Australian Grand Prix - Sporting - Australia (March 2007)

Registration closed

Sporting

1 targets

Participants

0 /100

Start

Mar 10, 2007, 11:00

Europe/Kiev (UTC+2)

End

Mar 11, 2007, 11:00

Europe/Kiev (UTC+2)

Until competition start

0 days

Location

Balliang East, Australia

Status

Registration closed

Actions

Results

About competition

Grand Prix d'Australie de Parcours de Chasse — Geelong, Victoria

The 2007 FITASC Sporting Australian Grand Prix (Grand Prix d'Australie) was a premier international clay target shooting tournament held on March 10th and March 11th, 2007. Staged as an early-season landmark event on the global clay target calendar, this high-stakes two-day competition brought together top Australian marksmen, New Zealand contenders, and international delegations to contest the main Sporting discipline (Parcours de chasse). The championship was proudly hosted in Geelong, Victoria, Australia.

Event Highlights & Operational Parameters

Operating under the official international framework of the 2007 global target shooting schedule, this Australian Grand Prix combined Victoria’s rich target sports 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 close coordination with Sporting Clays Australia (SCA) and the Australian Clay Target Association (ACTA), certifying that all multi-field course configurations, target trajectories, and firearm compliance parameters strictly conformed to global tier-1 standards.
Global Ranking Value: Staged as an active, point-scoring qualification match, this event functioned as a critical southern hemisphere leg for high-performance athletes accumulating points toward the annual international Beretta FITASC Cups circuit and worldwide ranking leaderboards.
The Victorian Coastal Landscape: Located near Corio Bay and the Bellarine Peninsula, the host venue utilized natural bushland, rolling rural paddocks, and open sky backdrops to design technical, high-velocity target menus. Shifting late-summer coastal breezes, variable light, and thermal currents tested visual target tracking, footwork, and mental adaptability.

1. Full Event Program & Schedule

The tournament operational timeline concentrated the intense technical qualification flights across the weekend, preceded by official preparation windows:

March 8th – March 9th (Thursday – Friday): Arrival of international and interstate delegations, squadding registry confirmation, processing of Australian temporary firearm import permits, official safety verifications, and open training lines on designated sporting tracks.
March 10th (Saturday) — Grand Prix Day One: Phase 1 of the official qualification flights opens across specialized natural layouts, challenging shooters with diverse target speeds, vertical angles, and trajectory patterns under late-summer Victorian skies.
March 11th (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.
March 11th (Sunday) — Official Awards and Closing Ceremony: Staged late Sunday afternoon to honor individual, category, and national team winners, officially concluding the 2007 Australian Sporting Grand Prix.

2. Venue Profile & Logistical Location Details

All tournament operations, specialized shooting tracks, and official administrative bureaus were hosted at a premier Victorian clay target complex:

Host Location Venue: Geelong Clay Target / Sporting Clays Complex Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia (Situated approximately 75 km southwest of Melbourne and Melbourne Airport)

Geelong is widely recognized across Australasia as a major regional sports hub with exceptional clay target facilities. Featuring extensive automated trap thrower networks integrated into native bushland and open field stands, the complex provides an outstanding combination of technical rigor and Australian hospitality, offering an ideal stage for global competition.

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 Partners: Sporting Clays Australia (SCA) / Australian Clay Target Association (ACTA)
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

www.facebook.com/GeelongCTC

Source: fitasc.com