Narrabri men proud to pull on the green and gold for Australia

Narrabri Pistol Club member Jason Anderson will represent Australia at the World Cup and the European Championships in Hungary later this month.

The selection of Jason in Pistol Australia’s Metallic Silhouette three man Australian Big Bore category team is a recognition of his record of achievements and another feather in the cap of Narrabri Pistol Club.

The 70 strong club has an impressive history of competition successes by its members.

This will be Jason’s first visit to Hungary and he acknowledges he is excited about the trip and the competition, with the International Metallic Silhouette Shooting Union (IMSSU) and European Metallic Silhouette Shooting Association (AETSM) contests.

“I’m humbled but very proud to represent our club and our country,” said Jason.

Jason and his Big Bore team mates Tim Davey, Manilla, and Glen Anderson, Inverell, will compete against the world’s best silhouette pistol shooters from some 30 countries – and according to their coach, Narrabri’s David Dewsbury, they have every chance of bringing home the medals.

The national representatives in the larger Australian contingent, who will contest Small Bore and Field Pistol categories, are multi-championship winners at all competition levels.

The Field Pistol team will be selected from the Big Bore and Small Bore competitors in Hungary.

Dave Dewsbury, a veteran shooter and championship winner in his own right, is official coach for the Australians.

He will accompany the team to the championships at Jászberén, a town in central Hungary, 60 km from the capital, Budapest.

Selection for the world championships is another notch in Jason’s gun following a history of wins at local, regional, state and national titles in a sport he has been passionate about since he fired his first shot at the Narrabri pistol range when he was 16.

He won the state title as a junior champion in 1986.

“That’s a long time ago,” he laughs.

“I have had the benefit of great support of club members, coaching and mentors at Narrabri Pistol Club on this journey,” said Jason.

And even as he sets off for Budapest, he has been competing in shoots aiming to qualify for next year’s world titles in South Africa.

To be considered for selection in the Australian team, shooters must accumulate a high aggregate of points won at a mix of national and state titles, which Jason has achieved.

The preparations for the Australian team to travel overseas are complex, with layers of export protocols and forms to be completed to take their weapons and ammunition abroad.

Like his fellow team members, Jason will be taking his own custom modified pistols and his own ammunition which he has meticulously loaded to his specifications.

“The Australian team is regarded as one of the best teams competing so we’re really hoping to bring home some gold,” said Jason.

“Australia is well placed with our teams to do well at the world championships,” said coach Dave Dewsbury.

“Our shooters will be focussed and motivated and they will do well.”

Coach for the Australian team on its trip to the Hungary world championships is David Dewsbury, left, pictured with Jason Anderson.

Apart from his official job as coach, Dave’s role navigating through foreign airports will be valuable – he has travelled widely and competed at a range of international titles over his career including championship shoots in Hungary.

Team manager Judy Harding will be with the group.

Apart from the range of other skills and talent needed to be successful at the sport, the critical element for pistol shooters at competition level is the ability to maintain sustained concentration and the right mental attitude, Dave Dewsbury emphasised.

“It’s very much a mental game – some say that’s 80 percent of it,” adds Jason.

“Coming up to what might look like a perfect score you can’t think about it too much, just take it one shot at a time and not get too far ahead of yourself, don’t think about winning – that can actually put you off.

“In silhouette competition we shoot 40 targets, depicting four different animals – you have to hit the target and knock it over to score a point. For big bore competition, the range can go out to 200 metres, and you shoot with iron sights, no ‘scopes, so there is a degree of difficulty.

My team mates are more than that, Tim Davies and Glen Anderson are also good friends of mine.

“It will be an honour to represent Australia for the first time. And the Australian team members are very conscious that when they ‘pull on the green and gold’ they are representing Australia as well as our national association, Pistol Australia,” said Jason.

“After the championships in Hungary, it’s back to competition and enjoying the sport – and trying to qualify for next year’s world championships in South Africa.”

Narrabri Pistol Club has been the training ground for many successful competition shooters from Narrabri, and the region, who have gone on the win major titles.

The Narrabri range is recognised as one of the best pistol ranges in regional and metropolitan Australia.

The club has regularly invested in its facilities and has plans for further development.