The true spirit of our sport
by Adriana Talajic
As we all know, the media have never understood the true beauty of sports shooting. Constantly, we see the truth being manipulated and sensationalised, as if sports shooting were a criminal act. I have seen, at first hand, what lengths the media have gone to just to gain attention and loyal readers.
I was involved in an article featured in The West Australian newspaper appallingly named ‘Gun clubs have kindy kids in their sights’ (September 14, 2007), which portrayed sports shooting as a barbaric and life-threatening sport. I tried everything in my power to get my voice heard in relation to the article, but I guess a 15-year-old has no such power against the media. Nevertheless, I forgot about the so-called ‘article’ and continued competing.
Soon after the article was printed, I received contact from the Australian Shooter magazine who wanted to write an article about my first encounter with the media and how I got into the world of sports shooting. Not long after that article was featured in the Australian Shooter December 2007 issue, I received contact that a fellow shooter wished to donate me an Izhmash Biathlon 7-2-KO .22LR Basic Version. Peter Male from New South Wales noticed that I was using a right-handed Walther .22 (just by observing the photo), even though I am a left-hander, and he wanted to help me out.
Peter is a former Australian Full Bore Rifle team member, Australian National and NSW Service Rifle Champion, RAN Champion Shot and ADF Service Rifle international team member and is still a very keen competitive shooter. As a left-hander himself, he understood the extra effort required to make a shot after constantly breaking position. He had also been through problems with the media after agreeing to have a photo taken of him during a shooting competition, which was used in news broadcasting as a backdrop in relation to some serious incidents involving the use of firearms.
Peter contacted his local firearms dealer, Keith Anderson from Industek Pty Ltd, about the donation, who agreed to help out with half of the cost of the rifle and shipping over to Perth. David Kerr from Progress Equipment then helped with the dealer transfer and Brian Blake from Arctic Fox optics donated a scope. I was rapt with the donations and help and realised that there are genuine, gracious and generous people out there, especially within this great sport. The media could never convince me otherwise.
After receiving the Izhmash, I was fascinated to witness that it had a straight-pull bolt, which was so different from any other rifle I had seen. After a few shots on the bench and getting used to it, I could see the great potential this unique rifle had to offer.
I would like to personally thank Peter Male, Keith Anderson, David Kerr and Brian Blake for their great act of generosity. This is proof that sports shooting is a highly-rewarding sport, on and off the range.
I am proud to know that Peter wishes to continue to help the future of this sport by donating rifles and equipment to shooters, as well as financially supporting events. As Peter recently said, “A new shooter can appreciate that from some small setbacks, there is always some good further down the track and that shooters are decent people who always seek to look after one another.” That can only be described as the true spirit of our sport.
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