Marksman claims royal glory
Denmark shooter Mike Reddin claimed his biggest win in the sport after taking out the B-grade title at the prestigious Northern Territory Queen's Prize shoot in Darwin earlier this month.
Competing at the major event for the first time, Reddin was thrilled to be crowned B-grade champion in blustery conditions.
"It was very tough and very hot," he said.
"There were strong, gusty winds so you were constantly watching the flags and I was trying to keep hydration levels up because you were just out there laying in the sun."
The 41-year-old proved too good for a host of shooters from around Australian to win the B-grade section with an aggregate score of 377.25 to edge out South Australian William Pryde in second with 375.23 in the target rifle event.
His score was just 11 points adrift of the A-grade winner and overall Queen's Prize champion Jim Jeffery from NSW.
"I really didn't expect it at all, I was very happy," Reddin said.
"My partner paid for my ticket to go, which was really nice, and it was quite short notice but you need to compete outside of your State to get that experience.
"There were lots of Eastern States competitors and it was quite good to compete against the big guns."
Reddin began shooting in 2007 on the back of his ties to the sport through his father Phil who was a successful shooter in the Great Southern, and his sister Sharlene who is in the WA State ladies team.
A member of the Mt Barker Rifle Club, Reddin returned home with six gold medals from the Queen's Prize shoot which was across two and a half days on June 7-9 and also won a silver medal in the B-grade section of the lead-up event, the Lou Hook Memorial shoot.
He is also an associate member of the Albany Rifle Club and now has his sights on the WA Queen's Prize shoot in Perth for this September.
"I will be in A-grade, so I hope to do well in that," he said.
