Over the past month, many of the world’s best long range shooters competed in South Africa. First was the South African Open Championship, held March 9-15, 2024 for “Target Rifles”. This was followed by the 32nd World Long Range Championships for Fullbore/Palma rifles, with individual and team competitions held March 16-23, 2024. The World LR Championships event was for “hard-holders”, shooting iron-sighted rifles prone with sling. There were shooters from at least 12 countries: Australia, Canada, Channel Islands, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Kenya, Ireland, N. Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the USA.

The World LR Championships and the South African Open Championships were held at the Genl De Wet range West of Bloemfontein in South Africa. Conditions were very challenging — with very hot temperatures on the range and challenging winds.

Individual Top 20 Results 32nd World Long Range Championships

Australian Ash Bidgood won the Individual World Championship with an impressive 739-92V score. Great Britain’s Glyn Barnett was a close second (on V-Count) with 739-86V. In third place was another Brit, J.C. Underwood, who tallied 738-78V.

Two Americans finished in the top 15, Brandon Green (733-82V, 8th place) and Amanda Elsenboss (659-59V, 11th place). Both Brandon and Amanda are past USA National Champions who previously served in the U.S. Army and shot with the USAMU Team.

Other Grand Aggregate Divisional Winners include:
Veterans: B. Carter, New Zealand, 661-60V
Ladies: R.L. Furniss, Great Britain, 662-73V
Veterans Over 70: J. Jeffrey, Australia 548-51V
Under 25-21 Age: M. Baily, Australia, 661-84V
Under 21: T. McGowen, USA, 648-61V

Team Results: 32nd World Long Range Championships

Team Australia won the Long Range World Championship with leading scores on both days of competition. The Aussies shot well, earning the Gold medal with a 7172.996 total vs. 7159.1004 for the Brits. Team Australia reported on its Facebook page: “We’d like to summarize how the 2024 Palma in South Africa evolved and highlight just how extraordinary it was. World records were repeatedly smashed and, while Australia defended and retained our world championship title earned in 2019, this was only the 4th time Australia has won the Palma since its inception in 1876.”

All four leading teams smashed the old full match Palma record of 7106.825 set by Great Britain in 2015, with Australia setting the new Palma world record with 7172.995. On Day 2, Australia set a new single-day world Team world record of 3592.521. That’s 37 points higher than the previous team record of 3555.424 set by GB in 2015.

The new individual World Record (during team competition) went to Australia’s Brett McCauley with 450-73V — breaking the world record of 449-55V set by Toby Raincock of GB in 2015. And, on Day 2, Great Britain’s Theo Dodds set a one-day individual world record with 225-40V.

USA’s Brandon Green Wins South African Open Championship

Former USAMU shooter Brandon Green topped the field in the South African Open Championship, which took place before the World Championships. Brandon won the SA Open individual title in a dramatic shoot-off. Congratulations to Brandon Green for an impressive come-from-behind victory to win the South African Nationals. Brandon finished with 924-93V, edging out Great Britain’s M.J. Ensor (923-101V) by a single point. Now that’s close!

Photo credit Chris Wheeden, GB Veterans Team

Shooter’s Report from South Africa by Paula Crenshaw
The first week of competition was the South African National Championships which was (for some) a warm-up to the World Long Range Championships. The U.S. National Rifle Team had five teams there. These were: Palma Team, the Veterans Team (those over 60), Goodwill Team, Junior Under 25, and Junior Under 21 teams. Competitions included team competitions and individual competitions.

I was not happy with my performance but I’m not particularly disappointed either. I know what I need to do. My .223 Rem caliber Palma rifle was also not ideal, and I’m eager to shoot my new .308 Win rifle. My Goodwill Team did take second in the Chairman’s Match.

Photo from last day of individual World Championship. The heat was tough.

The entire experience was amazing. It was also incredibly challenging with the heat wave and the winds. My teammates are outstanding people and I met many wonderful fellow shooters from other countries. Shooting while wildebeests and ostriches roamed the range (see above) was … interesting! Captain Bob’s wild dash to get me my forgotten bolt from the hotel was one for the storybooks … and his comment that he’d do it again despite being banned from the range warmed my heart. To my teammates John, Mark, Seth, and our coach Yvonne: Thank you!

The USA women competitors. Right to left: Trudy Fay, Paula Crenshaw, Yvonne Roberts, Kacie McGowan, Amanda Elsenboss, Jessica Hudson.

Here is a cool overhead photograph of the Genl De Wet shooting range outside Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Photo credit Chris Wheeden, GB Veterans Team

About the Long Range World Championship — Rifles and Course of Fire
by Paula Crenshaw

Fullbore and Palma are different courses of fire, but both shot with similar rifles. The 87th South African Open Bisley Championships was a fullbore event held March 9-15, 2024. There were individual and team matches. The 32nd World Long Range Championships was a Palma event held March 16-23, 2024. A Palma match is shot at 800, 900, 1000 yards (or 700, 800, 900 meters) and has 15 shots for record at each distance using a .223 Rem or .308 Win (7.62×51) caliber iron-sighted rifle. A Palma rifle is always shot with a sling and iron sights.

Fullbore competition has 2-3 shooters to the mound (except in the USA where sometimes string fire is allowed at 1000 yards), 10 shots (sometimes 15) and shot at 300, 500, 600, 900, 1000 yards (or the equivalent in meters).

The Palma discipline has evolved into the “The World Long Range Championships, Individual and Palma Team Matches”. It has gone through many changes since 1876 and has developed its own set of rules and requirements for target, rifle, and cartridge. The match is now held at 4-year intervals. Teams consist of 16 firing members and two alternates along with a support group of a team captain, adjutant, five coaches, and a non-firing armorer, with total team size not to exceed 26 members. The match in South Africa was shot at 700, 800, and 900 meters.

The Palma is a match of great distinction. While the long range championships include individual matches and a nation’s other teams such as the Veterans teams, Under 25, Under 21, and USA’s Goodwill team, it is the Palma teams that hold the highest honor. The World Long Range Championships culminate with the Palma teams competing from each country. For an excellent detailed history I recommend A History of the Palma Match by Hap Rocketto, first published in 1996 (CLICK HERE FOR PDF).

Photo Credits: Credit top image, range flags image, and Brandon Green Chair image Great Britain Rifle Team. Other images credit Paula Crenshaw, Team USA, Team Australia, Chris Wheeden.

The 2021 NRA National Rifle and Pistol Championships will be held July 6 through August 28, 2021 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. Registration for the 2021 NRA National Championships for Smallbore Rifle, High Power Rifle, F-Class, and Precision Pistol is now open. Competitors can REGISTER ONLINE for the 2021 NRA National Championships via the NRA Competitive Shooting Web Portal.

The following 2021 NRA Rifle and Pistol Championships will be held at Camp Atterbury this summer, starting with Smallbore Rifle. Camp Atterbury has hosted the High Power Rifle Nationals since 2017. Here is the schedule for the Major events. NOTE: There is NO ELR event this year:

Smallbore Rifle Championship: 6-18 July, 2021
Precision Pistol Championship: 20-25 July, 2021
F-Class Mid-Range Championship: 22-26 July, 2021
F-Class Long Range Championship: 27-30 July, 2021
Fullbore Championship: 1-7 August, 2021
High Power Mid-Range Championship: 9-13 August, 2021
High Power Long Range Championship: 14-19 August, 2021
Over-the-Course (OTC) Competition: 22-28 August, 2021

View Latest Match Calendar (6/18/21) — CLICK TO ZOOM!

Note, this year the Smallbore Nationals will include Rimfire F-Class, starting on July 11th. Among notable specific rifle matches include: Fullbore America Match (August 7); Palma Team Match (August 15); Wimbleton Cup Match (August 18). For 2021, the NRA will NOT host an Extreme Long-Range Championship. Specific start dates are listed at end of article.

In addition to the main NRA matches, there are Indiana State Rifle and Pistol Association (ISRPA) events including: Junior Intermediate Smallbore Clinic, Ladies’ Day on the Range, Family Day on the Range, Basic Safety Class, Introduction to Shooting Sports Class, Laser Range.

Lodging Options at Camp Atterbury — Summer 2021
Shooting Sports USA (SSUSA) recently released information on the NRA Championships at Camp Atterbru. The SSUSA article states: “As for lodging, there are several options. The most convenient are on-base, with Camp Atterbury offering hotel-style buildings with suites, along with standard rooms, and ‘open military squad bay’-style quarters available by reservation. Camp Atterbury also offers a limited number of RV spots, plus the MWR campground and cabins. NOTE: Lodging is controlled by the Camp Atterbury Lodging Office, not the NRA.

Click Photo for Large Map of Camp Atterbury, Indiana

To REGISTER for the 2021 NRA National Matches, go to Competitor.NRA.org/register.aspx.

On the Shooting Sports USA website, legendary shooter Middleton (“Mid”) Tompkins is profiled this week. One of the great figures in American rifle shooting, Mid is also the patriarch of the greatest family of shooters in American history. Mid’s wife Nancy Tompkins, and daughters Michelle Gallagher and Sherri Jo Gallagher, have all been National Champions. Mid himself is a six-time, across-the-course national High Power rifle champion. He’s also been on 18 Palma teams as captain, coach or shooter. Mid started shooting smallbore rifle over 60 years ago, competing in that discipline at Camp Perry in 1954. But he committed to High Power in 1955 and never looked back: “I liked High Power’s diversification of standing, sitting, rapid fire and long range shooting.”

READ Complete Mid Tompkins Profile in Shooting Sports USA

Highlights of the SSUSA Story:

Practice Ammo: Mid does not use practice ammo, saying: “If it isn’t the best ammo he owns, the shooter learns absolutely nothing because they don’t know—when they shoot an 8, if they shot it, the ammo shot it or the gun shot it.”

On Scorebooks: “I totally, totally do not believe in scorebooks. It takes away your concentration from what you should be doing, which is doping the wind and pointing the rifle downrange. Shooting is not about book-keeping. Shooting is about putting a bullet in the middle of the target.”

Practice Makes Perfect: For decades, Mid shot every Saturday and Sunday, whether for practice or in a match. Mid shot with four different clubs, each hosting their own match on a different weekend. He shot them all, as well as practicing the day before each match. That’s in addition to competing in Sanctioned and Registered matches.

Middleton Tompkins Interview from 2015:

In the video above, Mid talks candidly about his storied career as a shooter and a shooting coach. He explains what it takes to win, and offers advice on how new shooters can improve their skill sets. Mid also talks about advancements in rifle hardware and bullet design. Mid also offers invaluable advice on how to dope the wind at Ben Avery. Last year, the 1000-yard Range at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix was officially dedicated as the “Middleton Tompkins Range”.

Just like the Olympics, the World Long Range Target Shooting Championships event is held every four years. This year the World Championships take place in the USA, at Camp Perry, Ohio. The USA Young Eagles Rifle Team will be there, competing against six other under-25 rifle teams from other countries. You can help the USA Young Eagles Team by visiting the Young Eagles’ GoFundMe Page and making a secure donation.

Background of the Young Eagles Team
In 1999, the World Individual Long Range Championships were held at Bloemfontein in South Africa. Ian Cheeseman, a competitor, noticed that the United States was the only major country in attendance without an Under 21 (“U21″) or Under 25 (“U25″) Team. The following year, Ian founded the inaugural Young Eagles team to compete at the Millennium Matches held at Bisley in England. The Team proved to be world-beaters. At Bisley in 2000, the Young Eagles defeated ten other international junior teams and won the inaugural Under-21 World Championship.

Since the Millennium Matches in 2000, the USA Young Eagles Rifle Team has competed in many international competitions, which include the 2003, 2007 and 2011 World Long Range Championships. The USA Young Eagles Rifle Team is now composed of the top shooters of the USA Under-25 National Rifle Team, selected to represent the USA in International and World Championship Competitions.

If you haven’t sampled Target Shooter Magazine yet, you should. The hardware photography is high quality and there is something for everyone — from Benchresters to Tactical shooters. You can view the 116-page December issue for FREE at www.targetshooter.co.uk. Target shooter also has an iPad/iPhone friendly version that can be downloaded.

Definitely check out the latest edition of Target Shooter Magazine. It offers outstanding match reports (with big, screen-filling images), and some of the most competent gear reviews on the web. When contributors such as Vince Bottomley or Laurie Holland review a product, they deliver intelligent conclusions you can “take to the bank”.