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NOWRA’S Mark Sobierajski has returned from the Muzzle Loaders Association International Committee’s 11th long-range world championships with a swag of medals to his name Held in the Manarto Range, near Adelaide from October 8-14, the Nowra Rifle Club member won numerous medals at the international competition, shot off the elbows with open sites and no scopes. Mid range competition consists of targets scored with a 1-5 points and V bull for the centre, from 300m, 500m and 600m, shooting 10 shots with two sighters. The long-range competition consists of 800m and 1000m targets scored the same, but only 15 shots with five transferable sighters. “We were split up into squads of four competitors from all different countries, who all shot on the one target individually,” Sobierajski said. “The conditions throughout the competition with very tricky, with the wind blowing around 25 to 35km/hour. “I was lucky enough to pick up a gold medal at 300m, just missing out on the world record.” He also claimed gold at 800m and bronze at 600m, shooting consistently enough for gold in the mid range aggregate – claiming the world mid range title. Sobierajski, 45, then went on to claim silver in the long-range aggregate individual event and second place in the grand aggregate individual event, beaten by an US shooter by three points. “The teams’ shoot consisted of the top four shooters from each country and in this event, we have a wind coach who lets the shooter know when and when not to shoot as the conditions change – in the individual matches we do not have this privilege,” he said. Sobierajski, who only took up long-range muzzle-loading two years ago, competed against shooters from Spain, US, South Africa, New Zealand, France, Netherlands, Canada and India. “Over the years, I have won several state and national shooting events but shooting on the world stage is something else,” he said. “After shooting well in Creedmoor, North Carolina two years ago, I was given the captain’s position this time round, which was a shock. “It is always a great honour to compete for your country – to be doing it as captain and winning was just icing on the cake.” Sobierajski now has his eyes firmly set on 12th long range world champs in Beisly, England in two years.

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