Sports
Cool shooting in Italian snow
By Cpl Corinne Boer

Volume 11, No. 61, March 08, 2007
 
World class: Pte Mark Raymond was the only Australian to compete at the World Biathlon Championships in Italy, where he competed in two events and gained some of Australia’s best biathlon results.
ULTRA-fit Pte Mark Raymond was the only Australian to make the Biathlon World Championships, held in Antholz, Italy on February 6-11.

Pte Raymond has made an impressive start to the year by competing in two events.

He placed 77th in the 10km event and 87th in the 20km event.

He said the contest has been one of the highlights of his sporting career.

“My results at the championships are one of Australia’s best results at that level,” Pte Raymond said.

“Biathlon is one of the hardest sports in the world, I was just happy to compete at that level.”
Of course, he wants to improve his standings and has a fierce passion for competition.

“My main goal is the 2010 Winter Olympic games in Vancouver,” he said. “Missing the 2006 Olympic Games just made me hungrier to compete. I would also like to race in the World Military Games.”

Biathlon is a tough winter sport that combines the two opposing disciplines of cross-country skiing and precision target shooting.

The sport combines the physical endurance and aerobic capacity required for cross-country skiing with the mental poise needed to shoot accurately over 50m – while the clock is ticking.

Pte Raymond, who parades with 2 Cdo Coy, said the training he does with the army assists him in improving his fitness for the sport, but that the shooting was a different style entirely.

“Training with the Army is always exciting and challenging, but military weapons are very different to my .22,” he said.

“The principles of shooting are the same, however the positions are very different. We shoot with skis on in both prone and standing positions.”

But marksmanship is only one aspect of the sport, and finding financial support can be just as difficult.

His current sponsorship falls well short of the costs involved in competing at a world level for Australia and he would happily talk to anyone willing to help.

He is also a member of the Army Nordic Skiing and Biathlon Association who are always interested in new members.

ADF members are invited to attend the ADF Nordic Skiing and Biathlon Association Championships, which are held at Mt Hotham during the first two weeks of August every year. No previous skiing experience is necessary.