Thread: 17th World Benchrest Champs 2025

There doesn't seem to be much about this in New Zealand Social media
Four NZDA members recently travelled to St Louis Mo to participate in the 17th World Benchrest Champs, representing New Zealand and NZDA.
It was 5 days of competition shooting 5 shot groups and 100 & 200 and the last day was 10 shot groups at 200

Countries can enter up to 3 x 4 person teams maximum and there is also an individual part to the competition.

Looking at the results the conditions were tough, with switchy wind and from different directions
All the US competitors and some International competitors started competing on the range some 6 days early due to the NBRSA Nationals being held immediately prior to the WBC.
On day 2 in HV 100 a New Zealander shot the smallest group for the day, a 0.089" which netted him a Gold medal for small group presented at the awards ceremony
One of the team members was a junior, competing in his first WBC, it didn't matter what happened he was always smiling.
Another team member finished 6th in Light Varmint.

On the last day they were shooting 5 x 10 shot groups, while this is a separate event, it also forms part of the Walt Berger Memorial Trophy, which means the aggregate for LV, 100, 200, HV 100, 200 and the 10 shot 200 match are used to determine the winner for this award.

here are the full results for the WBC individuals and teams.
https://bughole.net/World_Benchrest_...p_Results.html

I find it mysterious why the governing body in NZ, which is NZDA has not made any social media posts about this, it's like it never happened.

Any way congratulations to those that represented New Zealand and their achievements

Thanks for sharing that mate, great to hear the kiwis made q good showing amongst some stiff competition.
it seems most of NZs shooting efforts on the world stage dont get much coverage.

Dougall Cameron and his son Elliot are members of the pistol club I belong to. Both are very committed shooting sport enthusiasts. Well done to even get there guys.

Originally Posted by 19Badger

I find it mysterious why the governing body in NZ, which is NZDA has not made any social media posts about this, it's like it never happened.

It was reasonably prominent in the NZDA monthly newsletter sent out by national office on Tuesday.

A couple of French friends were there, the French team did pretty well over all.

Originally Posted by StrikerNZ

It was reasonably prominent in the NZDA monthly newsletter sent out by national office on Tuesday.

Yes I see that, the NZDA newsletter goes out to NZDA members a very small number of firearms owners and the news letter came out after the event finished

I would think positive promotion of competition shooting would be a "must" do to show the positive side of owning firearms and competing on the World stage
NZDA promote all the positive things they do on open social media through their facebook page, yet they didn't promote the achievement of winning gold at the last WBC in 2023 and didn't promote this WBC through social media

We need to promote the positives of firearms ownership to the wider public?
Promoting it to the people that already own firearms achieve nothing.

Originally Posted by Friwi

A couple of French friends were there, the French team did pretty well over all.

Pascal. Carlos, Gerard & Fredric did exceptionally well and were very consistent which gained them several sets of medals

Originally Posted by 19Badger

Yes I see that, the NZDA newsletter goes out to NZDA members a very small number of firearms owners and the news letter came out after the event finished

I would think positive promotion of competition shooting would be a "must" do to show the positive side of owning firearms and competing on the World stage
NZDA promote all the positive things they do on open social media through their facebook page, yet they didn't promote the achievement of winning gold at the last WBC in 2023 and didn't promote this WBC through social media

We need to promote the positives of firearms ownership to the wider public?
Promoting it to the people that already own firearms achieve nothing.

And to be fair, I don't even read the newsletter beyond a passing glance.
I did see a post on North Auckland NZDA Facebook page, so I knew.
Shooters aren't really big Tiktok users though!

Originally Posted by 19Badger

Yes I see that, the NZDA newsletter goes out to NZDA members a very small number of firearms owners and the news letter came out after the event finished

I would think positive promotion of competition shooting would be a "must" do to show the positive side of owning firearms and competing on the World stage
NZDA promote all the positive things they do on open social media through their facebook page, yet they didn't promote the achievement of winning gold at the last WBC in 2023 and didn't promote this WBC through social media

We need to promote the positives of firearms ownership to the wider public?
Promoting it to the people that already own firearms achieve nothing.

If NZDA had a bigger membership base, they would be in a better position to do more as many non members expect them to.

Originally Posted by techno retard

If NZDA had a bigger membership base, they would be in a better position to do more as many non members expect them to.

Promoting the positive aspects of competitive shooting on the World Stage is easy to do via social media, it doesn't require or take additional members to do this, it requires the will of those doing the social media posts and those in charge of those doing the posts to actually do this

There has been noises made over the last few years (6 or 7) of making the Hunting & Wildlife magazine available to the public on a delayed basis ie 2 or 3 months after being sent to members, I haven't noticed if this has happened yet.

But I think the biggest avenue for promotion, of everything positive NZDA does, to the wider New Zealand public is via social media and other people sharing those posts via social media, printed matter doesn't reach as large an audience but it does stay around longer.

Originally Posted by techno retard

If NZDA had a bigger membership base, they would be in a better position to do more as many non members expect them to.

Exactly, totally agree.

A video showing the range and the opening ceremony

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd3iQENA7us

The range is a complex with many ranges, pistol, Benchrest 100/200, 600, 1000. The main Benchrest range is 60 benches, but only bench 17 to 44 were used for the WBC

Some photos from a competitors Facebook page
The loading barn used by the competitors


The clubrooms where everyone got lunch everyday



Every competitor got a participants patch and medal


The wailing wall where everyone's targets are hung after being measured

It can be a bit tricky for some of us shooting in comps though as we don't really want our names splashed around as a virtual advertisment that says "we are firearm owners, here's my name & shouldn't take you long to get my address if your wanting to flog some which you now know are here!"
Even to the point that you have a pretty good clue on what type of firearms I am likely to own.
Just another side the coin you have to take into account,worst luck.
It's a sad world in some ways I'm afraid.

Originally Posted by TARGEX

It can be a bit tricky for some of us shooting in comps though as we don't really want our names splashed around as a virtual advertisment that says "we are firearm owners, here's my name & shouldn't take you long to get my address if your wanting to flog some which you now know are here!"
Even to the point that you have a pretty good clue on what type of firearms I am likely to own.
Just another side the coin you have to take into account,worst luck.
It's a sad world in some ways I'm afraid.

Shudder to think , once upon a time we all had our full name and address in a thing called a phone book .

Originally Posted by TARGEX

It can be a bit tricky for some of us shooting in comps though as we don't really want our names splashed around as a virtual advertisment that says "we are firearm owners, here's my name & shouldn't take you long to get my address if your wanting to flog some which you now know are here!"
Even to the point that you have a pretty good clue on what type of firearms I am likely to own.
Just another side the coin you have to take into account,worst luck.
It's a sad world in some ways I'm afraid.

I agree with you, which is why I didn't include names, I also know some who don't want their name or photo put up on a public facebook page or forum.
NZDA has already done this on a public social media page