The Bushveld Hunters and Game Conservation Association held a pre-season shooting competition and a qualifying round for the National Confederation of Hunters Associations of South Africa (Chasa) at the Polokwane Shooting Range on Saturday where about 50 shooters competed to earn points.
Participants competed in three categories being the handgun, hunting rifle and shotgun. One of the organisers, Lourens Erasmus indicated that the competition served as trial for the Chasa championships expected to be held in Bloemfontein in September and added that the association have already hosted two trials and two more will be held before September to finalise the teams.
He further said they aim to select two senior teams and a junior team. Lourens stated that they wished to send a female team to nationals but the association does not have a large number of female shooters to form a team. He further said most women affiliated to the association are hunters hence they prefer social shooting events rather than competitive shooting. Shooters have to earn as many points as possible to be part of a team that will compete at the nationals. Attendees were competing guided by Chasa shooting format that was introduced last year, explained Lourens.
Another organiser, André Jonker said teams that represented the association during last year’s championships did exceptionally well, the first team occupied position nine out of 49 teams that competed while the second team got position 13 and the junior team finished fourth.
Story and photos: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za
