SSAA National Benchrest Centrefire Championships

THE 2026 SSAA National Benchrest Centrefire Championships were held at Dairyville range Coffs Harbour over the 4 day Easter weekend. We had competitors from WA, SA, Qld and NSW attending. Local shooter Michael Thompson was the overall winner of the 4 days he was 1st in all categories the 2-gun with .2270. 3-gun with .2160 and finally 4-gun with .2297, he also broke the Australian record in the Sporter event. Another highlight for local shooters was Keiran Grabham 3 rd overall in the Sporter. Well done to Michael and Keiran. I would also like to acknowledge the enormous effort of our volunteers who help make these event the success they are. Top 3 results for all categories are as follows: Unimited which involves 10 shot groups instead of 5. We had 28 competitors for the day. 100yds: Darren Parsons (NSW) agg .2378 and smallest group .161. Milan Morell (SA) agg .2360 sg .188. Gavin Marshall (Qld) agg .2376 sg .188. 200yds: Michael Thompson (NSW) agg .2387 sg .434. Darren Parsons(NSW) .2769 sg .385. Brendon Atkinson (SA) .3129 sg .464. For both distances Darren Parsons (NSW) .2549. Michael Thompson (NSW) .2709. Gavin Marshall (Qld) .2883. Sporter with 34 competitors: 100yds: Michael Thompson (NSW) .1916 sg .121. New Australian record. John Babic (NSW) .2372 sg .162. Brendon Atkinson (SA) .2482 sg .178. 200yds: John Babic (NSW) .1884 sg .238. New Australian record. Michael Thompson (NSW) .1962 sg .222. and local Keiran Grabham .2534 sg .330. For both 100 and 200yds: Michael Thompsons .1939 broke his existing Australian record. John Babic (NSW) .2128 and finally Keiran Grabham .2615. Sunday saw 52 shooters line up for the LB Custom, the weather conditions were atrocious for competitive shooting with gusty almost gale force winds all day. 100yds Mitchell Tallar (NSW) .1920, sg .169. Michael Thompson (NSW) .2214 sg .176. William Greer (Qld).2420 sg .172. 200yds: Keith Sewell (Qld) .2588 sg .330. Colin Farquharson (WA) .2638 sg .285. Brendon Atkinson (SA) .2661 sg .324. Overall placings Mitchell Tallar (NSW) .2395. Michael Thompson (NSW) .2522 and Brendon Atkinson (SA) .2635. Smallest group for the day was Trevor Brown (Qld) with a .109. Day 4 the wind had kindly dropped with no showers in sight HB custom was order of the day with 56 shooters lining up at the firing line. 100yds: Josh Rusell (Qld) .1706 sg .084. Brendon Atkinson (SA) .1882 sg .139. John Babic (NSW) .1906 sg .104. 200yds: Keith Sewell (Qld) .1808 sg .196. Keith was later inducted into the Benchrest Hall of Fame. Thomas Thompson (Qld) .1869 sg .185. Michael Thompson (NSW) .1942 sg .301. Overall placings Keith Sewell .1998. Michael Thompson .2018. Thomas Thompson .2047.

By Rod MADELEY