Field and Game Australia’s national carnival is headed to East Gippsland next month with more than 600 clay target shooters set to descend on Bairnsdale across the Melbourne Cup long weekend.
Bairnsdale Field and Game will host the event on Saturday, November 3 and Sunday 4 with competitors from across the country vying for the coveted title of 2018 National Champion.
The Bairnsdale club has previously hosted the event in 1998 and 2008 and is proud to be hosting again this year.
2018 marks the 60th anniversary of the formation of Field Game Australia.
The Bairnsdale event will provide an economic boost to the region approaching, or potentially exceeding, $1 million, as the 600-plus competitors and their families and friends flock to the region, filling accommodation venues, restaurants and other businesses.
Many are expected to stay on for the remainder of the long weekend taking advantage of other events in the area and the idyllic location that the East Gippsland Riviera offers.
The event will showcase the best Australian simulated field shooters in Australia as they compete over 150 targets across the two days on six layouts.
Shooters of the highest calibre are expected to attend, including past Field and Game Australia National Champion, Robert Hall, from Melton, and Renae Birgan, who has won the ladies event nine times. She has recently returned from France as the 2018 FITASC Sporting Clays Women’s World Champion.
Renae’s partner and three time national champion in the open category, Sox Philipasidis, will join her for the weekend.
Rosedale’s Adam and Mark Du Rose can be expected to put up a fight. Both father and son have won in previous years with Adam taking the open championship in 2012, while Mark won the sub-junior championship in 2015.
Bairnsdale Field and Game president, Michael Crane, is excited about the event with more than 450 entries already confirmed as of last week.
“There’s still over a week to go for entries,” he said.
“It’s going to be a great event for the club and a huge boost for the region.”
On the state of readiness to host such a major event, Michael said the club is keen.
“We have a great team of volunteers, and a strong committee,” he said.
“The grounds and facilities we’ve upgraded in recent years are looking fantastic.
We’re all working to make sure that the visitors from across the country have a great experience. We want them coming back again after the nationals.”
Several of the serious contenders have already made visits to the club.
Robert Hall attended an event in September and two-time winner in the junior and sub-junior categories in previous years, Adam Shale, has already been down on a reconnaissance visit to check out the terrain and backgrounds that the challenging targets will be thrown in, demonstrating the dedication it takes to win these events.
The event is expected to inject around $1 million dollars in accommodation, meals, fuel and tourism into the East Gippsland economy, with competitors already booking out accommodation in Lakes Entrance, Sale, Paynesville and other towns in addition to accommodation booked in Bairnsdale, making it financially one of the biggest sporting events in East Gippsland this year.
The event will take place at Bairnsdale Field and Game at 445 Aerodrome Road, Bairnsdale, from 8am Saturday morning until 6pm Sunday afternoon.
Spectators are welcome to attend.
