By
Andrew Stackpool
 |
|
FLTLT
Newton Armstrong avoided ants in his pants to win the Champion
Shot of the Air Force 2004.
|
 |
|
Runners-up
SGT David Hirst and FSGT David Gay.
|
FLIGHT
Lieutenant Newton Armstrong has avoided an ants’ nest and
kept his eyes on the targets to win the Air Force Champion Shot
of 2004.
FLTLT Armstrong, from RAAF Base Williamtown, scored 639.45 out
of a possible 800.160. Runners-up were Sergeant David Hirst, from
No. 11 Squadron, with 622.55 and Flight Sergeant David Gay, from
No. 321 Combat Support Squadron, with 619.50.
They competed against 20 other riflemen and women from RAAF Bases
Amberley, Edinburgh, Darwin, Richmond and Williamtown, and Canberra
at the Greenbank Rifle range in Brisbane in late October.
FLTLT Armstrong said everyone tried to stay clear of a “huge”
ants’ nest on lane nine of the 200-yard mound during the
three-day competition.
“Unfortunately, most shooters using lane nine forgot about
it during the run-downs and ended up with ants all over them;
hardly conducive for accurate shooting,” FLTLT Armstrong
said.
Competitors held standard issue F8 Steyr rifles over 100, 200,
300 and 40 yard ranges using basic prone, prone unsupported, sitting,
kneeling, squatting and standing styles, as well as run-downs.
FLTLT Armstrong, who became a competitive shooter in 1991, has
used a range of rifles during his shooting career. They include
the L1A1 SLR, F88 Steyr, SMLE .303, Colt AR-15, .22 Small-Bore
Target Rifle, and 7.62 Full-Bore Target Rifle.
He has competed in various civilian, Service and international
rifle events and at all level of competitions, including getting
second and third in various Service Rifle Queens Badge competitions.
That experience should come in handy as
heads up the Air Force team competing against Army, Navy, the
Australian Federal Police and international teams at the Australian
Army Skill at Arms Meeting (AASAM) 2004. The meeting is being
shot at Singleton from November 1-28.
The
Scores
Out
of a possible score of 800.160 in the Champion Shot of the Air
Force, the top three scores were:
