Michael Bester, a policeman from Randfontein, won ten medals at the Mpumalanga Provincial Championships for Combat Rifle shooting.
More or less 100 competitors from the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng North, North West and Gauteng South were in action at this competition held in Barberton last month. Most of them were members of the army and police in these regions.
Michael competed in the team and individual categories. In the team combat competition he was part of the Gauteng South group that achieved the following :
• Gold medal in the Provincial A league
• Gold medal in the Police Unit league
• Second place in the Northwest Provincial B league
Individually Michael also won:
• Gold medal in the A class Champion league
• Two gold medals in the 100 metres
• Gold medal in the 200 metres
• Gold medal in the 300 metres and two bronze medals also in the 300 metres, but in a different category
About his winning performance he said, “It is the second Provincial Championships in which I do so well. It took al lot of hard work and the conditions we were competing in were difficult as it was very cold.”
Michael’s son, Andre, 13, said, “I am very proud of my father, he taught me how to shoot and I love this sport. One day I also want to be a policeman and shoot as well as my dad does.”
On 17 July he will once again be competing in The Freestate Provincial Championships.
