The Bendigo Bushrangers were pleased to host the Victorian State and Territorial Championships for Single Action shooting from March 8 to 10 in Bendigo. A fantastic 100 shooters participated over the hot and dusty weekend, many of whom had travelled from interstate, notably from Queensland, NSW, Tasmania and SA. To recapture the weekend, the speed events were held on Saturday morning. This was a great way to settle the pre-competition nerves and allow shooters time to familiarise themselves with the range conditions.

Match director Scottie Two Guns formally welcomed the shooters. Having ‘done the math’, he told shooters that over the weekend there would be “200 handguns, 200 longarms, 30,000 rounds go downrange and 1000 meals to be served!” He finished by saying, “Shoot safe, shoot straight and I hope that you all shoot the match clean!”

Twelve main stages were held over the three days, finishing with a shoot-off for the top 16 Men and top 8 Women shooters. The final results were Everett Hitch and Miss Lead (both Victorian junior shooters) achieving overall State Territorial winners for the weekend – an awesome effort!

Pearl Starr and Chuck Wagon from the Gold Coast Gamblers were outright Victorian State Titles Winners. Congratulations!

We aspire to Pearl Starr, Everett Hitch and Duke York who achieved a clean shoot. Congratulations.

Honorable mention must go to the following cowboys, who dropped one shot for the weekend: Judge Ruger, Sam Balin, Scottie Two Guns, Moonshine, Rattlesnake, Deadwood, Old Grizzly and Pot Shot Pete. Better luck next year!

The Spirit of the Game was awarded to the very deserving Duke York for his commitment, dedication and unquestionable passion to the sport. I take my hat off to you, Duke.

Never in my wildest dreams did we expect to reach a competitor field of 100 at this event. Well done to all competitors and sponsors who continued to show their support for what is possibly one of the greatest shooting disciplines of all time, Single Action.

The Bendigo Bushrangers will host the Victorian State and Territorial Championships in 2015 from March 7 to 9.

by JayBird