Photo courtesyof Daleen Van Staden

The 2018 SAARA National champions from left to right Arabella Barco (10m Sporter Women), Barto Pienaar (10m Olympic Men), Tanya Snyders (10m Olympic Women) and James Snell (10m Sporter Men). Congratulations to you and all the other athletes who took part and won trophies, medals, performance badges and earned their SAARA Association colours at this event.

We had a very successful 2018 SAARA National Championships that was hosted by KZN and shot in Durban. This was the first time that we shot the precision events on electronic targets at Nationals and although it is still a learning experience everything went smoothly. Although we did not have as many entries as in the past, particularly in the sporter disciplines, the performance levels was very high with two new South African National records for Barto Pienaar (with a score of 620.8 in the 10m Olympic men’s event) and Desirie du Toit (with a score of 547 in the 10m Sporter women’s event). It was also hart warming to see some young rising stars performing very well.

Thank to Piet du Plooy and his team who organised the event and to my management team and other people who helped on the range to set up equipment, act as officials, help in the stats room with scoring and supported the athletes throughout the event.

Johan Pienaar

SAARA President