3-P Scoped Rifle at the 2010 PRSC

by Rod Frisby

I have made several trips to New Zealand as a member of a SSAA Australian Shooting Team to compete in 3-Position Scoped Rifle competitions. The flight across the Tasman of about four hours is pleasant and passes quickly - not like the trip to Camp Perry in the US, which can take up to 20 hours, before arriving at Cleveland Airport!

During our time in New Zealand for the 2010 Pacific Regional Shooting Championships (PRSC), the team stayed in accommodation at Geyserland in Rotorua. The hot mudpools and the geysers were just behind the motel, so it’s just a walk out to the balcony to enjoy the smell of rotting seaweed, or is that H2SO4 I smell? The accommodation was comfortable and we had to drive each day through some very scenic country from Rotorua to Tokoroa to get to the range.

As always, the New Zealand Team members and officials were friendly and willing to help to make the Aussie visitors welcome and in a frame of mind to shoot well. For this PRSC, it was decided to have teams of two and Australia sent three teams of two. I was happy to be partnered with Trevor Gulvin from Western Australia. Trevor has improved in his competitive shooting significantly in the past couple of years. I am sure this is in part due to what he is learning from his son Chris, who is now in the elite squad for ISSF Smallbore and trying out for the London Olympics.

The 3-P Scoped Rifle competitions were held at the Tokoroa Shooting Complex, which is just outside of Tokoroa on the New Zealand North Island. Driving from the main road into the complex is through a series of round topped hills, just like a scene from Lord of the Rings. We were always on the lookout for Hobbits, but unfortunately, did not encounter any!

Having been to the range before, I was most impressed with improvements made. New target frames, new wind flags and the range grass cut - it really did look great with the mountains, pine trees and a small river that runs past the complex to set off a picture postcard scene. This is the only range I know where there are fly-tying feathers on the hoof. Wild pheasants reside at the bottom of the range in this picture too.

The equipment used by most NRA 3-P competitors is now closely based on what is allowed for the ISSF form of Smallbore shooting - Anschutz, Walther and Feinwerkbeau smallbore rifles being the most popular. Most use the special shooting jacket, pants, boots and special buttplates, particularly as the New Zealand Team have now adopted what are basically ISSF 300m rifles for the Centrefire event.

Thanks to the team members for their company. Everyone was a great ambassador for our sport and our country. Thanks to the New Zealand and Australian organisers, volunteers and officials. Until one actually gets involved, people simply do not realise the amount of organisation and effort required to run a successful competition, like the PRSC. I look forward to the next PRSC in 2012, which will again be held in New Zealand.