Mitchell Tallar - a Benchrest big shot
by senior correspondent Jennifer Martens
Some people were born to succeed. SSAA junior member Mitchell Tallar is one of them. At just 16, his skills at the bench are akin to veteran shooters three times his age and with only four years’ experience, he is already one of Australia’s best Benchrest shooters. He has competed in seven major competitions in the past 12 months and has claimed a win or major placing at each one. His specialties lie in International Rimfire Benchrest (IRB), Hunter Class, group and centrefire 500m Fly Shooting and 1000-yard Benchrest.
Mitchell’s rise in the ranks began in 2007. In March 2009, he won first place in the Junior Category and came seventh in Open Class at the Federal Cup 500m. There was much to celebrate that Easter too when he won the National Rimfire Junior Trophy (Custom Class) at Belmont. In July 2009, he claimed gold in the 1000-yard Heavy Gun Open Class for both group and score at the Australian Shooting Games and two months later, he placed first in both the Open Class and Junior Section at the Pro Cal Fly Shoot 500m. He ended the year on a high note, placing fourth in the Open Division at the IRB Nationals at Coffs Harbour in November.
The new year started just where he left off - with a string of wins. At this year’s Queensland IRB Championships, he came first in the Open Class and first among the juniors. At the Federal Cup 500m, he placed seventh in the Open Class and first in the Junior Division. At the IRB National Championships, held in Brisbane this April, Mitchell was named National IRB Open Champion, Junior Champion and Junior Rimfire Benchrest Champion for 2010. Combined with his performance at the IRB Nationals in November last year, he has secured the number-one position on the A Team of the Australian Pacific Regional Shooting Championships Team, which will compete in New Zealand in November this year.
Mitchell was introduced to the shooting sports by his father, who also enjoys Benchrest. “I went with Dad to the Pro Cal 500m Fly Shoot in Canberra in 2005 and really enjoyed watching and talking to the other shooters,” he said. After applying for his minor’s permit, he competed in the 500m Federal Cup in Canberra in 2006. He won the Junior Section and was subsequently hooked on the sport.
Benchrest National Discipline Chairman Alex Chryss said it was great to see Mitchell getting involved in the discipline with his family. “Benchrest provides a good opportunity for today’s families with hectic lifestyles and schedules to involve themselves in a sporting discipline that allows mums and dads to sit alongside the younger members of their family,” said Alex.
“It’s a discipline that allows a family to compete shoulder to shoulder and develop competitive spirit together, out in the open air.”
Ask a Benchrest shooter what firearm is the best and they will most likely say “Mine!” Mitchell is quite content with his ‘toolkit’, which is stocked with an Anschutz 54 rimfire, Anschutz 1442 rimfire, Remington 6PPC, 6mm Dasher and his favourite firearm, a Red Fly rifle in .30-06.
“There is a bit of gun envy in the sport,” says Mitchell, “but most people are happy with their firearms. Some people spend a lot of money on getting the best of everything, but at the end of the day, whatever you have, you still have to be able to drive it and guide the bullet it to its target.”
Each time he sits at the bench, he applies what he has learned from his father, who is his coach, and from his peers. “In my travels with shooting, I have met many genuine friends who are always giving me advice and helping me along the way.”
Two such people are fellow Australian Benchrest shooters Annie and Stuart Elliot who own Bench Rest Training - a training school that operates out of Brisbane. Mitchell attended one of their training courses and left a new shooter.
“They went through everything you need to know to be a Benchrest shooter, from setting up a rifle to reading wind flags. It was definitely worth it,” he said.
Mitchell, a Year 11 student whose career goal is to become an electrician when he leaves school, is in his second year with the Lonestar Program at Northern Inland Academy of Sport. The program is designed to assist talented athletes in the Northern Inland region achieve their sporting and education goals on and off the field. Mitchell hopes to follow in the footsteps of Annie and Stuart and someday represent Australia internationally.
When the Tamworth youngster isn’t studying, he is shooting, reloading, competing or hunting. And when he isn’t excelling in those areas, he is practising the art of tae kwon do. Mitchell has been studying martial arts for the past 11 years and recently began teaching Walsh Tae Kwon Do in Tamworth. His grasp of the discipline has earned him the rank of second dan black belt. He says the endurance, discipline and fitness he has gained during the years carry over nicely to the shooting range. He relied heavily on these tools at the Federal Cup in March, which saw shooters at the range preparing and competing from 7am to 8.30pm.
With so much on his plate, there’s little chance Mitchell could ever get bored, but there’s still more to this Benchrest big shot. He is also a member of the local woodturner’s club, where he is currently in the process of making a few riflestocks - one of which will be for an old Winchester Model 70 that he obtained from a mate. He plans to use a few tricks he has up his sleeve to turn the old Winchester into a new hunting partner.
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