Horsham Rifle Club

31/05/2026

🎯 2026 Pennant Competition – Round 1 Complete! 🎯

The first of six rounds in the 2026 Pennant Competition got underway this weekend, with teams competing in the handicapped and coached format. Round 1 was at the Horsham and Natimuk range and shot over 500 and 600 yards.

The weather gods were kind, with the rain staying away, but competitors still had to contend with some challenging and unpredictable winds throughout the day.

The results couldn't have been closer! Three teams finished on an impressive 300 points:

🥇 Natimuk – 300.24
🥈 Stawell – 300.24
🥉 Horsham – 300.22
4️⃣ Warracknabeal – 294.9

With only centres and handicap calculations separating the top teams, the competition is already shaping up to be one of the closest in recent years.

Horsham will be looking to bring their A-game in Round 2 as the race for pennant honours heats up!

📅 Round 2: 27 June
📍 Warracknabeal Rifle Range
⏰ 12:00 pm start
🎯 Distances: 800 and 900 yards

We look forward to another great day of competition, camaraderie and precision shooting. See you on the mound!

02/05/2026

🏆 Wannon Cup Showdown – 125 Years of Tradition! 🏆

The historic Wannon Cup has done it again— bringing together steady nerves, sharp focus, and a true test of precision! Donated over 125 years ago by a local politician, this iconic trophy continues to be fiercely contested by competitors across the former Wannon district.

Horsham, Natimuk, Stawell and Warracknabeal stepped up to the line this year in a challenging four-person coached team event.

Competitors fired 10 shots at 500 and 600 yards, with scores combined—testing not just accuracy, but consistency under pressure.

And pressure it was! Shooters battled strong NNE winds gusting up to 70 km/h, along with swirling dust that made visibility a real challenge at times. These were truly testing conditions making the final results out of a maximum possible score of 400.80 even more impressive.

🥇 Final Results:
Horsham – 382.33
Natimuk – 381.26
Warracknabeal – 371.20
Stawell – 370.23

A huge congratulations to Horsham for taking out this year’s title. 👏

The winning team, guided by coach Geoff Evans, featured David Watson, Trevor Heinrich, Craig Leamon and Paul Rudolph.

An incredible effort by all teams involved. We can’t wait to see what next year brings!

25/04/2026

Today’s shoot, organised and sponsored by Alan, was a fitting and slightly different way to honour Anzac Day.

The challenge? A target with just a single white aiming dot in the centre—no rings, no markers, just pure skill at 500 yards. It made for a unique and testing day on the range.

Prizes were awarded across Target Rifle, F Standard, and F Open, with winners taking home tins of Anzac biscuits and a beautifully crafted trophy made from red gum salvaged from the old mantlet, complete with a .303 bullet—just as the Anzacs used—made and donated by Trev.

It was hotly contested, but a few shooters managed to run away with the biscuits:
🎯 Target Rifle: Geoff – 98.10
🎯 F Standard: Marianne – 116.7
🎯 F Open: Alan – 120.14

Congratulations to all —especially Alan with an outstanding double possible!

A special mention as well: the 6BR rifle used by Alan was also shared by son Matt and grandson Liam, all of whom shot exceptionally well. A great family effort and a great day all around.

Lest we forget.

12/03/2026

04/02/2026

We’re back!

First shoot for 2026: Saturday 7th Feb 9am start.

Let’s start the year off with a bang!

07/12/2025

🎄 Last Shoot Before Christmas! 🎄
Yesterday—Saturday 6th December—we wrapped up our final shoot of the year, and what a cracker it was!

🔥 Top scorer of the day: David Watson, putting on a show with an impressive 118.10.

After the shooting wrapped up, we had our annual Christmas Dinner & Awards Night, featuring excellent food, conversational chaos, and with four Pavlovas on offer, the traditional moment where everyone pretends their diet starts “next year”.

A huge thank you to Alex and her team for the fantastic catering—nobody left hungry, and a few may have rolled home!

🏅 2025 Small Bore Awards
Junior Club Champion: Thomas Rudolph
20m Prone: Paul Rudolph
20m Bench Rest: Trevor Heinrich

🏆 2025 Big Bore Champions
Target Rifle: Paul Rudolph
F Standard: Trev Heinrich
F Open: Craig Leamon

And saving the biggest applause for last…

🥇 Craig Leamon also took home the Laurie Crouch Trophy, awarded to the top overall shooter of the year using the base-5 system. Special thanks to the Crouch family for donating this perpetual trophy first awarded in 2024.

Great shooting, great food, great company. Roll on Christmas—and here’s to an even better 2026! 🎅🎯

02/11/2025

2025 Skene Shield

The Annual William Skene Memorial Trophy traditionally competed for by Target Rifle Clubs throughout Western Victoria since 1902 but extended in 2024 to include F Class shooters, was decided at the Stawell Rifle Range yesterday.

Thomas Skene donated the Skene Shield in memory of his son who died in the Boer War. The shield is embossed with the words ”In memory of Lieut. William Skene of Marnoo, Rupanyup, Victoria, killed at Nooitgedacht in the Transvaal South Africa 13 Dec 1900 whilst leading most gallantly his squadron of Kitchener’s Horse to reinforce the Picquet’s first attacked by the enemy.” It also contains William’s dying words which were “Go on men, fight it out. Never mind me.”

Nine Rifle Clubs fielded teams this year. Birchip, Horsham, Natimuk and Stawell from the Northern Zone. Bacchus Marsh, Geelong, Kyneton, Maryborough and Werribee from the Southern Zone. Five teams were eliminated in preliminary rounds while Geelong, Horsham, Kyneton and Natimuk shot it out yesterday at Stawell, under the watchful eye of Reg, to determine the 2025 Skene Shield winner.

Each team nominated six shooters with the top four scores to count. Three rounds were shot, one at 300 yards and two at 600 yards.

Congratulations to Kyneton who were the ultimate winners on the day with a score of 413.39 out of a possible 420. The final standings were:

Kyneton 413.39
Horsham 410.32
Geelong 406.36
Natimuk 397.35

Top shooter of the day was Adam McLennan of Kyneton who scored possibles at every range with 105.14 just edging out Paul Rudolph of Horsham on 105.10 by four centres.

26/10/2025

The Wimmera No.1 DRA entered a F class team to compete in the VRA Teams event at Bendigo today. Unfortunately, the weather had other ideas putting a premature end to the event with heavy rain, thunder and lightning. Organisers were quick to reschedule the event for early 2026.

Thanks to Carolyn N, our DRA 1 captain, for organising the team. Team members included Horsham shooters Trev H, Marianne T and Craig L along with Bruce H, John R, Alan H (coach) and Helen H (scorer) from Natimuk.

19/10/2025

This weekend the Horsham range hosted the 2025 Pennant Final. Reigning pennant champions Horsham, took on the might of Natimuk, with Natimuk coming out on top.

Final scores (out of 600) were:
Natimuk 597.37
Horsham 591.46

While Horsham was unsuccessful in our bid to retain the Pennant Championship, we put up a good fight.

Well done Natimuk and great shooting.

Special thanks to Jurek from the Stawell rifle club for being our independent range officer for the day.

We look forward to once again challenging for bragging rights in 2026!

05/10/2025

On the 25th of August we held the 2025 Wimmera DRA1 Champion of Champions. The event was shot over 6,7 and 900 yards with Horsham taking a clean sweep In all classes.

Paul Rudolph TR 150.11
Trevor Heinrich FS 173.9
Craig Leamon FO 172.13

Congratulations to all winners🏆
Thank you to everyone who came along to help with setting up and scoring.