GOLD is in the sights of two Bathurst shooters as Shayne and Glenn Barnsley compete in the SSAA National Muzzleloading Championships starting on Saturday.
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Shayne Barnsley goes into the Adelaide event as one of the state’s top ranked shooters with father Glenn right behind him in the standings. The two have high expectations for the event after they found plenty of success in last September’s state titles.
Shayne Barnsley says he and his father enjoy the chance to compete in the event, not for the challenge but the chance to learn from others.
“We have a minimum of 50 shooters turning up from NSW. We’re both in the top three but in this particular crowd the stakes are raised incredibly because there are national record holders and guys with national championships under their belt,” he said.
“I believe we can finish well. When you go down there though, you realise how out of your depth you can be.”
The major aim for the pair is to come out on top in the Super Grand Aggregate, the best combined score through four days of competition.
In a sport where most focus goes towards the trap and skeet shooting variants, the Barnsley pair are drawn to the traditional rifles used in the muzzleloading disciplines.
Shayne Barnsley believes that’s because of both the history behind them and the community they compete against.
“I’ve been shooting since my junior years. One day I had a call from some of my friends who had been into muzzleloading, I had a go and I’ve never left,” he said.
“If you ever have gun failures or something on the gun breaks you’ll have about three or four other people, that’s people you’re competing against, ready to help you out or give you the tools you need.
“The history of some of the guns is incredible. It might be dirty and it might be slow, but some of the people you meet here are some of the best you will meet.”
Barnsley claimed the overall aggregate prize for the military class during the NSW Championships last year and has his eyes set on some top individual discipline honours this time around.
“I’m looking forward to the traditional bench rest and cross sticks. They’re my preferred disciplines. Judging by the results of the last national meet I reckon I can be in the mix. But things can change and it’s all about what happens on the day,” he said.
The pair will compete over five days of competition, with Friday’s practice rounds getting proceedings underway before official competition starts on Saturday.
