The occasion was the annual IDRCA Champion of Champions tournament.

Each club, Goulburn, Kiama-Albion Park, Milton, Nowra and Southern Highlands, support the disciplines of Target Rifle, Free Class Standard and Free Class Open.

It was each club's champion in each of these disciplines who competed for the honour of being the Illawarra District Champion.

The Championship was held over 300, 500 and 600m with two stages being shot at 600m.

Not every club was able to field a Champion in each discipline.

Four Target Rifle, four Free Class Open and one Free Class Standard Club Champion competed.

The one free Class Standard Champion was Les Hosking from Goulburn Club. He shot extremely well and dropped only three points to record a score of 237/240.

The competition in both Target Rifle and Free Class open was very close.

In Target Rifle Bill Parker of Milton Club was unable to defend his title in gentle but tricky conditions.

Ken Young from Southern Highlands took out the Target Rifle title dropping only one point of a possible 200, over the four ranges, with a score of 199.22.

With 195.17, John Millington from Kiama Albion Park was one point in front of Bill Parker on 194.19. Barry Hallam from Nowra Club was a further point behind on 193.12.

Mick Passlow, shooting in Free Class Open, was Milton's hero. Mick blitzed the opposition dropping only thirteen points in his emphatic title win.

His score of 387 out of 400 was five better than that of Geoff Miners from Goulburn Club who scored 382. Dennis Shallis from Southern Highlands scored 376 and Les Rozsnyai from Nowra scored 374.

The event was a great success due in no small part to the efforts of the members of Milton Club who gave up their time and Saturday shoot to prepare the range for this most prestigious event.

Thanks also to the Patrons of Milton Rifle Club, Colin and Sue Shea, who permit Milton Club to use the Warden Range.

Hampton Hire provided sponsorship for the Championship and their support is greatly appreciated.

Next Saturday will see the normal weekly club competition resume.

The shoot will be over 400m with scores counting toward the Club Championship.

Milton Rifle Club can be contacted on 4457 1713 or 4456-4600.