Narrabri silhouette pistol shooter Jason Anderson has brought home the gold after he and his Australian team mates took out the top prize in the ‘Big Bore’ category at the International Metallic Silhouette Shooting Union championships in Hungary.
Jason is a member of the three- strong Big Bore team which won gold against the best shooters from countries around the world.
And the Big Bore team’s gold medal success was just part of the overall Australian shooters’ triumphs.
“The Australians just smashed it in each team event,” said Jason.
“We basically won everything.
“Australia won gold in every team category except one – and won a silver medal in that.”
A slightly jet-lagged Jason arrived back in Narrabri on Monday after the 12 day championships.
The Big Bore team, Jason, Tim Davey, Manilla, and Glen Anderson, Inverell, with coach Narrabri’s David Dewsbury, set off on June 15 for Budapest and then to Jászberény, a town in central Hungary, 60 km from the capital, Budapest for the world titles.
“The team was very happy with the results,” said Jason.
“At the presentation of medals the winning countries’ national anthems were played – we virtually heard the Australian national anthem all day.
“It was a very humbling experience and we were very proud.
“The championship organisers were delighted that Australia was competing and we were made to feel very welcome.”
Big Bore team member, Inverell shooter Tim Davey won outright with the highest individual score against all competitors – winning an additional gold medal.
Another Australian, Scott Dawson, Canberra, won outright with the highest aggregate score in the Smallbore category and also secured a second gold.
The European Metallic Silhouette Shooting Association championships were held concurrently with the world titles.
“We got to know and befriend guys from different countries – the camaraderie was great,” said Jason.
He paid tribute to the Narrabri Pistol Club which has provided support and mentoring through his competition career, as well as a range and club facilities considered to be among the best in Australia. Narrabri Pistol Club has now been announced as the host of the Australian Big Bore titles in September. Jason is a member of the NSW team which will contest the national championships.
“The team did exceptionally well,” said coach Dave Dewsbury who travelled with the group. “They shot really well. It’s a proud moment for Jason, the team and our sport.”
The Australians’ results – four team events yielding three gold and one silver – were impressive. The shooters’ trip was supported by the sport’s national and state bodies Pistol Australia and New South Wales Amateur Pistol Association.
Jason and his fellow competitive shooters are now aiming for the next international titles, the 2024 World Championships in South Africa.
To be picked for the Australian team shooters must win the best aggregate at state and national titles in the preceding year.
Jason is off to a good start, winning the Queensland state titles in the ‘production’ category just before he left for Hungary.
He will continue his ongoing practice regime to maintain and develop his skill levels.
“You can’t just walk away and come back to it in a few months time.”
Representing Australia at international level is not something competitors take lightly.
Jason Anderson admitted he ‘struggled’ on day one of the World Silhouette Championships in Hungary.
“It was a case of nerves, competing on the world stage,” he said.
Lined up on each side were his competitors, the top pistol shooters from many countries.
However, Jason said with support from the team, chatting with team members and coach and mentor David Dewsbury, he was back on target.
“The second day I shot some good scores,” he said. “There were many languages being spoken along the firing line – fortunately the range instructions were in English.
“We used Google translate and we had interpreters. The competition started at 9am and finished at 4pm each day.
“We were obliged to shoot from tables, lying back, in the Big Bore events – it’s not our normal position but it’s the way the range was configured.”
The two week trip involved 23 hours travel from start to finish to including a four hour stopover in Dubai.
Jason and the team members he travelled with were obliged to follow rigorous protocols in acquiring the necessary permits to take their guns abroad and carried their own ammunition, classified as ‘dangerous goods’.They were allowed seven kilograms of ammunition in their luggage.
“That’s not really a lot of ammunition,” Jason said, “it’s four lots of 75 bullets.”
What’s the weather like in Hungary at this time of year?
“Hot and cold,” said Jason. “We had the four seasons – some cold days, a wet day, some overcast days and a hot 38 degree day plus humidity.
“The sun goes down about 10pm.”
He said the Australians were made to feel very welcome. Their accommodation was in a small town near the range.
“We had the opportunity for sightseeing in Budapest,” Jason added. “And again, Google translate was very handy in navigating restaurant
menus.”
