Small team brings back five medals from Perth
Port Hedland was represented at State-level competition by five shooters who travelled to Perth earlier this month.
Peter and Dianne Nichols, Ando Anderson, David Briggs and Ron Wynn travelled south for the WA State Championships in the Cowboy Lever Action Silhouette competition, which was held at Wanneroo.
Despite its small size, at the end of the three days of competition the team had won a total of five medals:
CLAS Rifle AA-Grade: Ando Anderson, bronze.
CLAS Rifle A-Grade: Peter Nichols, gold.
CLAS Rifle B-Grade: David Briggs, bronze
CLAS Pistol B-Grade: Ron Wynn, gold.
CLAS Rimfire A-Grade: Peter Nichols, gold.
Peter Nichols battled hard for his rimfire gold with a shoot-off to resolve a draw, but in his usual steady style Nichols was unflustered and won on the first bank of additional targets.
Anderson had equipment trouble in the pistol calibre round, which ruined his chances in that event.
Dianne Nichols and Briggs shot consistently and always threatened the place-getters - Briggs snagged a bronze in rifle calibre.
Wynn shot well above his grade to win gold in the pistol calibre.
A Port Hedland Sporting Shooters Association spokesman said the haul of five medals, including three gold, was a great outcome for such a small team.
"All in all a good effort," he said.
The next annual State championship shoot will be held at Port Hedland in August next year.
The spokesman said Port Hedland competitors were looking forward to taking on the State's best under the challenging local conditions.
