Media releases

Shooting Australia has recently approved its 2021 Anti-Doping Policy which comes into effect on 1 January 2021.

The Shooting Australia anti-doping policy is the Australian National Anti-Doping Policy and can be found on the Sport Integrity Australia website here

All members, participants and non-participants in the sport of target shooting are bound by these rules. This includes athletes, support personnel and employees whose employment contracts enables this.

It is important that all members understand their obligations under the new policy. Changes include a new anti-doping rule violation of retaliation, a category of athletes that is lower-level and flexibility related to sanctioning for certain levels of athletes/participants.

Further information can be found here

For more information about all Integrity topics, visit the Sports Integrity webpage

Shooting Australia today announced a comprehensive program of events for the 2021 National Performance Series.

The series that was cancelled in 2020, will see up to 40 major competitions held across the Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun and Fullbore disciplines with several of them fully integrated with Able and Para athletes shooting side by side.

Commencing next month, the majority of Performance Series events in each discipline will serve as selection qualifying events for either the 2021 ISSF Junior World Championships, the 2021 Oceania Shooting Federation Championships, or the Commonwealth Shooting and Archery Championships to be held in India in January, 2022.

Conducted in partnership with Shooting Australia’s Member Organisations and Event Partners, the 2021 Performance Series will also provide the most meaningful competition for athletes in preparation for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held in July, August, and September next year.

Shooting Australia Chief Executive, Luke van Kempen, said the Performance Series schedule provides a multitude of benefits for athletes while providing a clear National Teams selection pathway.

“Given the uncertainty of whether our Olympic and Paralympic Team members will be able to travel overseas prior to the Tokyo Games, we need to ensure there is a high-level domestic competition series that gives athletes a great preparation before they leave for the Games,” said Mr van Kempen.

“We’re also utilising the Performance Series to select our National Teams who will compete at the 2021 ISSF Junior World Championships, 2021 Oceania Shooting Federation Championships and the 2022 Commonwealth Shooting and Archery Championships. These teams will be selected from the nominated events within each discipline over the course of the year.

“This means that there will be consistent opportunities for athletes to compete in meaningful, high-level competitions which we believe will continue to elevate athlete performance standards.

Mr van Kempen also outlined a revamped National Team Selection Strategy and a new National Squad Structure.

“The existing National Squad, Aiming for Gold (A4G), was established to identify a group of athletes who Shooting Australia support to develop towards National Team selection and medal success in international competition,” said Mr van Kempen.

“Over the course of this year, we reviewed this structure in line with the direction that the Australian Institute of Sport is taking with all of their funded sports. As a result, we have developed a new three-tier squad structure,” he added.

The squads are:

High Performance Squad – Current world-class athletes who have demonstrated their ability to regularly make finals and win medals in International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) competitions in recent years
Performance Squad – Athletes who are regularly achieving selection to National Teams and whose international performances indicate that they are ‘on track’ to making finals and win medals in ISSF competitions
Pathways Squad – Athletes who are considered capable of achieving National Team selection based largely on their performances in domestic competition (i.e. junior or senior) and demonstrated commitment to becoming a High Performance athlete.

“The introduction of this tiered National Squad structure will enhance our program impact by allowing a clear delineation of athletes at different stages of their development allowing us to cater for them with appropriate support and resourcing,” said Mr van Kempen.

“Under the new structure our National Coaches and High Performance staff will have the ability to engage with athletes earlier in their journey through the evolving pathway,” he added.

Mr van Kempen said the High Performance Selection Strategy was reviewed following the Tokyo 2020 cycle.

“The National Team Selection Strategy has been revamped as we head into the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic cycle. The improvements to the strategy are in line with the changes we’ve seen across the Australian Institute of Sport direction for Australian High Performance sport, as well as the changes to the ISSF competition structure leading into Paris 2024.

“We’re confident that our new National Squad structure along with the 2021-2022 National Team Selection Strategy and 2021 Performance Series of events will go a long way to ensuring Shooting remains one of Australia’s most successful Olympic sports,” he said.

Full details of the event specific selection policies will be available in the New Year.

2021 NATIONAL PERFORMANCE SERIES

Team Selection Key
jWCH: ISSF Junior World Championships
OC: Oceania Championships
CSC: Commonwealth Shooting Championships

PISTOL – Pistol Australia (PA)

 

 

 

 

 

Rifle – Target Rifle Australia (TRA)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shotgun – Australian Clay Target Association (ACTA)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fullbore – National Rifle Association of Australia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Further information; Greg Campbell, PRISM Strategic Communications, Ph; 0418 239 139. E: [email protected]

 

Sports social media data specialists Shunt have revealed in a recent report that shooting clubs around the country have upped their Facebook productivity in the last five years by over 100% while engagement has leapt a staggering 350%. Not even Covid can knock clubs off-target with 2020 results suggesting a full recovery is within sight.  

Engagement levels (total reactions, comments and shares) from the 265 clubs monitored has risen from 60,637 in 2015 to 272,325 last year. This represents one of the steepest growth profiles Shunt has seen from 20 sports surveyed and suggests audiences are increasingly ‘liking’ what clubs are posting.

In another interesting chart, the 2020 productivity graph for shooting clubs nationally started strongly reaching a high of 1,638 in March just as lockdowns took effect. What followed was a significant drop in posts published, falling to a low of 522 in April before steadily climbing back to pre-Covid levels by October in what has been an encouraging recovery for the sport.

Another core metric Shunt monitors closely is the performance of posts published on Facebook. This is calculated via a simple ratio (average number of engagements per post) and acts as a useful indicator in determining whether clubs have got the balance between post quantity and quality right.

Here we can see that Wagga Clay Target Club are averaging 38.52 engagements per post, with Guyra Gun Club close behind on 36.61 with Goulburn Clay Target Club third.

Shunt’s report suggests that shooting clubs around the country have been steadily building their social media capacity and capabilities for the last five years. This has enabled them to manage the disruptive effects of Covid-19 and emerge well-placed for further gains in 2021.

To see the full Shunt report including Top-10 club results for audience size, productivity and engagement in what is a good news story for the sport at the end of a challenging year click here

Shooting Australia today announced its 2021 National Performance Series in all target Shooting disciplines will involve several events that will be fully integrated with Para Shooters competing alongside the nation’s best able-bodied athletes, including those who have been selected for the Tokyo Olympics.

The ground-breaking decision co-incides with today’s celebration of International Day of People with a Disability.

Shooting Australia Chief Executive, Luke van Kempen, said that for selected events, competitors in Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun disciplines will all compete under International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) competition regulations, proving that the sport is fully inclusive regardless of ability or disability.

“For example, we will see Paralympic Rifle athletes Anton Zappelli and Natalie Smith shooting on the line against Dane Sampson and Elise Collier, who have been selected for the Tokyo Olympics. Olympic Trap athletes James Willett and Thomas Grice, who will make his Olympic debut in Tokyo, will be lining up against Para Shooting Trap World Record holder, Scottie Brydon,” he added.

“Shooting competitions in Australia have staged the odd event in the past where Para and able-bodied athletes have shot on the same line, and now we have the opportunity to further integrate this into our 2021 National Performance Series,” said van Kempen.

“Integrated competition in our Performance Series is the initiative of our National Coaches and is fully supported by our leading Olympians and Paralympians,” he added.

“There are some events such as men’s and women’s Air Rifle Prone, which is an exclusive Paralympics event, where integration is not possible.”

The decision represents a major breakthrough according to 12-time Paralympian and nine-time Paralympic Shooting gold medallist, Libby Kosmala.

In 1994, Kosmala famously sought legal action after she was denied entry into the South Australian Club Champions final after being crowned the Morialta Club Champion.

“This is fantastic news,” said Kosmala. “It’s something I’ve been pushing for for many years.”

Sampson said the decision will have wider benefits.

“This is good news and good for the sport. Hopefully, it will lead to more clubs and organisations conducting more fully integrated Shooting events,” said Sampson.

The 2021 National Performance Series events schedule will be announced later this month.

Shooting Australia, together with their Member Organisations will continue to work closely with 2021 National Performance Series host clubs and venues to ensure they are supported in the smooth and efficient delivery of fully integrated competitions.

Further information;

Greg Campbell, PRISM Strategic Communications. Ph: 0418 239 139 E: [email protected]

Olympic Pistol athlete Elena Galiabovitch has been named as one of 14 Victoria Institute of Sport (VIS)  athletes to win 2XU Coach Awards. The awards were announced as part of the 2020 Victorian Institute of Sport Awards presented last night.

The 2XU Coach Awards were presented to an athlete in each VIS sport program who is the most deserving within this calendar year.

This year was also the first time that athletes from the Individual Scholarship Program and the Future Talent Program received a Coach Awards.

“Elena is living the VIS’ motto of “Success in Sport and Life,” said VIS Nicky Frey, Shooting Program Manager.

“She has managed to juggle night shifts as a doctor with training and staying in touch with the performance support team. She is highly self-aware and when she has her mind set on something, she will do It.

“2020 was always going to be a challenging year for Elena. A second Olympics and a chance to be competitive amongst the world’s best was one thing, delaying her medical ambitions to enter a surgical program another,” added Frey.

“Already committing to six months away from her medical career, the postponement of Tokyo threw up another huge hurdle of blowing out that professional hiatus to 18 months.

“With a couple of weeks to process what this meant, Elena embarked on ways to continue training for Tokyo while taking on work that would not only provide income, but keep her learning and progressing in her professional capacity.

“2020 therefore had become a year to continue training and technical development, physical and mental skills training while taking on night duty locums including COVID isolation wards, working in the telehealth area in urology clinics and embarking on a Masters of Surgery.

“Elena has successfully gained a place on a surgical program next year after performing well through the interview process. She has deferred entry until post Tokyo,” said Frey.

Galiabovitch said; “I would like to thank my family, my parents and all of the support staff at the Victorian Institute of Sport. Everyone around me has been really supporting and encouraging and has helped me get to where I want to be especially during this challenging time.

“There is a real feeling of community at the VIS, which I’m really grateful for. Also thank you to 2XU for sponsoring this award.”

Further information; Greg Campbell, PRISM Strategic Communications, Ph: 0418 239 139.

Shooting Australia Tuesday night announced the winners of the 2020 Awards of Excellence.

The four Community Awards categories were:

Volunteer of the Year – Doug Caple

Doug is a life member of the Hornsby RSL Rifle Club. He has held the positions of Club Captain and Club President and is considered a club ‘legend’. Every week Doug is the first to arrive at the range and sets up all the equipment. He then spends the time, before the range is open, completing range maintenance. And in the afternoon, he is there organising the packing up.

He is qualified to administer the Firearms Safety Awareness Testing and he goes above and beyond in ensuring participants are well versed in the safety rules. Doug is the first to volunteer for Range Officer duties be it at a Saturday afternoon club shoot, district shoots, OPMs or PSR.

Club of the Year – Belmont Junior Air Rifle Club

The Belmont Junior Air Rifle Club was formed in 2018 in response to the Queensland Government’s post 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games ‘Embracing 2018’ legacy programme. Coaches obtained TRA Club Coach qualifications with some being invited to further their training under Carrie Quigley.

Some staff also completed the TRA Range Officers course and are progressing with their practical assessments. Enrolments in the first year of operation were 20 juniors, and that number has been reasonably maintained ever since.

The Club has:

• Promoted the attendance at the Queensland Government ‘Weapons Act Safety    Course’
• Registered with the Queensland Government under the ‘Fair Play’ scheme, which provides financial support to juniors from low socio-economic situations
• Participated in the Shooting Australia ‘Come and Try’ programme
• Participated in the Shooting Australia postal competition this year
• Participated in the Shooting Australia Junior Training Camp conducted by Carrie Quigley
• Registered with Duke of Edinburgh as a provider

Recently BJARC coaches conducted a State Junior Camp which led to juniors competing in the State Championships with notable success. 

Official of the Year – Dennis Claxton

Dennis has been involved in Small-Bore and Air Rifle shooting for many years and currently serves as President of the New South Wales Small Bore and Air Rifle Association Inc.

Dennis has a long history of involvement in the sport as an official, officiating at many events from local through to international events such as Oceania Continental Championships, ISSF World Cups and WSPS World Championships in a variety of roles including range officer and jury member. His dedication as an official extends to mentoring aspiring officials.

Coach of the Year – Mike Jarrad

Mike has a passion for the sport and for coaching others to not only become a better athlete, but a better person.

Mike doesn’t coach by the book. He understands every athlete is different and he coaches accordingly, whether by the way he communicates, the way a training session is structured, or noticing when the ‘cookie cutter’ positions don’t work for certain body types.

He uses drills and games no other coach does, he observes things in a way no one else does, and he notices the smallest of things that make the biggest difference.

Mike spent several years coaching wheelchair athletes which has shaped his coaching methods.

One of his greatest success stories is Rifle athlete Elise Collier. Elise came into the sport less than three years ago with very basic knowledge and skills and next year she will be representing Australia at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Shooting Australia Chief Executive, Luke van Kempen, congratulated all four winners on their Awards saying they are an inspiration to the Shooting community.

“They are very worthy Awards recipient and we applaud the selfless work that has completed at the important grassroots level of our sport over the past 12 months,” said Mr van Kempen.

“Shooting, like all sports, relies on hard-working community volunteers, clubs, coaches and officials and are we are delighted to honour them with these prestigious Awards,” added Mr Van Kempen.

The Awards evening was live streamed via Shooting Australia TV and can be viewed at https://epicentre.tv/live-events/shooting-australia-2020-awards-of-excellence

Further information;

Greg Campbell, PRISM Strategic Communications. Ph: 0418 239 139 E: [email protected]

Shooting Australia’s 2020 Annual General Meeting has elected 2008 Beijing Olympic Games trap competitor, Craig Henwood, to its Board of Directors.

Henwood, who is Vice President and a Life Member of Melbourne Gun Club, replaces retiring Director, Alan Smith.

Shooting Australia President, Ms Cath Fettell, congratulated Henwood on his appointment and paid tribute to Smith.

“Alan has given outstanding service to Shooting as a Rifle athlete at two Olympic Games and at three Commonwealth Games, where he won two gold medals and one silver medal, before being appointed to the Shooting Australia Board in 2012,” said Ms Fettell.

“We welcome Craig and we look forward to his contribution as Shooting Australia continues on a journey of growth and transformation,” added Ms Fettell.

Ms Fettell said Shooting Australia emerged from a challenging 12 months in a strong position.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has played havoc with domestic and international sport, but in the last financial year we managed to successfully stage the World Shooting Para Sport World Championships, the Oceania Shooting Federation Championships and the Olympic Games nomination events prior to any significant impacts from COVID-19,” said Ms Fettell.

“This has allowed the Australian Olympic Committee to select the Shooting team for the Tokyo Olympics to be staged in July and August next year. This has given our athletes selection certainty and will help them best prepare for the Games. We have also achieved two quotas for the Tokyo Paralympics, with two further opportunities to chase ahead of this event scheduled for August – September 2021.”

Shooting Australia Chief Executive, Luke van Kempen, said the organisation finished in a strong position at the end of FY20 despite the challenges encountered from the global pandemic.

“We are well positioned to finish our business in Tokyo 2021 and launch a raft of new initiatives as we head towards Paris in 2024 and beyond,” said Mr van Kempen.

“We are very grateful that Shooting Australia’s High Performance investment has been confirmed by the Australia Institute of Sport for FY21 and FY22 at a consistent level, plus additional Para Shooting funding.

“After a really positive Members Forum held over the weekend, Shooting Australia remains committed to working collaboratively with our Member Organisations to build on our success and enhance the sustainability of target shooting sports in Australia into the future,” he added. 

 

NOTICE TO MEMBERS – CHANGE IN COMPANY AUDITOR

Australian International Shooting Limited (“the Company”) advises its members that the Australian Securities and Investment Commission has consented to the resignation of the Company’s auditors, Gray Perry – DFK, effective from 1 December 2017.

 In accordance with Regulatory Guide 26, paragraphs RG26.59-RG26.61, the Company provides the following information:

Outgoing Auditor
Gray Perry – DFK
Unit 1, 89-93 South Terrace
Adelaide, SA 5000

Incoming Auditor
David Francis
Bentleys South Australia
Level 5, 63 Pirie Street
Adelaide, SA 5000

The reason for the change in auditor is due to Shooting Australia retendering for audit services for the financial year ended 30 June 2017. The Company’s Board has reviewed Bentleys’ suitability for the role of external auditor. The outcome of this review was that Bentleys be appointed as the new auditor of the Company. Bentleys has consented to act as auditor of the Company and David Francis is our key contact at Bentleys.

Shooting Australia has appointed experienced sports administrator Sarah Brady to the newly created position of General Manager, Commercial and Marketing.

Commencing today, Brady will be responsible for expanding Shooting Australia’s revenue streams, delivering events and broadening communication and marketing activity ahead of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games next year.

Brady has vast experience working with sports, clubs, venues and major events and was recently Tournament Experience Manager at the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup where she successfully delivered a record breaking tournament which was recently named Australian Event of the Year.

Brady has also previously held senior marketing and commercial positions with Brisbane Lions and GWS Giants AFL Clubs, Manly-Warringah and South Sydney NRL teams, Etihad Stadium and Paul Sergeant Events.

Shooting Australia Chief Executive, Luke van Kempen, said Brady rose above a large, high quality field of applicants.

“We are delighted Sarah is joining Shooting Australia at a time where we are undergoing an exciting period of commercial transformation,” said Mr van Kempen.

“Shooting Australia has secured the 2024 World Junior Championships with other international events for Australia also on the horizon,” he added.

Brady said she was looking forward to working with staff and athletes at Shooting Australia and establishing and building strong and lasting relationships with stakeholders, partners, contractors and Member Organisations.

“I have a strong passion for working with and growing sports,” said Brady.

“I have spent most of my career finding and creating new audiences and revenue streams for clubs, sports and events. I believe the sport of Shooting has enormous potential as we move closer to next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games and through to the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris and beyond,” she added.

Further information;

Greg Campbell, PRISM Strategic Communications. Ph: 0418 239 139 E: [email protected]

Shooting Australia (SA) will initiate a range of new developments to its High Performance program through to the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games following confirmation of funding from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) for the 2021-22 Financial Year.

Shooting Australia will receive total funding of $2,940,252 for its 2021-22 Olympic and Paralympic program. This is inclusive of an additional $40,000 for its Paralympic program. This funding comes after the AIS committed $2,900,252 for the current Financial Year last July.

Shooting Australia Chief Executive, Luke van Kempen, thanked the AIS for its continued support of SA’s High Performance (HP) program.

“This funding provides certainty for our athletes, coaches and staff and will allow us to finalise the preparation of our Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic teams as well as implement a number of new programs and activities towards Paris,” said Mr van Kempen.

“Shooting is Australia’s seventh most successful Olympic sport of all time and we are confident that the 15-member team we’ve selected for the Tokyo Games next year is capable of building on this success,” he added.

Shooting Australia High Performance Director, Adam Sachs, said that with funding secured for the first two years of the next Olympic cycle, SA could now initiate a range of new developments to its High Performance program.

“Our success in the Tokyo cycle has provided us with the perfect foundations to grow our High Performance program and continue to deliver world class performances through to the 2024 Paris Games and beyond.

“We are planning for a new National Squad structure that will support the development needs of more athletes at different stages of Shooting’s performance pathway,” said Mr Sachs.

“This will include integrating our able-bodied and para-shooting athletes – current and future – into enhanced HP programs for Rifle and Pistol disciplines in particular.

“The funding will also support increased investment in high-quality domestic and international competition that will challenge and support our athletes’ progress towards podium performances at benchmark events,” he said.

“And there will be increased support for the development of HP coaches with the character and skill to lead the development of our athletes, and a continuing commitment to growing our high performance culture – on and off the range – through the development of our people and teams,” he added.

Further information: Greg Campbell, PRISM Strategic Communications. Ph: 0418 239 139 E: [email protected]

Shooting Australia today announced the category nominees for 2020 Awards of Excellence to be held on November 17.

In a Shooting Australia first, the Awards evening, hosted by Jon Harker and Annabelle Williams, will be live streamed via Shooting Australia TV at 7.00pm (AEDST). With national and international competition significantly reduced this year because of COVID-19, the High Performance Awards will not be presented.

Shooting Australia Chief Executive, Luke van Kempen, said, “There just hasn’t been the right threshold of events in the period that warrants the recognition of these High Performance awards. Of the events that were completed, athletes who have excelled have been recognised with a place in the Australian Shooting Team for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held next year.”

The four Community Awards categories and finalists are:

• Volunteer of the Year: Doug Caple (NRAA), Jeff Bell (ACTA), Graeme Harvey (PA), Sylvia Muehlberg (TRA), Tania Evans (ACTA)
• Club of the Year; Melbourne Gun Club (ACTA), Belmont Junior Air Rifle Club (TRA), Rocky Gully Sporting Clays (SCA)
• Official of the Year: Ray Girdlestone and Janelle Rossiter (TRA, joint entry), Dennis Claxton (TRA)
• Coach of the Year: David Coleman (ACTA), Dina Aspandiyarova (PA), Mike Jarrad (TRA)

Mr van Kempen said the Awards reflect the important role and contribution the Shooting community plays across the country.

“We cannot underestimate the valuable contribution coaches, officials, clubs and volunteers play in our sport. They are the unsung heroes of Shooting and the Awards are about acknowledging the magnificent role they play,” he said.

“Their work has been especially challenging this year following the outbreak of COVID-19 . We recognise that people living in some states and territories haven’t had the same opportunity to take up the roles they normally would at their clubs due to the social distancing restrictions that have been in place.

“However, those clubs that have had the ability to re-boot this year have gone above and beyond the call of duty to provide their members with the opportunity to compete.

“We thank all clubs, officials, coaches and volunteers in our Member Organisation network and look forward to their ongoing work and contribution in the years ahead. Their work has been an inspiration for members of our community,” he added.

Further information;  Greg Campbell, PRISM Strategic Communications. Ph: 0418 239 139