Narrabri’s Chase Ford crowned national champion on home range at Pistol Australia National Championships

Written by Narrabri Pistol Club’s Robert Boutcher

The Narrabri Pistol Club conducted a hugely successful 36th annual Pistol Australia Metallic Silhouette National Championships last month.

Shooting was held from Saturday, September 14, to Saturday, September 21, as the 100-metre Small Bore and Field Pistol and the 200-metre Big Bore Nationals were combined into one National Championships event for the first time.

Shooting conditions were variable across the week, with the first few days being quite cool with a strong southwesterly breeze which turned into a warm northerly breeze for the second half of the competition.

Fifty competitors travelled from all across NSW, Queensland, ACT and Victoria, all with the goal of winning a national championship medal. Eleven of those shooters were Narrabri Pistol Club members.

Eleven matches were shot over distances of 25, 50, 75 and 100 metres in small bore and field pistol and 50, 100, 150 and 200 metres in big bore. There were open, women and junior individual and state teams events as well.

Narrabri junior Chase Ford was the most successful of the local shooters at the Australian Championships. He was a member of the inaugural NSW junior team and excelled individually as well.

Chase teamed up with Lachlan Yule from Muswellbrook to represent NSW in the junior small bore teams event, which they won. Individually, Chase won gold in the national junior 200-metre big bore four-match aggregate and also placed second in the junior 100-metre small bore four-match aggregate to go with several grade placings.

Other Narrabri Pistol Club members were involved in numerous shoot-offs for top 10 and grade placings, with the hard luck story of the championships going to Tim Anderson as he tied with Inverell’s Tim Davey for the 200-metre big bore four-match national championship aggregate – both on 143 – with Davey victorious after a countback on rams 36-34.

Narrabri pistol shooter Chase Ford, right, won the national junior four-match big bore title and was a member of the winning NSW junior small bore team at the 36th annual Pistol Australia Metallic Silhouette National Championships last month, contested at the Narrabri Pistol Club range. He is pictured with his NSW teammate, Muswellbrook’s Lachlan Yule. Photo: Robert Boutcher Narrabri pistol shooter Chase Ford, right, won the national junior four-match big bore title and was a member of the winning NSW junior small bore team at the 36th annual Pistol Australia Metallic Silhouette National Championships last month, contested at the Narrabri Pistol Club range. He is pictured with his NSW teammate, Muswellbrook’s Lachlan Yule. Photo: Robert Boutcher

Junior big bore four-match aggregate national champion, Narrabri’s Chase Ford, flanked by Bowral’s Mary Tobler (third) and Merriganowry’s Harry Seears (second). Junior big bore four-match aggregate national champion, Narrabri’s Chase Ford, flanked by Bowral’s Mary Tobler (third) and Merriganowry’s Harry Seears (second).

Narrabri Pistol Club president David Dewsbury, Pistol Australia president Ray Andrews and Narrabri Pistol Club secretary Rob Boutcher. Narrabri Pistol Club president David Dewsbury, Pistol Australia president Ray Andrews and Narrabri Pistol Club secretary Rob Boutcher.

Junior small bore four-match aggregate national champion, Muswellbrook’s Lachlan Yule, flanked by Merriganowry’s Harry Seears (third) and Narrabri’s Chase Ford (second). Junior small bore four-match aggregate national champion, Muswellbrook’s Lachlan Yule, flanked by Merriganowry’s Harry Seears (third) and Narrabri’s Chase Ford (second).

200-metre big bore standing winner, Inverell’s Tim Davey, flanked by Toogoolawah’s Aidan Van Ee (third) and Narrabri’s David Dewsbury (second). 200-metre big bore standing winner, Inverell’s Tim Davey, flanked by Toogoolawah’s Aidan Van Ee (third) and Narrabri’s David Dewsbury (second).

Narrabri’s Jason Anderson and Mt Lindesay’s Kim Emery. Narrabri’s Jason Anderson and Mt Lindesay’s Kim Emery.

Narrabri pistol shooter Chase Ford won the national junior four-match big bore title and was a member of the winning NSW junior small bore team at the 36th annual Pistol Australia Metallic Silhouette National Championships last month, contested at the Narrabri Pistol Club range. He is pictured with his grandmother Mary Boutcher and father Jack Ford. Narrabri pistol shooter Chase Ford won the national junior four-match big bore title and was a member of the winning NSW junior small bore team at the 36th annual Pistol Australia Metallic Silhouette National Championships last month, contested at the Narrabri Pistol Club range. He is pictured with his grandmother Mary Boutcher and father Jack Ford.

Open big bore four-match national champion, Inverell’s Tim Davey, flanked by Narrabri’s Jason Anderson (third) and Tim Anderson (second). Open big bore four-match national champion, Inverell’s Tim Davey, flanked by Narrabri’s Jason Anderson (third) and Tim Anderson (second).

Narrabri pistol shooter Chase Ford won the national junior four-match big bore title at the 36th annual Pistol Australia Metallic Silhouette National Championships last month, contested at the Narrabri Pistol Club range. Narrabri pistol shooter Chase Ford won the national junior four-match big bore title at the 36th annual Pistol Australia Metallic Silhouette National Championships last month, contested at the Narrabri Pistol Club range.

Two of Narrabri Pistol Club’s alumni of champion pistol shooters, Jason Anderson and his uncle Tim Anderson, at the national titles at the Narrabri range. Two of Narrabri Pistol Club’s alumni of champion pistol shooters, Jason Anderson and his uncle Tim Anderson, at the national titles at the Narrabri range.

Range officer at the Pistol Australia Metallic Silhouette National Championships at Narrabri, Robert Boutcher. Range officer at the Pistol Australia Metallic Silhouette National Championships at Narrabri, Robert Boutcher.

Mary Boutcher, NSW junior pistol team member and national champion Chase Ford, Katie Moore and Jack Ford. Mary Boutcher, NSW junior pistol team member and national champion Chase Ford, Katie Moore and Jack Ford.

Narrabri’s Jack Ford and Tim Anderson. Narrabri’s Jack Ford and Tim Anderson.

Victorian visitors Mick Arden and Mark Sinclair. Victorian visitors Mick Arden and Mark Sinclair.

Narrabri’s Billy-Dean Borodzicz and Inverell’s Chris Taylor. Narrabri’s Billy-Dean Borodzicz and Inverell’s Chris Taylor.

Participants from Robertson NSW - Kathy, Robert and Mary Tobler. Participants from Robertson NSW - Kathy, Robert and Mary Tobler.

Armidale junior shooters at the Narrabri titles, Kayla SInclair, 14, and Lailani Sinclair, 16, who began their sport as 12-year-olds, pictured with grandmother Carmel Archibald. Armidale junior shooters at the Narrabri titles, Kayla SInclair, 14, and Lailani Sinclair, 16, who began their sport as 12-year-olds, pictured with grandmother Carmel Archibald.

John Harding and Judy Harding. Mrs Harding has accompanied the Australian silhouette pistol team to world championships in recent years as team manager. John Harding and Judy Harding. Mrs Harding has accompanied the Australian silhouette pistol team to world championships in recent years as team manager.

Results are as follows:

Individual match 100-metre small bore top guns:

Production:
First – Kirsten Jackes (Brisbane Metro) with 40; second – Glen Anderson (Inverell) with 40; third – Jason Anderson (Narrabri) with 40.
Revolver:
First – Kirsten Jackes (Brisbane Metro) with 39; second – Tim Anderson (Narrabri) with 38; third – Scott Dawson (SSPC ACT) with 38.
Standing:
First – Matt Seears (Merriganowry) with 30; second – Tim Davey (Inverell) with 27; third – Glen Anderson (Inverell) with 26.
Unlimited:
First – Iain Yule (Muswellbrook) with 38; second – Glen Anderson (Inverell) with 38; third – Scott Dawson (SSPC ACT) with 37.

100-metre small bore four-match aggregates:
Open:
First – Matt Seears (Merriganowry)with 141; second – Glen Anderson (Inverell) with 140; third – Scott Dawson (SSPC ACT) with 136.
Women:
First – Kirsten Jackes (Brisbane Metro) with 135; second – Judy Harding (Toogoolawah) with 120; third – Melinda Mullen (Newcastle) with 98.
Juniors:
First – Lachlan Yule (Muswellbrook) with 104; second – Chase Ford (Narrabri) with 101; third – Harry Seears (Merriganowry) with 86.

Individual match 100-metre field pistol top guns:

Production sight:
First – Tim Davey (Inverell) with 36; second – Matt Seears (Merriganowry) with 32; third – Glen Anderson (Inverell) with 30.
Any sight:
First – Aiden Van Ee (Toogoolawah) with 34; second – Tim Davey (Inverell) with 34; third – Scott Dawson (SSPC ACT) with 34.

100-metre field pistol aggregates:
Open:
First – Tim Davey (Inverell) with 70 (provisional national record); second – Matt Seears (Merriganowry) with 63; third – Glen Anderson (Inverell) with 62.
Women:
First – Melinda Mullen (Newcastle) with 45; second – Judy Harding (Toogoolawah) with 45; third – Kirsten Jackes (Brisbane Metro) with 36.
Juniors:
First – Lachlan Yule (Muswellbrook) with 32; second – Mary Tobler (Bowral) with 31; third – Lailani Sinclair (Armidale) with 29.

Individual match 200-metre big bore top guns:

Production:
First – Tim Davey (Inverell) with 40; second – Jason Anderson (Narrabri) with 40; third – Glen Anderson (Inverell) with 40.
Revolver:
First – Scott Dawson (SSPC ACT) with 40; second – Chris Taylor (Inverell) with 39; third – Tim Anderson (Narrabri) with 39.
Standing:
First – Tim Davey (Inverell) with 29; second – David Dewsbury (Narrabri) with 27; third – Aidan Van Ee (Toogoolawah) with 26.
Unlimited:
First – Glen Anderson (Inverell) with 39; second – Tim Anderson (Narrabri) with 39; third – Tim Davey (Inverell) with 37.
Unlimited full scale:
First – Judy Harding (Toogoolawah) with 40; second – Tim Davey (Inverell) with 40; third – Aiden Van Ee (Toogoolawah) with 40.

Big bore 200-metre aggregates:

Open big bore four-match:
First – Tim Davey (Inverell) with 143; second – Tim Anderson (Narrabri) with 143 (countback); third – Jason Anderson (Narrabri) with 140.
Women’s big bore four-match:
First – Judy Harding (Toogoolawah) with 126; second – Kirsten Jackes (Brisbane Metro) with 114; third – Carmel Archibald with 97.
Junior big bore four-match:
First – Chase Ford (Narrabri) with 86; second – Harry Seears (Merriganowry) wit 83; third – Mary Tobler (Bowral) with 71.

Narrabri Pistol Club shooters’ placing results are as follows:

Small bore:

Production:
INT-grade third – Jason Anderson; AAA-grade first – Chase Ford; third – Jack Ford; AA-grade third – Jeff Hamblin; A-grade first – Jayden Hamblin.
Revolver:
INT-grade third – Tim Anderson; AA-grade first – Jayden Hamblin; third – Jeff Hamblin.
Standing:
AAA-grade second – Jason Anderson; third – David Dewsbury; AA-grade first – Matt Burke; A-grade second – Chase Ford.
Unlimited:
AA-grade first – Billy-Dean Borodzicz; third – Jack Ford; A-grade second – Matt Burke; third – Chase Ford.

Field pistol:
Production sight:
AAA-grade first – Jason Anderson; second – Jack Ford; AA-grade second – Matt Burke; third – Billy-Dean Borodzicz.
Any sight:
A-grade first – Matt Burke; third – Billy-Dean Borodzicz.

Big bore:
Production:
INT-grade second – Jason Anderson; AAA-grade second – Billy-Dean Borodzicz; AA-grade second – Chase Ford; third – Matt Burke.
Revolver:
INT-grade second – Tim Anderson; AAA-grade first – Billy-Dean Borodzicz.
Standing:
INT-grade second – David Dewsbury; AA-grade first – Matt Burke; second – Billy Dean Borodzicz; A-grade second – Jayden Hamblin.
Unlimited:
INT-grade second – Tim Anderson; third – Jason Anderson; AAA-grade third – David Dewsbury, AA-grade second – Billy-Dean Borodzicz.
Unlimited full scale:
AAA-grade second – Billy-Dean Borodzicz.