The Malta Allied Airgunners Club (MAAC) has just held its first air-pistol Steel Plate Challenge for 2009 at the Victoria Shooters Range, Tal-Ħandaq.

Twelve air gunners took part in this competition which is gaining in popularity among MAAC members as interest rises ahead of the new Air Pistol Dynamic Shooting event planned to start later this season.

In Steel Plate Challenge events, each competitor must shoot with three priorities in mind: safe handling, speed and accuracy. Each round of shooting consists of four white plates and a yellow stop plate. Shooters aim at targets from a static one-metre box or multiple ones.

The maximum time to shoot a stage is 30 seconds which is also the factor applied to determine positions.

Without doubt, the fastest on the field was Steve Farrugia, with best strings in stages one and three of 5.10 and 4.69 seconds respectively. Farrugia had an overall Hit Factor of 13.06.

Despite some teething problems, David Giardina finished second with a Hit Factor of 10.79.

Rene Scorfna was third on 10.53.

The fastest string shooters in stage two were Scorfna and James Bugeja, both recording 6.62 seconds.

The next air pistol event is scheduled for June.

Top five scores

1. S. Farrugia 13.06 secs; 2. D. Giardina 10.79; 3. R. Scorfna 10.53; 4. J. Bugeja 10.37; 5. K. Debattista 8.67.