A team of eight Maltese shooters from the Malta Allied Airgunners Club have just represented the country in the World Field Target Federation Championships which were held in Pretoria, South Africa.

The championships were well attended. In fact, around 130 shooters from 12 different countries took part in three categories - Veterans, Open and Springer Class.

The Maltese team finished seventh in the overall rankings and in the Springer Class shoot David Giardina and Kris Debattista had a creditable showing, finishing seventh and ninth respectively.

The club said in a statement that the Pretoria experience was a useful one for the Maltese Field Target shooters who practise their favourite sport at the Victoria Range in Qormi.

"A major step forward is required to better prepare shooters for the next World Championships in Hungary, in 2010," the club said.

In Pretoria, the South African Freestate Bench Rest Shooting Association also hosted a tri-nation Bench Rest competition involving the host nation, New Zealand and Malta.

The Maltese shooters did well and returned home with some encouraging results. In Rim Fire, Mario Spiteri was classified sixth and Nazzareno Scorfna followed closely in seventh place.