The best of the world’s hotshots

Members of the Australian Army Combat Shooting Team move off the mound after a successful practice during AASAM 2004. Photos by Bill Cunneen, Army newspaper

A soldier from Timor Leste’s F-FDTL competes using an Australian M4.

By Pte Luke Knights

SOLDIERS from six nations gathered at the Singleton training area last month for 16 days of competition at the Army’s premier shooting event, AASAM 2004.

A total of 227 competitors entered this year, including 89 international competitors from Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Singapore and France (New Caledonia). The team from Timor Leste flew in early to SFTC to train and qualify on Australian Army M4s and to complete some marksmanship training before the competition.

LCpl Rosli from Malaysia took home the International Champion Shot title and WO2 Peter Richards, 1 Avn Regt, won Champion Shot of the Australian Army from a tough field of 205 competitors. WO2 Richards is no stranger to AASAM, having previously won the title in 1998.

WO2 Richards said he was always more of a city boy rather than a country boy, but has always had some sort of involvement in rifle clubs and shooting since he was 12 years old.

7 Bde’s B-team won both the “Browning” and “Bren Gun” trophies for best Australian Army pistol and LSW teams, Singapore won the “Browning” and “Bren Gun” trophies for best overall international pistol and LSW team.

The “Lee Enfield” trophy for best overall rifle team was an entirely Australian affair this year, going to the Australian Army Combat Shooting Team (AACST) for best international, while the A-team from 3 Bde proved to be both the best overall Australian Army rifle team, and Australian Army Champion Team.

Future AASAM events are planned to be permanently held at Singleton, based on the same 16-day format used this year, with planning already in motion to improve next year’s meeting.

Competition Director retired lieutenant colonel Ian Robinson said the standard at this year’s competition was very high, and that AASAM is held in high regard worldwide and considered a premier event.

He said interaction between all nations was very good, that nobody went overboard or took the competition too seriously.