The 11th Sporting Australian Grand Prix was a premier international clay target shooting competition held from March 2nd to March 3rd, 2013. This high-level qualification tournament brought together top-tier domestic and international marksmen to compete in the Sporting discipline (Parcours de chasse) over a demanding 200-target championship course at the specialized Warrnambool SSAA Laang Sporting Clay Range in Victoria, Australia.
Event Highlights & Structural Parameters
Operating under the official international framework of the 2013 global tournament calendar, this Grand Prix paired Australia's challenging bushland topography with strict international regulatory structures:
Sanctioning Architecture: The competition operated under the direct international authority of FITASC (Fédération Internationale de Tir aux Armes Sportives de Chasse), certifying that all course configurations, gun parameters, and target trajectories met absolute tier-1 international standards.
Global Selection Standings: Staged as an active, point-scoring leg for both the prestigious international Beretta FITASC Cups circuit and the worldwide Fiocchi FITASC World Rankings, drawing elite competitors early in the competition season.
Corporate & Technical Backing: The tournament featured heavy technical and promotional support from global industry giants Beretta, Fiocchi, and automated launcher specialist Promatic, anchoring the automated trap lines.
1. Full Event Program & Schedule
The operational timeline allocated dedicated pre-event preparation windows followed by the intensive qualification course split evenly across the weekend:
February 28th – March 1st (Thursday – Friday): Arrival of international and domestic delegations, squadding confirmation, official shooter registry check-in, weapon compliance safety checks, and the opening of warm-up training lines on designated sporting tracks.
March 2nd (Saturday) — Grand Prix Day One: Initial qualification flight consisting of 100 competition targets open across specialized outdoor natural terrain layouts.
March 3rd (Sunday) — Grand Prix Day Two: Final field qualification rotations consisting of the remaining 100 competition targets, followed immediately by international tie-breaking shoot-offs (barrages).
March 3rd (Sunday) — Official Awards and Closing Ceremony: Staged late Sunday afternoon at the main clubhouse pavilion to honor individual, category, and national team winners.
2. Venue Profile & Logistical Location Details
All local operations, shooting lines, and daily rotations were hosted by the regional shooting authority, offering highly challenging target trajectories against a rich, natural Australian backdrop:
Host Venue: Warrnambool SSAA Laang Sporting Clay Range Coulahans Rd, Laang, Victoria, Australia
3. Organizing Committee Contact Information
The executive management team responsible for registry coordination, ammunition pre-orders, and international customs entry forms for firearms maintained the following direct communication channels:
Executive Event Coordinator: Ray McFarlane
Primary Telephone Support: +61 (0)3 5250 2327
Administrative Fax Line: +61 (0)3 5250 2173
Official Operations Email: raymcf@pipeline.com.au
International Sanctioning Oversight: Fédération Internationale de Tir aux Armes Sportives de Chasse (FITASC)