Grand Prix of Australia Finale of Oceania Cup - Sporting - Australia (April 2009)

Registration closed

Sporting

1 targets

Participants

25 /100

Start

Apr 11, 2009, 10:00

Europe/Kiev (UTC+3)

End

Apr 12, 2009, 10:00

Europe/Kiev (UTC+3)

Until competition start

0 days

Location

Balliang East, Australia

Status

Registration closed

Actions

Results

Winners

TOP 3

Overall

BIRGAN Damien

177

BIRGAN Damien

177

YOUNGER John

176

YOUNGER John

176

Category Man

BIRGAN Damien

177

YOUNGER John

176

PANETTA Anthony

175

Category Ladies

LONSDALE Natasha

156

TANGEY Brooke

152

BIRGAN Renae

138

Category Junior

HALL Robert

171

NANKERVIS Blake

163

GUERRA Nick

SO +18

156

TINGAY Chris

SO +17

156

Category Senior

BACKMAN Alan

167

TARDREW Kel

SO +18

158

WHITEHEAD Malcolm

SO +19

158

Category Veteran

MCFARLANE Ray

150

JOHNS John

125

BRENTON David

121

About competition

Finale of the Oceania Cup — Parcours de Chasse

The 2009 FITASC Sporting Grand Prix of Australia (incorporating the prestigious inaugural Finale of the Oceania Cup) was a premier international clay target shooting competition held from April 11th to April 12th, 2009. Staged as a flagship fixture on the Southern Hemisphere target shooting calendar, this two-day tournament brought together elite domestic marksmen and international delegations to compete in the main Sporting discipline (Parcours de chasse). The championship was proudly hosted at the world-class and highly scenic facilities of the Geelong Sporting Clays Association in Geelong, Victoria, Australia.

Event Highlights & Structural Parameters

Operating under the highest international framework of global target sports, this Grand Prix combined Australia’s rich clay shooting heritage with strict international regulations:

Sanctioning Architecture: The competition operated under the direct international authority of FITASC (Fédération Internationale de Tir aux Armes Sportives de Chasse) in coordination with Sporting Clays Australia (SCA), certifying that all multi-field course configurations, target flight trajectories, and weapon compliance parameters conformed to strict global tier-1 standards.
The Inaugural Oceania Cup Finale: The 2009 season marked the historic introduction of the FITASC Oceania Cup. This Grand Prix served as the decisive final leg of the cup, aggregating points to crown the overall regional champions in individual and team divisions.
A Historic Venue & Elite Class: The Geelong range is renowned for its demanding targets. 2009 is famously noted in Australian junior sporting history, as future shooting icon Blake Nankervis delivered a legendary performance at this Geelong championship.
Coastal Grassland Challenge: Set across the venue's natural grass terrain and open-air corridors, the courses utilized tricky wind currents blowing off the nearby coast to deliver extremely deceptive, high-velocity target angles that tested the reflexes and mental stamina of the world's best shooters.

1. Full Event Program & Schedule

The high-stakes tournament timeline concentrated the intense technical qualification rounds across the Easter weekend, preceded by official preparation windows:

April 9th – April 10th (Thursday – Friday): Arrival of international and domestic delegations, squadding confirmation, official shooter registry check-in, weapon safety compliance verifications, and open training lines on designated sporting tracks.
April 11th (Saturday) — Grand Prix Day One: Phase 1 of the official qualification flights opens across specialized multi-stand layouts, challenging shooters with diverse target speeds, vertical angles, and trajectory patterns.
April 12th (Sunday) — Grand Prix Final Day: Concluding qualification flights, followed immediately by high-stakes, sudden-death international tie-breaking shoot-offs (barrages) to determine the definitive individual and category podium positions.
April 12th (Sunday) — Official Closing & Awards Ceremony: Staged late Sunday afternoon to honor individual, category, and national team winners, officially concluding the 2009 Australian Grand Prix and finalizing the inaugural Oceania Cup standings.

2. Venue Profile & Logistical Location Details

All tournament operations, specialized shooting tracks, and official administrative bureaus were hosted by a premier, fully equipped Australian clay target facility:

Host Venue:

Geelong Sporting Clays Association (GSCA)

Geelong, Victoria, Australia

The Geelong Sporting Clays Range is widely celebrated across the Southern Hemisphere as a top-tier outdoor sports facility. Featuring advanced automated target launching systems and highly versatile layouts deeply integrated into the open countryside, the venue challenges shooters with tricky light and wind conditions, offering a spectacular competitive environment for the international clay target community.

3. Organizing Committee & Registration Framework

Administrative operations and international competitor registries followed strict timeline allocations managed through the global governing body and its national affiliate:

National Coordinating Partner: Sporting Clays Australia (SCA)
International Sanctioning Oversight: Fédération Internationale de Tir aux Armes Sportives de Chasse (FITASC)

Shooting Ground

Geelong Clay Target Club

Balliang East, Australia

Geelong Clay Target Club, located in the Little River region, is a premier, highly equipped shooting facility affiliated with the ACTA and VCTA. Known for its excellent infrastructure, the club caters to a wide demographic, ranging from beginners looking to try the sport to elite professional teams preparing for international competitions. A key historical highlight of the venue is its reputation for perfect visual geometry; it is the site where Olympic champion Russell Mark set an unprecedented national record in 1990 by hitting 288 consecutive Double Rise targets.

The club boasts extensive, automated facilities designed to support multiple shooting disciplines. The open, flat terrain and varying wind conditions create challenging, unpredictable target trajectories that are highly valued by professional athletes for honing their reflexes. Key facility features include:

4 Down the Line (DTL) traps, an ISSF Olympic Trap, a Skeet layout, and 5 Stand Sporting Clays setups.
A dedicated practice area featuring at least 5 automated machines that offer varying target difficulties.
A spacious clubhouse with a fully catered canteen, a bar, and an on-site ammunition store.
Strict environmental protocols, including the use of mechanized sweepers for collecting spent wads.

Training at the club is structured to accommodate all skill levels, with a particular focus on accessibility and safety. Beginners can utilize the practice stands and receive comprehensive instruction without needing a prior firearms license. During these coached sessions, all necessary equipment—including club shotguns, hearing protection, safety glasses, and shooting vests—is provided completely free of charge. The club's coaching network also includes ISSF 'A' class instructors, ensuring top-tier skill development for advanced shooters.

Geelong Clay Target Club is an active hub for the local and state shooting community, regularly hosting ratings tournaments, corporate events, and family-friendly days. The venue is highly versatile and fits several key audiences:

Novices and Families: Offers a safe, low-barrier entry environment with free protective gear and professional coaching.
Professional Athletes: World-class Olympic layouts combined with complex wind conditions provide an ideal training ground.
Corporate Groups and Teams: The large infrastructure and catered clubhouse make it a popular choice for team-building events and group bookings.

To ensure the sport remains accessible, the club maintains an affordable pricing structure for both practice and professional events. Standard practice rounds are priced at $12.50 for 25 targets, or $5.00 for a shorter 10-target session. On competition days, the full tournament entry fee is $70.00 for adults, $60.00 for ladies and veterans, and $40.00 for juniors, with a $2.00 optional jackpot.

Working Hours:

Monday – Thursday: Closed (available only for pre-arranged corporate or group bookings).
Friday: Open for scheduled practice sessions.
Saturday – Sunday: Open for competition events (DTL and Skeet competitions are typically held on the second Saturday of the month) and arranged weekend practice.

444 Moretons Road, Balliang East, VIC 3340, Australia

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Website

Grand Prix of Australia Finale of Oceania Cup - Sporting - Australia (April 2009)

Actions

Winners

About competition

Finale of the Oceania Cup — Parcours de Chasse

Event Highlights & Structural Parameters

1. Full Event Program & Schedule

2. Venue Profile & Logistical Location Details

3. Organizing Committee & Registration Framework

Geelong Clay Target Club

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