series, but this year’s event saw something special. At the 2018 SA Open men and women, able-bodied shooters and para-shooters, all competed side by side in pursuit of the same simple goal – to be the best competitor on the range.

This year International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) and the World Shooting Para Sports (WSPS) events were combined wherever possible.

“It is important to us at Shooting Australia that we show not just through our words but also through our behaviours and actions that we are a sport for all Australians.” said Shooting Australia CEO Damien Marangon.

“Seeing men and and women, able-bodied and para athletes–no segregation, all competing side by side for the very first time–reinforces for me the power of sport. I am proud of our organisation and of the sport of target shooting for making this happen.”

The SA Open ran from 2 November until 4 November at the Sydney International Shooting Centre at Cecil Park in Sydney’s west.

The SA Open results can be found on the Shooting Australia website at shootingaustralia.org, with a final results booklet and overall Performance Series winners list yet to come.

The 2018 Shooting Australia Awards of Excellence

The Shooting Australia Awards of Excellence function took place at the Novotel Sydney West HQ, Saturday 3 November. Hosted by Master of Ceremonies Annabelle Williams OAM this event acknowledges the past year’s achievements from our Highest Performing Athletes, Coaches, Officials, Clubs, Teams and Volunteers, and sees the Ashley Adams Perpetual Trophy awarded to the Athlete of the Year.

Ashley Adams Athlete of the Year

 Presented by the 2017 winner of the 2017 recipient of the Ashley Adams Perpetual Trophy

The Athlete of the Year receives the Ashley Adams Perpetual Trophy, recognising the best and fairest athlete of a calendar year.

The winner of the 2018 Athlete of the Year Award and recipient of the Ashley Adams Perpetual Trophy is: Elena Galiabovitch.

Team of the Year

Presented by David Crosbee

The winner of the 2018 Team of the Year Award is: GC2018 Commonwealth Games Australia Shooting Team.

Para-shooter of the Year

Presented by Miroslav Sipek

The winner of the 2018 High Performance Para-shooter of the Year Award is: Scottie Brydon.

High Performance Athlete of the Year – Senior Male

Presented by Clive Pugh

The winner of the 2018 High Performance Athlete of the Year Award Senior Male is: Dane Sampson.

High Performance Athlete of the Year – Senior Female

Presented by Bruce Scott

The winner of the 2018 High Performance Athlete of the Year Award Senior Female is: Laetisha Scanlan.

Target Sport Athlete of the Year Award Senior Male

Presented by Bruce Scott

The winner of the 2018 Target Sport Athlete of the Year Senior Male 2018 is: Rod Davies.

Target Sport Athlete of the Year – Senior Female

Presented by Bruce Scott

The winner of the 2018 Target Athlete of the Year Senior Female is: Renae Birgan.

High Performance Athlete of the Year Award Junior Female

Presented by Catherine Clarke

The winner of the 2018 High Performance Athlete of the Year Award Junior Female is: Aislin Jones.

High Performance Athlete of the Year Award Junior Male

Presented by Catherine Clarke

The winner of the 2018 High Performance Athlete of the Year Award Junior Male is: Nathan Argiro.

Target Sport Athlete of the Year Award Junior Female

Presented by Ray Andrews

The winner of the 2018 Target Sport Athlete of the Year – Junior Female 2018 is: Isabelle Cameron.

Target Sport Athlete of the Year – Junior Male

Presented by Ray Andrews

The winner of the 2018 Target Sport Athlete of the Year – Junior Male is: Nathan Argiro.

Coach of the Year

Presented by Catherine Berry

The winner of the 2018 Coach of the Year is: Charlie Galea.

Official of the Year

Presented by Catherine Berry

The winner of the 2018 Official of the Year is: Gordon de Groen.

Club of the Year 

Presented by Catherine Berry

The winner of the 2018 Club of the Year is: Frankston Australian Clay Target Club.

Volunteer of the Year

Presented by Catherine Berry

The winner of the 2018 Volunteer of the Year is: Jane Vella.

Scottie Brydon makes history at World Cup

three male Para shooters in wheelchairs with Scottie Brydon in the middle waving to the crowd

Scottie Brydon made history on French soil by setting a new world records on Friday (28 September) at the World Shooting Para Sport World Cup in Chateauroux.

Scottie achieved a score of 37 in the PT1 (mixed trap seated SG-S), beating Great Britain’s Allan Ritchie by just one point. It was actually the latter who used to hold the world record of 34, set earlier this year at the Al Ain World Cup.

“I am very happy to have broken the world record. It was fantastic to compete at this range,” said Brydon.

Competition finishes on Saturday (29 September).

Chateauroux 2018 is being streamed live on World Shooting Para Sport’s website, where live results are also available.

Original article by World Shooting Para Sport can be found here

Gold for Natalie Smith in France

Australia emergers triumphant

The R2 (women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1) was the most thrilling event of day 1 at the at the Chateauroux 2018 World Shooting Para Sport World Cup in France and was only decided in a shoot-off. After both scoring 246.5 points, Australia’s Natalie Smith beat Germany’s Natascha Hiltrop 10.1 to 10.0. This means Natalie brings home a quota for Australia.

Australian veteran Christopher Pitt took bronze.

Chateauroux 2018 runs until 29 September and is being streamed live on World Shooting Para Sport’s website. , where live results are also available.

Original article by World Shooting Para Sport can be read here

Australia’s Argiro secures gold at the end of a thrilling final

Despite missing three of his last five targets, Australian Nathan Argiro finished atop the Trap Men Junior podium, preceding silver medalist Logan Joseph Lucas of the United States of America and bronze medalist Lorenzo Ferrari of Italy.

Two World Championship debutants battled for the Trap Men Junior gold medal at the Changwon International Shooting Centre in Changwon (KOR).

Australia’s Nathan Steven Argiro — whose best result in a Junior World Cup is a 5th place at this year’s competition in Sydney (AUS) — prevailed over 18-year-old Logan Joseph Lucas of the United States of America, making his first start ever in an ISSF competition.

Halfway through the final, the two youngsters were already standing in 1st and 2nd position, with the Australian leading on the American by the smallest margin. By missing six of the following 10 targets, however, Lucas allowed Argiro to take a four-hit lead, a lead that the young Australian shooter almost threw away when he missed three of his final five targets, finishing with 42 total hits out of 50 targets and securing the brightest medal.

Lucas concluded in 2nd position and won silver with 41 hits.

On the highest step of the team podium Australia claimed the gold medal with 348 total hits.

The original article by Marco Vettoretti can be found here
Photo: Photo: Alessandra Lazzarotto