In an unexpected way, the East Gippsland community was the winner of the 2018 Field and Game National Championships conducted over the long weekend at Bairnsdale Field and Game.

While Nick Guerra may have taken out the prized title of simulated field national champion, the community and businesses of the region were rewarded for their support of Bairnsdale Field and Game with an influx of visitors to the region, filling accommodation and dining establishments.

The most valuable and unexpected win however was the unexpected announcement that the club has been selected to host the major event again in 2019.

Chairman of the Field and Game Australia (FGA) board, Bill Paterson, announced to the crowd assembled at presentations that Bairnsdale had run such an outstanding event that they had been chosen to host the 2019 national carnival, making the club the first club in several years to host back-to-back championships.

With 90 squads of shooters entered by the cut off for entries, more than 500 participants rolled into the club in Forge Creek from midday Friday to contest one of the biggest clay target events in the country.

The competitors, family, friends and traders filled accommodation from Sale to Lakes Entrance, with many arriving much earlier than Friday and staying on after the event to attend the Bairnsdale Cup, or to put the many boats that were in tow in for a spot of fishing.

The event itself was deemed an outstanding success, with predictions correct that the standard of competition would require shooters to hit more than 140/150 to take the coveted title.

Nick Guerra and Blake Nankervis tied on 142 before going head-to-head in a 10-target shoot off on the new grounds below the clubhouse.

The venue proved worthy of the spectacle as the crowd, estimated at 600 to 700 competitors, family and friends, gathered on the bank overlooking the ground. Portable towers threw targets from as high as 20 metres up, while other ground-based machines threw fast crossing targets.

Guerra hit nine of the 10 targets taking out the overall high gun and the national champion title, while Nankervis, who scored 8/10 in the close shoot off, took out the handicap championship and first in “AA” grade.

Renae Birgan narrowly beat Brittany Cole 133/150 to 130/150 to take the Australian women’ s championship. Cole shot 48/50 in her final day’s competition but was unable to catch Birgan.

Birgan spoke highly of her teammate on several Australian international teams, pointing out that in her final 50 targets Cole shot a world class score to give Birgan a run for her money.

The trader’s area was alive with colour, flags and banners, and proved a popular place to pass the time between rounds with all traders speaking highly of not only the event, but the host club.

The post-event feedback is that they are very happy the event is returning to Bairnsdale in 2019.

Bairnsdale Field and Game president, Michael Crane, was extremely pleased with the way the event went for the club.

“The team has worked together really well, not only our team but the many community members and groups that joined us to run a very successful event,” Mr Crane said.

“The recognition of that by Field and Game Australia in awarding us the event again in 2019 is a massive vote of confidence based on their experience here this weekend.”

Asked whether this decision was a surprise, Michael was candid in his response.

“It hadn’t really been a topic for discussion in the months prior, but FGA representatives were impressed with the club facilities and grounds in planning and setup.

“We were only officially asked if we’d take it on a short time before Sunday’s presentations.

“It aligns with what we are trying to do for both the club and the broader community so an impromptu committee discussion was positive. It’s a lot of work for a lot of people but the results this weekend speak for themselves and it’s clearly worth the work.”

Every state was represented in the competitor mix. This major event is one of only a couple of clay target events this size in Australia each year.

As a result, those who took titles and trophies home were from all over.

Locals, or near locals by comparison to the distances that interstate competitors travelled, were featured on the podium in junior and sub-junior categories, with Mark Du Rose, of Rosedale, winning the junior section, while Zac Jones, of Maffra, took out third in sub-juniors. Both have been members of the Gippsland Sports Academy’s junior development squad in the past two years coached by Olympian, Lauryn Mark.

Their talent shows the future for the sport in Gippsland is bright.

While the weather, predominantly the wind, played havoc with targets on Saturday, the weather on Sunday will be the take away memory for most competitors with the event finishing in perfect conditions.

Many have already committed to coming back, and the club looks now to work with East Gippsland Shire to ensure that the successes and benefits of this event are even greater in 2019.

PICTURED: Blake Nankervis claimed the handicap championship and first in “AA” grade at the Field and Game National Championships conducted over the long weekend at Bairnsdale Field and Game. The club has been selected to host the major event again in 2019.