SHOOTING AUSTRALIA CALLS FOR APPOINTED DIRECTOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

At its Special General Meeting in June 2025, with support from its Member Organisation, Shooting Australia amended its Constitution to align with the Australian Sports Commission’s Sport Governance Standards.

These changes will enable SA to continue to meet ASC funding requirements and work towards best-practice governance. Shooting Australia is required to be fully compliant with these standards by 30 June 2026.

The key changes to Shooting Australia’s Constitution included:

Board Composition: The Shooting Australia Board will consist of up to eight members, with four (4)

Elected Directors and up to four (4) Appointed Directors.

Appointed Director Ratio: In line with Australian Sports Commission guidelines, at least 40% of the Board must be Appointed Directors.

Provisions for Diversity, Equity and Inclusions – no one gender accounts for more than 50% of the total number of Directors

Shooting Australia has commenced a recruitment process for up to three (3) Appointed Directors through a call for Expressions of Interest.

Shooting Australia is seeking individuals (from within or beyond the sport sector) that address one or more of the following attributes identified on the organisations Board Skills Matrix:

• Finance Expertise (e.g. CA, CPA)
• Governance Experience
• High Performance System Knowledge
• Strategic Capability

This process aims to build a diverse and inclusive Board, equipped to drive Shooting Australia’s strategic goals moving forward.

Expressions of Interest for Appointed Directors close on 8 September.

If you have any questions please contact Jenni Thom, Shooting Australia Company Secretary via email: Jenni@shootingaustralia.org

For further information, please visit the links below:

https://www.sportspeople.com.au/…/85682-appointed-board…

On Wednesday 30^th July, Federal Parliament in Canberra recognised the 1980 Australian Olympic Team, 45 years since the controversial Games. This Olympic Team defied intense public pressure to take part in the Moscow Games. The Prime Minister and Opposition Leader were part of the contingent to celebrate the 1980 Olympic Team as well as acknowledge those athletes who were denied the opportunity to compete.

Around 50 Moscow Olympians, including Rifle athlete Yvonne Hill who now at the age of 87, was the oldest athlete to travel to Canberra to partake in the recognition.  Yvonne was one of the only two Australian Shooting Athletes to compete in Moscow. Hill placed 11th overall in the 50m Rifle Prone Event (Open), and teammate, David Hollister (dec.) placed 15th.

Australian Olympic Committee President, Ian Chesterman said: “The parliamentary recognition will acknowledge the courage and resilience of the Olympians who faced intense public pressure not to compete, and the enduring hurt and pain many of them still feel to this day.”

Australian remains as one of only two countries to compete in every iteration of the Olympic Games.

Read more about the event here: https://www.olympics.com.au/news/moscow-olympic-team-recognised-by-federal-parliament-for-a-welcome-home-45-years-on/

Overnight, Australia’s Laetisha Scanlan and Mitch Iles secured gold in the Trap Mixed Team event at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Lonato Del Garda, Italy.

In their first international appearance as a mixed team pairing, Scanlan and Iles finished qualification tied with three other teams on 143 out of 150 targets, forcing a shoot-off to decide who would advance to the gold medal match. The Australians faced two Spanish pairs and Great Britain’s Matthew Coward‑Holley & Ellie Seward before going head-to-head against the Tokyo 2020 Mixed Team Olympic Champions, Alberto Fernández and Fátima Gálvez in the gold medal match. Scanlan and Iles shot a combined score 45 out of 50 targets, over Spain’s 41 to clinch the gold, while Great Britain took the bronze over Spain’s Andres Garcia and Mar Molne Magrina.

After an epic end to qualification, with four teams tied on 143 and having to shoot off to secure their place in the gold medal match, Iles reflected that “It felt very good, that was our ultimate aim and we achieved it.”

The win capped off a remarkable Lonato campaign for Scanlan, who had secured the Women’s Trap individual gold just 24 hours earlier.

“This really has been a dream event for me,” Scanlan said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better performance in the individual and teams. I’m really happy Mitch and I walked away with gold this afternoon against the reigning Olympic champions.”

This medal continues a successful year for Iles, who has now earned three World Cup podiums in the mixed team event, following earlier successes of a gold and silver medal with teammate Penny Smith.

“Going into today’s final, my past results reinforced that I’m confident in my process and just to be confident in myself,” he said.

The 2025 Lonato World Cup featured over 500 athletes from 73 countries competing across Trap and Skeet disciplines, including 183 entries in Men’s Trap and 102 in Women’s Trap, highlighting the event’s world-class standard.

“Giovanni Pellielo winning gold in the individual [Men’s Trap] shows that you can still be more than competitive at the ripe old age of 55 against the best shooters in the world,” the team reflected. “It’s also impressive for a country like Australia, who do not have full-time professional shooters, to be competitive against the world. This is a testament to our grit and competitive nature.”

Other results from the Trap Mixed Team event:
Australia’s second mixed team pairing of James Willett and Penny Smith finished qualification with a combined score of 138, placing them middle of the pack in a field of 54 teams.

With two World Cup gold medals secured over successive days, the Australian Shotgun Team concludes its Lonato campaign with strong momentum as it looks ahead to the remainder of the 2025 season.

You can view all results from the Lonato World Cup via https://www.issf-sports.org/competitions/3272/results

For all media enquiries, please contact Jane Vella 0407 859 197 or jane@shootingaustralia.org

Overnight, Australia’s Laetisha Scanlan secured her 14^th World Cup medal, winning Gold at the International Shooting Sport Federation Shotgun World Cup in Lonato Del Garda, Italy.

Competing in the Women’s Trap event, Scanlan shot an impressive qualification score of 120 out of 125 targets to secure her finals berth, only one target behind top qualifier and world number 2, Silvana Stanco (ITA).

Fellow Australian’s also competing in the Women’s Trap event included Molly Bretag who shot a score of 109 out of 125, and Penny Smith and Kiara Dean both shooting 107. A score of 115 secured a place in the final.

Competition in the final was fierce with 50 world cup medals collectively across the top 4 qualifiers, with a field complete with Olympians, Olympic medallists and top 10 world rankings. This did not deter Scanlan as she remained calm and retained her composure, taking an early lead.

Speaking about the depth of talent in the final, Scanlan said, “The level of competition in Women’s Trap right now is as high as it has ever been. I knew going into the final that I was up against some of the best in the world, so it was always going to be a high-scoring, high-pressure match. I’ve made some key adjustments over the past eight weeks, and it’s really encouraging to see those changes paying off.”

Stanco won the silver medal, 2 targets behind Scanlan, with Lada Denisova (AIN) winning the bronze medal.

With success in Lonato spanning nearly a decade for Scanlan, and her second individual gold medal at the Lonato World Cup, having won the same event in 2023, Scanlan reflects, “There’s just something about Italy that feels so special. Every time I come to Lonato I say to myself that no matter the result, I always have a wonderful time. Of course, I come here to compete and give it everything I’ve got, but some places simply resonate with you, and Italy definitely holds a special place in my heart.”

With 14 World Cup medals now in her collection, Scanlan describes the feeling of the new addition. “It’s always an incredible feeling to win a World Cup gold. These moments are rare and never guaranteed, so I feel extremely grateful to still have the opportunity to compete at this level in a sport that I truly love. Every medal has its own story, and this one is especially meaningful. “

At the age of 35, with her time in the sport spanning over two decades, Scanlan reflects on her development as a competitor. “I feel like I’m constantly evolving. This sport has taught me so much about myself, and as I get older, I find that I appreciate the journey even more. I’m still learning, still growing, and moments like this remind me that I’m moving closer to the long-term goals I’ve set for myself. It’s a really fulfilling stage of my career.”

With one day of competition left in Lonato, Scanlan will now team with Mitch Iles for the Trap Mixed Team event. When asked if she approaches this event any differently, Scanlan said, “My approach stays the same. I stick to my processes and routines. I have full confidence in Mitch; he’s an exceptional shooter and a great teammate. I’m looking forward to seeing how we perform together and excited for the challenge ahead.”

James Willett and Penny Smith will also combine forces to compete in Sunday’s Mixed Team event.

Other results from Lonato; in the Men’s Trap competition, running parallel to Women’s Trap,  Mitch Iles and James Willett both shot a qualification score of 120, narrowly missing a finals chance by 1 target. Thomas Grice shot 115 out of 125 targets, Nathan Argiro 112, and Marco Corbo 108. A score of 121 was required for a finals opportunity.

You can follow scores from the Lonato World Cup via https://www.issf-sports.org/competitions/3272/results

Any media enquiries to Jane Vella 0407 859 197 or jane@shootingaustralia.org

A bronze medallist in the Women’s Trap event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Penny left her handprint in clay at Trap Concaverde, joining some of the world’s best Shotgun competitors who have achieved Olympic success.

The fifth Australian Olympic medallist to be recognised on the infamous wall, Penny will sit alongside fellow Australians Catherine Skinner (Gold Women’s Trap Rio 2016), Deserie Baynes (Bronze Double Trap Atlanta 1996), Russell Mark (Gold Double Trap Atlanta 1996, Silver Double Trap Sydney 2000) and Michael Diamond (Gold Men’s Trap Atlanta 1996, Gold Men’s Trap Sydney 2000).

We congratulate Penny on this accolade.

Penny joins the Australian Trap Team in the final stages of preparation ahead of tomorrows first day of Trap qualification in the ISSF Shotgun World Cup at Trap Concaverde.

Precision with Purpose: Shooting Australia’s Para Program Development

Over the last week, Shooting Australia, hosted its inaugural Trans-Tasman camp at the Brisbane International Shooting Centre. The camp brought together 15 para-athletes from Australia and New Zealand, with the goal of enhancing practical skills and fostering connections amongst international talent and national programs.

The camp was attended by 3 New Zealand and 12 Australian athletes, as well as support staff and national coaches from the two largest national shooting sport programs in Oceania. The Australian attendees included current high-performance program athletes and national squad members, as well as talent transfer athletes, who have recently been introduced to target shooting sports and who have high-performance experience in other sports.

The camp also aligned with the BISC Open pistol and rifle competition, offering athletes access to a quality domestic competition. Additionally, this competition showcased the integration of the target shooting sports, demonstrating Shooting Australia’s continued efforts to increase the accessibility of domestic events for para-athletes, enabling men, women, able and para-athletes to compete alongside each other.

The Trans-Tasman camp was the first of an intended series of Paralympics Australia and Paralympics New Zealand endorsed events, which intend to increase the number and development of para shooting athletes in the Oceania region, ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games. Trans-Tasman camps will occur twice annually, alternating between Australia and New Zealand.

Speaking to the success of the Trans-Tasman Camp, Shooting Australia’s Precision Program Manager and Para Technical Lead, Catherine Berry, highlighted, “It’s been fantastic to have the New Zealand Para Team come across, and to have them join our new and experienced Para athletes for the Trans-Tasman Camp.”

“Our goal with this camp was to help both parties train for international competition and to build a relationship between our programs, athletes and support staff, so that we can continue to work together in the future.”

New Zealand Para Team Leader and athlete, Neelam O’Neill, explained “This opportunity to come over for the Trans-Tasman Camp has been amazing, especially for our up-and-coming New Zealand Para athletes.”

“It’s been a great opportunity to put all of our skills together and work towards building our sport as one, so we can hopefully represent a bigger group at the 2032 Paralympics here in Brisbane.”

The camp coincides with Shooting Australia’s increased focus and commitment to developing its Paralympic Program and athletes ahead of the LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games.

As Shooting Australia CEO, Adam Sachs, stated, “The Trans-Tasman Camp reflects Shooting Australia’s increased commitment of resources and development opportunities to the para program. The development of competitive para-athletes will be a key focus as we aim to maximise our qualification numbers and overall performance scores at the LA 2028 Paralympic Games. This growth will be an important springboard for the development of our Paralympic team in Brisbane in 2032.”

The development of the Paralympic program and the identification of future para talent has been a core focus for Shooting Australia so far in 2025, with events such as the Para Talent Transfer Camp in February and the May National Classification Day demonstrating this commitment. This will continue to be a priority throughout the remainder of 2025 through events such as the South Australia Sport Institute (SASI) Come and Try Day in July and the second National Classification Day in October.

On Tuesday, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) confirmed the sports and events for the LA 2028 Paralympic Games.

22 sports will be included in LA 2028 offering 552 medal events and quota places for a total of 4,400 athletes. The Para Shooting program will mirror what was delivered at the Paris 2024 Games and will include 13 events across pistol and rifle, with 3 male, 3 female and 7 mixed/open events. Possible new disciplines/events of Para Trap and Visually Impaired (VI – Rifle) have not been included on the program.

MEN’S EVENTS: 
Rifle R1 – 10m Air Rifle Standing – SH1, R7 – 50m Rifle 3 positions – SH1, Pistol P1 – 10m Air Pistol – SH1

WOMEN’S EVENTS: 
Rifle R2 – 10m Air Rifle Standing – SH1, R8 – 50m Rifle 3 positions – SH1, Pistol P2 – 10m Air Pistol – SH1

MIXED/OPEN EVENTS: Rifle R3 – 10m Air Rifle Prone – SH1, R4 – 10m Air Rifle Standing – SH2, R5 – 10m Air Rifle Prone – SH2, R6 – 50m Rifle Prone – SH1, R9 – 50m Rifle Prone – SH2, Pistol P3 – 25m Pistol – SH1, P4 – 50m Pistol – SH1

Of the IPC’s announcement about the LA 2028 Para Shooting program, Shooting Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, Adam Sachs, says, “We are glad to have confirmation of the events that will be contested at the LA2028 Paralympic Games, and a bit surprised that they don’t include Para Trap or VI. Shooting Australia will continue to invest in progressing the performances of its current Para athletes and at the same time, increase investment towards fast tracking the identification, development and performances of our next generation of Para Shooting athletes across the events that will be comprise the LA 2028 program.

“We are excited about the prospect of our current and future athletes establishing themselves as regular finalists and medallists in the lead up to the LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games.”  

Yesterday, Australian Para Rifle Athlete and four-time Paralympian, Natalie Smith claimed the silver medal in the R8 – Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions event at the World Shooting Para Sport World Cup in Changwon, South Korea.

Competing in a field of athletes representing 5 different countries, Smith secured her place in the final, shooting a score of 572 and finishing qualification ranked 3^rd.

Commenting on her qualification performance, Smith reflected, “I had some minor setbacks, but was able to work through those and stay focused on shooting good shots.”

With a focus on consistency and her composure, Smith delivered steady scores, maintaining a podium position throughout the final, securing the silver medal with a score of 446.7.

Of her silver medal and overall performance, Smith said “It was definitely good to have nerves but still shoot well knowing that next time will only be better.”

Emilia Babska of Poland won the gold medal, with bronze going to Korean athlete Yoojeong Lee.

This event marks Smith’s return to international competition following the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, where she qualified for the final and placed 8^th in the R8 event.

Natalie’s result follows Anton Zappelli’s performance in the R3 – Mixed Air Rifle 10m Prone event a day prior, where he shot a score of 631.1 qualifying for the final, and finishing 4^th place.

Commenting on his performance, Zappelli explained, “It’s a good start for the new [Paralympic] cycle. It gives me quiet confidence moving forward as I know what I need to focus on to minimize little mistakes when we get back to Australia.”

Shooting Australia CEO, Adam Sachs highlighted, “It’s good to see our para-athletes back in international competition at the beginning of a cycle and I congratulate Natalie and Anton on their results in Korea.”

“Growing the number and performances of Australian athletes in Para Shooting is a key strategic focus for Shooting Australia in the years to come. We are excited about the prospect of our current and future athletes establishing themselves as regular finalists and medallists in the lead up to the LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games. With increased support from the Australian Institute of Sport, Shooting Australia will be investing significant time and funding in this outcome.”

The final event of the WSPS World Cup, will take place tomorrow as Natalie Smith, Anton Zappelli and Scottie Brydon compete in the R6 – Mixed 50m Rifle Prone event.

MAY RECAP…

SHOOTING AUSTRALIA LAUNCHES ITS SHOTGUN PERFORMANCE PROGRAM FOR LA 2028+

Building on last month’s release of the LA 2028+ High Performance Strategy, Shooting Australia officially launched its Shotgun Performance Program in May.

The launch of the Shotgun Performance Program highlights the fundamental changes that will be made to the program over the next four years, to ensure that it effectively supports Australia’s senior and junior shotgun athletes throughout the LA 2028 Olympic cycle and beyond.

The Shotgun Performance Program announced that Shooting Australia will be investing more than $1M of the funding that it receives from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in its Shotgun Program in 2025. The program will support 24 National Squad athletes, including, both senior and junior athletes across both Skeet and Trap disciplines. 13 of these athletes have been categorised with the AIS.

Shooting Australia’s investment in its Shotgun Performance Program will be enhanced through the continuing engagement of world class sports science and performance support provided by the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS). Shooting Australia and the VIS have signed a new four-year partnership agreement that will underpin the delivery of a Melbourne-based National Centre of Excellence for Shotgun.

READ THE FULL STORY

SHOOTING AUSTRALIA CELEBRATES NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK 2025

This month Shooting Australia celebrated National Volunteer Week in collaboration with the Australian Sports Commission (ASC). National Volunteer Week, which ran from the 19^th to the 25^th of May, aimed to celebrate the amazing volunteers who ensure that our sport remains safe, accessible and enjoyable for all.

Shooting Australia CEO, Adam Sachs, commended the hard work and dedication of volunteers, commenting, “Shooting Australia’s pathways and the opportunities that these provide for talented athletes rely heavily on the time, effort and expertise that our amazing volunteers invest in our sport. Volunteers continue to invest themselves selflessly so that others can experience everything that shooting has to offer, from grassroots to high performance. National Volunteer Week is a reminder for us all to express our deep gratitude for their contribution to the success and sustainability of the sport we love.”

To recognise the hard work and dedication of sporting volunteers across the country, The Australian Sports Commission launched an interactive map of Australia, which displayed the locations and stories of the unsung heroes of Australian sport.

Check it out via the link below:

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK INTERACTIVE MAP

CYPRUS ISSF WORLD CUP SHOTGUN

Between the 3^rd and 12^th of May, 12 Aussie Shotgun athletes across both Trap and Skeet disciplines competed at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Nicosia, Cyprus.

Full event results can be found at the link below:

EVENT RESULTS AVAILABLE HERE

SUHL ISSF JUNIOR WORLD CUP

The ISSF Junior World Cup was held in Suhl, Germany, between the 19^th and 27^th of May. Australia was represented by a team of 12 junior athletes from Pistol, Rifle and Shotgun disciplines.

Full event results can be found at the link below:

EVENT RESULTS AVAILABLE HERE

JACK ROSSITER PLACES 6TH IN THE GRAND PRIX OF LIBERATION 2025

Earlier this month, Australian Rifle Athlete and three-time Olympian, Jack Rossiter, competed at the Grand Prix of Liberation in Pilsen, Czech Republic.

Competing in a field of 104 athletes from more than 20 countries, Rossiter finished qualification in 7^th place after shooting a score of 630.6.

Rossiter finished 6^th in the final with Slovakia’s Patrik Jány taking home the gold medal. Italy’s Danilo Sollazzo and India’s Paarth Makhija claimed silver and bronze respectively.

Commenting on his experience in the finals, Rossiter highlighted. “The finals started well. I had a strong first series, but I had some problems in my technique that came up in both qualification and the final. I think I know the solution now so I’m glad I will have that to work on.”

“The scores from this competition were the highest out of any international competition so far this year. That is the main reason why I’m satisfied with making the final, even though I know that there are improvements to be made.”

Rossiter will be Australia’s sole representative at the ISSF World Cup in Munich, Germany in June.

READ THE FULL STORY

MAY DOMESTIC EVENTS

TRV STATE CHAMPS – RIFLE

The Victorian State Titles – Rifle event was also held this month between the 2^nd and 4^th of May at the Melbourne International Shooting Centre.

VIEW FULL TRV STATE CHAMPS RESULTS

VCTA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

The VCTA State Championships were held between the 2^nd and 4^th of May at the Echuca Clay Target Club.

VIEW FULL VCTA STATE CHAMPS RESULTS – SKEET

VIEW FULL VCTA STATEE CHAMPS RESULTS – TRAP

VINTAGE OPEN – PISTOL

The Vintage Open for Pistol was held this month at the Cessnock Pistol Club between the 2^nd and 4^th of May

VIEW FULL VINTAGE OPEN – PISTOL EVENT RESULTS

ISSF NATIONALS – PISTOL

The ISSF Nationals – Pistol event was held between the 18^th and 24^th of May at the Sydney International Shooting Centre. The ISSF Nationals represented the 2^nd Pistol World Championships selection event.

VIEW FULL ISSF NATIONALS – PISTOL RESULTS

WHAT IS COMING UP…

JUNE INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

What: Changwon 2025 WSPS World Cup

Where: Changwon, South Korea

When: 28 May – 06 June

WSPS WORLD CUP INFORMATION & RESULTS

What: Munich ISSF World Cup

Where: Munich, Germany

When: 08 – 15 June

MUNICH ISSF WORLD CUP INFORMATION & RESULTS

JUNE DOMESTIC ENDORSED EVENTS

What: QLD State Titles (Tier 1)

Where: Brisbane Gun Club, Belmont, QLD

When: 12 – 15 June

Discipline: Shotgun

Selection Overlay: Shotgun World Championships Selection Event #2

QLD STATE TITLES EVENT INFORMATION

JULY DOMESTIC ENDORSED EVENTS

What: BISC Open – Pistol

Where: Brisbane International Shooting Centre, Belmont, QLD

When: 04 – 06 July

Discipline: Pistol

Selection Overlay:  Pistol & Rifle World Championships Selection Event #3

BISC OPEN EVENT INFORMATION

SHOOTING AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCES PARA NATIONAL CLASSIFICATION DAYS FOR 2025

For Para athletes still looking to receive a national classification, Shooting Australia will be hosting its second and final classification day of 2025 in Brisbane on the 3rd of October.

See the flyer and register at the link below.

2025 PARA NATIONAL CLASSIFICATION PAGE

SPORT AUSTRALIA HALL OF FAME 2026 SCHOLARSHIP & MENTORING PROGRAM

Applications for the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship & Mentoring Program are close on the 29th of June 2025.

For more information and to apply, visit the link below.

2026 Scholarship & Mentoring Program

USEFUL INFORMATION…

2025 NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION CRITERIA

2025 NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION CRITERIA

NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION LEADERBOARDS

NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION LEADERBOARDS

ATHLETE AVERAGE PERFORMANCE SCORES

ATHLETE AVERAGE PERFORMANCE SCORES

SHOOTING AUSTRALIA TV ON YOUTUBE

Don’t forget to subscribe to the Shooting Australia TV on YouTube where you will be able to re-watch domestic event coverage, hear from athletes – post competition, and more! Best of all, it is free!

SUBSCRIBE TO SHOOTING AUSTRALIA TV