Apple Tree Creek resident Darren Enslin will once again captain the Australian Rifle Team to defend its title at the World Long Range Championships (WLRC) in March.
The team will be defending their World Championship title at the competition being hosted in South Africa, which includes a national championship, the Individual World Long Range Championships and the Palma Match known as the pinnacle of the sport.
Darren has represented Australia since 2003 and this will be his seventh uninterrupted world championship alongside his wife Gillian who is also the current world record holder of the top score in a Palma match.
Darren’s eldest son Dean, who shot for the Australian U-25 team and captained it to an Australian Match and World U25 victory before joining the open team as a shooter, will also join the tour to defend the title.
Darren said he felt very privileged to be captaining the national team once again.
“There is no discrimination as to gender or age in the competition, a truly unique open world competition,” Darren said.
“I feel incredibly privileged to be leading Australia again however this time [there is] a lot of pressure to perform well as there is a high sense of expectation to once again dominate.
“It is both a privilege and honour to be the leader of the team and rewarding to be able to bring a new culture of professionalism and excellence.”
Darren encouraged locals interested in the sport to give it a go and said it was open to all levels of skill and experience.
“The Bundaberg Burnett Rifle Club operates on the Childers Road every Sunday and welcomes anyone who is interested in long range target rifle shooting,” he said.
“Anyone can visit the Queensland Rifle Association website to get an overall idea on the sport and it gives advice on how to approach participation.
“The sport is open to any level of expertise, from just having fun testing your ability to holding and controlling both your physical and mental aptitude to elite athlete representation of Australia at Commonwealth Games and WLRC level.”
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