The 2026 ACTA ISSF Trap Nationals were held at the Melbourne Gun Club from 7–11 January. Some of Australia’s leading clay target shooting athletes took to the range with the coveted blue National Title sash firmly in their sights.
Battling hot, blustery conditions in the opening Commonwealth Title event, competitors still rose to the challenge, producing world-class scores across both qualification and finals. In the Men’s Trap, Victorian, Mitch Iles, shot a perfect qualification score of 125 out of 125, equalling the Australian and World Record. Nathan Argiro (VIC) and Daniel Di Pietro (VIC) were one target off the top score with both shooting an impressive 124 out of 125.
Of his qualification performance Mitch reflected, “I had a really good qualification in the Commonwealth with a 125 which I was really pleased with. You strive to pull that off at least once in your career and I have come so close a couple of times and blown it so I was really pleased to do that and even more special to do it in front of my grandfather and something I would really have liked him to see and he was there to see it.”
Mitch continued his form, winning both the Commonwealth and National Men’s Trap Finals, while also securing the Men’s National High Gun for the top combined qualification performance across both events.
You can watch the post competition interview with Mitch via Shooting Australia’s YouTube page.
Victorian, Penny Smith, delivered a standout performance in the Commonwealth Women’s Trap Final, equalling her personal best with a superb 47 out of 50 targets to claim the title.
Of her Women’s Trap Commonwealth Title win Penny said, “The weather was challenging. It was hot. It was blowing gale. I shot 47/50 which is an equal PB for me in a final so I’m really proud of that considering the conditions.”
Penny also went on to win the National Women’s Trap Final and the National Women’s High Gun.
You can watch the post competition interview with Penny via Shooting Australia’s YouTube page.
Weather conditions for the National Title, contested over Saturday and Sunday, were markedly different, with significantly cooler temperatures and persistent cloud cover. Nicholas Wiseman from New Zealand was the top Men’s Trap qualifier shooting a score of 122 out of 125, while Penny Smith maintained her consistency, delivering a second qualification score of 119 out of 125. The Men’s Trap Final saw a thrilling head-to-head showdown between Thomas Grice (NSW) and Mitch, and in the Women’s final, it was Penny and Catherine Skinner (VIC) the last two standing, with Molly Bretag (VIC) securing the Bronze Medal.
Women’s Trap Commonwealth Title Final Results
GOLD Penny Smith (VIC) 47/50
SILVER Kiara Dean (VIC) 41/50
BRONZE Laetisha Scanlan (VIC) 31/40
Men’s Trap Commonwealth Title Final Results
GOLD Mitch Iles (VIC) 43/50
SILVER Nathan Argiro (VIC) 41/50
BRONZE Daniel Di Pietro (VIC) 31/40
Women’s Trap National Title Final Results
GOLD Penny Smith (VIC) 43/50
SILVER Catherine Skinner (VIC) 39/50
BRONZE Molly Bretag (SA) 29/40
Men’s Trap National Title Final Results
GOLD Mitch Iles (VIC) 44/50
SILVER Thomas Grice (NSW) 43/50
BRONZE Nicholas Wiseman (NZ) 29/40
