2007 Harry Madden Memorial Varmint Championships
10-11 November 2007

The Heavy Varmint event was won by Stuart Elliott,
centre, from Paul Sullivan, left, and Phil Jones. The 2007 Harry Madden Shoot attracted a large crowd of the country’s best shooters to the tricky Belmont Range in Brisbane.

After the usual opening ceremony, the Light Varmint event began at 100 yards in very pleasant weather conditions. There was enough wind around to sort out the foolish from the brave, but if it was easy, everyone would be doing it.

Forty-seven shooters shot it out and all of the small groups in the individual relays were less than .2. This is the standard of competition in this country now. In a repeat of last year, Brendan Atkinson shot the smallest group of the yardage on the A target with a .156. However, it’s the aggregate that counts and Michael Heubner shot a .2106 to lead the pack. Ralph Garlick followed him, with Stuart Elliott third.

Most shoots are won at the longer yardage and out at 200 yards there was plenty of mirage and wind to play with. To get a small group in a relay one had to shoot around .5 and bulletmaker Karl Kuehn put down .505, which was not bettered.

Michael Heubner, centre, won the Light Varmint
event from Brendan Atkinson, left, and Stuart Elliott. In the race for the aggregate, Michael Heubner was on a mission and shot very consistently for a win with .4029. Brendan Atkinson was second and a fast-finishing Paul Sullivan was third.

The Grand Aggregate was a foregone conclusion and Michael Heubner was victorious in the Light Varmint event with an overall aggregate of .3068 - actually, he thumped the field. Brendan Atkinson was second on .3571 and Stuart Elliott was third on .3607.

Sunday was a whole new day, with heavier rifles permitted and weather conditions much the same. The field was down to 45 competitors and there was some very state-of-the-art equipment on the line.

Small groups came thick and fast at 100 yards and the best of these was a .144 shot by Annie Elliott. Making it a family affair, Stuart Elliott won the aggregate with a .2796, from Annie and Phil Jones.

The 2-Gun Aggregate was won by Stuart Elliott,
centre, from Brendan Atkinson and Michael Heubner.
Paul Sullivan, front, won the Harry Madden 200-yard
Heavy Varmint trophy. The good conditions could not last and the afternoon event at 200 yards was very trying and the longer it went on, the worse it got. However, it’s the same for everyone and the more experienced wind readers came to the fore.

There were some very good groups shot, all things considered, and the smallest was .310 by Paul Sullivan - where did he pull that one from? At the end of the day, it was not surprising that Paul had won the aggregate with a .3446, followed by Stuart Elliott and Brendan Atkinson. Paul was awarded the Harry Madden Memorial Trophy for his 200-yard win.

The last yardage had a big influence on the Grand Aggregate and Stuart Elliott took the trophy with .3181. Paul Sullivan was second on .3462 and Phil Jones was third on .3703.

In the race for the overall 2-Gun award, Stuart Elliott won on .3394. Michael Heubner hung on for second with .3642 and Brendan Atkinson came third with .3724.

Light Varmint				Heavy Varmint
Michael Heubner	Vic	.3068		Stuart Elliott	Qld	.3181
Brendan Atkinson	SA	.3571		Paul Sullivan	Qld	.3462
Stuart Elliott	Qld	.3607		Phil Jones	Qld	.3703
Annie Elliott	Qld	.3945		Ray Beavis	NSW	.3729
Ralph Garlick	NSW	.3984		Brendan Atkinson	SA	.3877
Paul Sullivan	Qld	.4021		Karl Keuhn	NSW	.3882
Steve Blaine	Qld	.4320		Michael Heubner	Vic	.4216
Robin Elton	Qld	.4354		Richard Drozdowski	NSW	.4222
Gavin Marshall	Qld	.4381		Annie Elliott	Qld	.4244
Barry Warwick	NSW	.4388		Travis Russell	Qld	.4316
2-Gun Aggregate
Stuart Elliott	Qld	.3394
Michael Heubner	Vic	.3642
Brendan Atkinson	SA	.3724
Paul Sullivan	Qld	.3742
Annie Elliott	Qld	.4094
Phil Jones	Qld	.4226
Ralph Garlick	NSW	.4346
Robin Elton	Qld	.4435
Ray Beavis	NSW	.4583
Steve Blaine	Qld	.4692