National Benchrest Championships 2026

THOMPSON DOMINATES BENCHREST NATIONALS

The National Benchrest Championships for 2026 were conducted at the Dairyville Range near Coffs Harbour. This would have to be the prettiest SSAA range in Australia, as it is set in a rain forest and surrounded on three sides by tall trees and impenetrable bush.

Despite the fuel shortages, it was pleasing to see more than fifty competitors in two of the events, with a good number of younger shooters trying their luck on this deceptively tricky range.

Unlimited class

The first event on Good Friday the Unlimited class, and many rail guns were seen on the benches. This event calls for ten shot groups, and some remarkable targets were scored by our National Scorer Ian Thompson. The best of these was a .161 shot by Darren Parsons, and he went on the win the aggregate with a score of .2328 from Milan Morrell and Gavin Marshall.

At the longer yardage it was again Darren Parsons who shot the smallest group of .385, but the aggregate win went to Michael Thompson on .2387 from Darren and then Gavin Marshall in third position.

The grand aggregate winner was Darren Parsons on .2549 who received the Ron Marsden Perpetual Shield, from Michael Thompson on .2709 and Gavin Marchall on .2883.

Sporter class

Easter Saturday saw the Sporter Class being contested. This is the lightest class, but that does not mean they are less accurate. Tiny groups were the order of the day and the best of these was an excellent .121 shot by Michael Thompson. Michael went on to win the aggregate with a range measured new National record of .1916, from John Babic and Brendan Atkinson.

At two hundred yards it was the same story with excellent groups being recorded. Keith Sewell shot a .205 on his last card to record the smallest. John Babic won the aggregate with another National record – his .1889 put him ahead of Michael Thompson and Keiran Grabham. John was awarded the Alan Peake Memorial trophy for the yardage win.

It was no surprise that Michael Thompson won the grand aggregate and the Den-Lo Park Trophy, with yet another new National record of .1949 ahead of John Babic who also broke the old record with .2128 and Keiran Grabham third on .2615.

Light Rifle Class

The battle resumed on Easter Sunday, and once again tiny groups went under the measure. The best of these was a .109 shot by Trevor Brown. The aggregate saw a runaway win for Mitchell Taller on .1920, ahead of Michael Thompson and William Greer.

The two hundred yards usually sorts them out, and Keith Sewell showed how to do it with a .2588 agg just ahead of Colin Farquharson and Brendan Atkinson.

The Grand aggregate saw Mitchell Taller win the Top Gun Manufacturing Trophy with .2395 from Michael Thompson on .2522 and Brendan Atkinson on .2635.

Heavy Rifle Class

Easter Monday and the last day of competition. Conditions looked mild and tiny groups were expected. Any five-shot group under a tenth of an inch qualified for a “Screamer” patch and at one hundred yards there were three of them. The smallest of these was a .081 by Milan Morrell – Josh Russell shot a .084 and Will Greer shot a .098. That is what accurate rifles in good hands can do. The aggregate winner was Josh Russell on .1706 closely followed by Brendan Atkinson and John Babic.

A “screamer” group at two hundred yards must be under .250 and there were four of these! Keith Sewell had two of them, Tom Thompson and Sonia Frost the other two. Tom’s .185 was the best of these. The aggregate was always going to be small and Keith won this with .1808 from Tom on .1869 and Michael Thompson on .1942. Keith was awarded the Harry Madden Memorial trophy for the aggregate win.

Keith received the Catalyst Legal Trophy for the grand aggregate win with .1998 from Michael Thompson on .2018 and Thomas Thompson (no relation) on .2047.

Two Gun Trophy

The John Dark Memorial Two Gun trophy for the light and heavy classes went to Michael Thompson on .2270, from Keith Sewell on .2402 and Brendan Atkinson on .2463

Three Gun Trophy

The Max Coady Memorial Three Gun trophy for sporter, light and heavy combined went to Michael Thompson on.2160, from John Babic on .2384 and Keith Sewell on .2562

The four Gun Champion for 2026

The overall champion for 2026 was a well-deserved winner in Michael Thompson, who simply out shot everyone to claim the title. His .2302 (another National record) was miles ahead of second placed John Babic on .2676 and Josh Russell third on .2806. Well-tuned guns and a knowledge of the range paid dividends.

Once again, the SSAA Coffs Harbor branch turned on an exceptionally smooth and well-run shoot. Many thanks to all those involved especially those behind the scenes – you know who you are, and we appreciate your efforts.