Pure gold

On high: Brig Bruce Scott is carried on the shoulders of his vanquished rivals after adding gold to his medal tally for Australia at the Commonwealth Games. Photo by Cpl Ricky Fuller

By Lt Cameron Jamieson
Volume 11, No. 40, April 6, 2006

FOUR years of training have paid off for Brig Bruce Scott at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Brig Scott, a former regular Army officer who is now the Commander of 11 Bde in Townsville, won the gold medal for the Full Bore Rifle Individual Competition at the Welsford Rifle Range, Bendigo, in a white-knuckle finish.

He was in second place before the final shoot at 1000 yards, but managed to aim true and beat Englishman Parag Patel by one point – 403.60 points to 402.57 points.

Brig Scott’s win follows his silver medal in the Open Full Bore Rifle Pairs Competition with shooting partner James Corbett. Mr Corbett also won the bronze medal in the individual competition, scoring 401.57 points.

After the competition Brig Scott said he still had to come to terms with his victory.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” he said. “I think it’s going to take a little while, although I think some people will make it sink in pretty quickly.”

At the medal ceremony, Brig Scott was draped in a somewhat faded Australian flag, the significance of which only became apparent at the subsequent press conference.

“The flag flew over Baghdad about six months ago,” Brig Scott said. “Lt-Col Warren Jolly, a friend of mine, brought the flag home and said to me that if I won a medal then I could carry the flag.”

Brig Scott said the secret of his success was his four years of preparation for the games instead of his usual 18 months build-up.

“In November 2001 I said 2006 would be my year to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games,” he said.

“But at that stage I did not have any idea that I would be able to hone myself to achieve these results. That only came afterwards as my training progressed.”

Being from Townsville, Brig Smith said the devastating effects of Cyclone Larry on northern Queensland had played on his mind and had helped to spur him on.

“This win is very much for the people of northern Queensland,” he said. “I feel for them greatly, and I hope this helps them a little.”

After the award ceremony, Brig Scott was carried in the Queen’s Chair back to the athletes tent by fellow shooters, a tradition that dates back to 1860 when champion shots would be carried by sedan chair from the firing mound and taken to Queen Victoria to receive their prize.

Shortly after his win, Brig Scott received accolades from ADF members as well as a surprise “career advancement” from CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy.

“He is clearly overtrained as a Brigadier – I intend to have him promoted to rifleman immediately,” Lt-Gen Leahy said.