ST. PAUL – A Zone 7 air rifle tournament is set to take place on April 14 and 15 hosted by the Eldorado Air Gun Club of St. Paul, where around 21 air rifle athletes and enthusiasts from the Lakeland region and beyond expect a day of fun competition.
Zone 7 of ASRA encompasses rifle ranges and clubs in northeast Alberta which includes the Lakeland region. The tournament is partly sponsored by the St. Paul Fish and Game Association (SPFGA) as well as the Alberta Smallbore Rifle Association (ASRA).
Russell Whitford, coach coordinator of the club and treasurer of ASRA, said the tournament is an excellent opportunity for athletes and enthusiasts to compete with others and themselves.
The tournament won’t be, “highly competitive, but we’re going to be here to socialize and test our skills,” he said.
Air rifle shooting is a lifetime sport, according to Whitford, and what people get out of it is what they put in. "Lots of people put in lots of physical and mental effort... and they find satisfaction in that."
It’s a sport where people compete against themselves, he acknowledged.
While this weekend’s event is primarily focused on competition, it is also an opportunity to come together and socialize. "It's a social event as much as anything. And kind of like a cultural event because we're all firearms enthusiasts as well," he said.
Whitford expressed his excitement about the upcoming tournament. “It's basically a season-ending competitive match for anybody that wants to compete, whether they're in Zone 7 or not.”
Individuals interested in trying out air rifle shooting but doesn’t have any experience can get in touch with Whitford. "If anybody is interested to come and see the event,” and try air rifle shooting, “or they were maybe not interested in the actual event... we can accommodate them with introductory clinics.”
For more information on the event and local club, Whitford could be reached at 780-996-9597.
UPDATE: RESULTS
Following the weekend event, results included:
Kieran Husser took first in the Men's U16 Rifle category.
Leo Evanyshyn-Robb won first place in the Men's U18 Rifle category, and the second place went to Addison Champagne, while Jacob Evanyshyn-Robb placed third.
Billi-Jo McIlroy won the Senior Ladies Rifle and Pistol category, and Marina Champagne placed second.
For the Senior Men's Rifle and Pistol category, Russell Whitford placed first, followed by Murray Aarbo for second place, and Gordon Smereka for third place.