The Malta Rifle and Pistol Shooting Club (MRPSC), under the auspices of the Malta Shooting Sport Federation, has made big strides since its inception 18 months ago.

After an auspicious first pistol competition last month, it was the turn of the rifle shooters to show their best marksmanship in another first event of its kind in Malta.

There were three categories - Centrefire Rifles, Rimfire Bolt and Semi Auto Rifles and Bolt Action Single-Shot Rifles. A total of 11 participants took part and some of the scores achieved under the scorching sun were quite remarkable.

Competitions were split over three disciplines, five shots standing, five shots kneeling and another five shots prone.

This set was again repeated but this time rounds had to be shot in 30 seconds.

In Centrefire, E. Camilleri was the winner with 137 points, just two ahead of P. Azzopardi who won a shoot-off with R. Attard for the runner-up spot.

J. Grixti was the top man in Rimfire with some superb shooting that earned him a deserved gold medal. He had a score of 165 points. J. Fenech was second, 148, and C. Dalli third, 53.

The Bolt Action Rifle shoot was the epic of the competitions at Safi as it was run on similar Olympic events and rules. Lawrence Darmanin, currently preparing for the Sicily-Malta Friendship Games and the European Commonwealth Championships next month, won the contest with 226 points.

Darmanin was followed by the indefaticable P. Azzopardi on 198 points. The promising Eleanor Bezzina was third with an excellent score of 180 points. M. Borg finished in fourth position with 133.

Patrick Azzopardi, the club's president, thanked the Armed Forces of Malta for their assistance and hoped that more shooters from the AFM and Police Force would take part in future competitions.

Azzopardi also lauded the impeccable safe running of the competitions by John Grixti before distributing medals and trophies to the winners in the various categories.