MALTA @ the

World 1st Rim and Air Bench Rest

Championships, Milan Italy 2008
The Malta Shooting Sport Federation recognized as the ERABSF representative for Malta

The first ever World Rimfire and Air Rifle

Benchrest Championships took place in Milan,
Italy from 27 July to 3 August 2008. A total of 11
countries participated in this event. Amongst USA,
UK, Italy, South Africa, Australia, Germany,
Ireland, Czech Republic, Russia, Finland, and
Belgium, there was Malta present for this unique
event. The event was dominated by strong
contingents from Australia, South Africa, Italy,
Czech Republic and the UK. Strong teams from
USA and Italy dominated the podium. Malta was
represented by Mr. Kris Debattista (left) from the
Malta Allied Airgunners Club who competed in the
Unlimited Rim fire Class 50 meters.

Rim and Air rifle Benchrest has been practiced for many years in a
number of countries. The UKBR22 association
together with other rim and air rifle
Benchrest associations in Europe,
officially formed the European
Rimfire and Airrifle Benchrest
Shooting Federation
(ERABSF) on the 22nd
September 2007 after the 1st
European Rim and Air Benchrest
championships held in Milan that
year. Since then other European
nations showed interest to join this
growing federation. Other nations
beyond Europe such as USA, Australia
and South Africa also showed interest in Rim and Air Bench Rest
and hence the worlds 1st Rim and Air Benchrest championship was
set for 2008, less then a year since the formation of ERABSF.
Benchrest is a sport for all women and men, young and old.
 Maltese Air rifle and Rimfire enthusiasts also showed interest in this
shooting discipline and interest in joining this federation. The recently
formed Malta Allied Airgunners Club (MAAC) which is an affiliated
member of the Malta Shooting Sports Federation (MSSF)
immediately showed interest that Malta should join ERABSF.
MAAC submitted a formal application with full support of MSSF to
join ERABSF. In a relatively very short time, it was decided that
MSSF/MAAC should have at least one shooter present during this
event. With some help from some sponsors, MAAC and Kris’ own
expenses, Malta was represented in Milan from the 1st till the 4th
August 2008. Here Kris shared the emotions of an international
event and gained experience.

Contacts between MAAC and ERABSF officials made it possible also for Kris to compete in one of
the events. Although Kris, like all other Maltese enthusiast had no opportunity yet in Malta to practice
Rim Fire Bench Rest, he used his “short” experience in Air rifle
Benchrest. A few days of intensive training after working hours with
air rifle bench rest shooting at the Victoria Shooters Range made it
possible for him to compete in one of the most sought after classes,
the Unlimited Rim Fire Class 50 meters. A member of the Italian
BR team offered his €4000 Anschutz BR 50 rifle and other
equipment necessary for Bench Rest for Kris to compete in this
Class. Although the equipment was top notch, it is not just the
equipment that contributes to good scores. Other elements and
experience along with a good knowledge of your equipment is key
to success in Bench Rest Shooting.

Kris was a bit unfortunate, since complications arising in Friday’s

1st August event lengthened the Light Varmint class duration,
and all training time available for shooters had to be cancelled.
Kris literally had to shoot the Anschutz BR50 without any
preparation. A total of
85 competitors took
part in the Unlimited
Rim Fire Class event
on Saturday 2nd
August. Kris first shots
were on the scoring
targets. During the
event 3 official scoring targets must be shot at 50 meter
distance. Each target has 25 scoring targets that must be
completed within 30 minutes. The maximum score for each
target is 10 points. Hitting a 2mm circle in the center zone of
the target, and obliterating it, gains you a bonus X. The maximum score for each score card is 250-25X
in Rim and Air Bench Rest discipline. On his first run, Kris missed one target due to time out, but
scored 228-1X. In the second run, Kris managed 231-3X and ended the third run with 238-1X.
Not bad for a first timer – Well done Kris!

With this score Kris ranked 83rd place from 85 international

shooters in his class. The score total for Kris is 697-5X and this is
more then satisfactory considering all the odds and the huge
experience of the other shooters. In Kris’ class i.e. The Unlimited
50 meters the top 3 shooters were.
st
1 Danny Allan Hepler – USA- 250-8X: 249-8X: 249-10X Total : 748-26X
nd
2 David Kenimer – USA – 247-12X: 249-5X: 247-7X Total: 743-24X
rd
3 Jan Fokt – CZ – 249-8X : 249-6X : 244-9X Total: 742-23X

The lowest score in this class was from Roberto Giarletta of Italy with a total of 486-2X.
It is good to mention that Danny Allen Hepler (USA) walked away with 5 medals including 3 gold
medals.

Other Results in the 1st World Rim and Air Bench Rest Championship.
Hunter Air Rifle Class
Shooter T.Score 10X

1st 099 Jonathan Pizer 99 SA 490 7

2nd 001 Carl Boswell 1 UK 481 6

3rd 096 Pienaar Nico 96 SA 479 14

\
 Unlimited B Air Rifle Class

Shooter T.Score 10X

1st 011 Ivano Vernarelli 11 IT 727 11

2nd 192 Maltinti Massimo 192 IT 723 10

3rd 108 Colin Renwick 108 UK 722 12

International Sporter 25 Metres Rim Fire

Name Nationality Scores
T.Score 747 10x 41
GOLD GIARLETTA Roberto IT
Average 249.0
T.Score 745 10x 28
SILVER YOUNG Craig USA
Average 248.33
T.Score 744 10x 36
BRONZE PANISI Teodorico IT
Average 248.0
Light Varmint 25 Meters Rim Fire
Name Nationality Total
T.Score 750 10x 55
GOLD HEPLER Danny USA
Average 250.0
T.Score 750 10x 41
SILVER CHIESA Danilo ITA
Average 250.0
T.Score 749 10x 50
BRONZE YOUNG Craig USA
Average 249.67
 Unlimited 25 Meters Rim Fire
Name Nationality Total
T.Score 750 10x 63
GOLD HEPLER Danny USA
Average 250.00
T.Score 750 10x 49
SILVER PANISI Teodorico ITA
Average 250.00
T.Score 749 10x 43
BRONZE YOUNG Craig USA
Average 249.67
International Sporter 50 Meters Rim Fire
Name Nationality Total
T.Score 739 10x 21
GOLD KENIMER David USA
Average 246.33
T.Score 739 10x 17
SILVER GIARLETTA Roberto ITA
Average 246.33
T.Score 749 10x 11
BRONZE YOUNG Craig USA
Average 246.33

Light Varmint 50 Meters Rim Fire

Name Nationality Total
T.Score 746 10x 22
GOLD ARMSTRONG Peter AUS
Average 248.67
T.Score 746 10x 21
SILVER HEPLER Danny USA
Average 248.67
T.Score 744 10x 27
BRONZE KENIMER David USA
Average 248.00
 Unlimited 50 Meters Rim Fire
Name Nationality Total
T.Score 748 10x 26
GOLD HEPLER Danny USA
Average 249.67
T.Score 743 10x 24
SILVER KENIMER David USA
Average 247.67
T.Score 742 10x 23
BRONZE FOKT Jan CZ
Average 247.33

Rimfire Unlimited Team

1st - USA A
2nd - ITALY BR ITALIA B
3rd - ITALY BLUE TEAM
4th - UK B Team
5th - Italy BR Italia A

The Malta Allied Airgunners Club members have gained some experience in Air Rifle Benchrest
during competitions organized locally this year. When one analyzes the Air Bench Rest results from the
1st World Championships and compare the results with those obtained locally, one can say with respect
to Air Bench Rest the Maltese Air Bench Rest enthusiasts are not far away from such results. The
results gained locally by Maltese Air Bench Rest enthusiasts on a local level will place us within the top
half of the classification results obtained by other international shooters in the 1st World Championships
in both the Hunter AR Class and the Unlimited B Air Rifle Class. I have personally assisted Kris in his
training sessions with air rifle prior to his visit to Milan. If Kris had the opportunity to shoot in the Air rifle
classes with his own equipment, his scores would have been ranked within the first 10 places. This is
very interesting for Maltese Airgunners.

The World first Rim and Air Benchrest Championship ended with an Annual General Meeting. During
which the ERABSF and world delegates had amongst other items on the agenda the approval of Malta
to join the ERABSF organization. Two applications were present for Malta. The 1st application was
rendered invalid since the original applicant was not more representing the organization any more. The
organization that submitted the first application did not show interest to renew that application, after
several attempts and reminders from ERABSF. Thus the application of MAAC in the name of MSSF
and the presence of Mr. Kris Debattista (MAAC) in the 1st World Championships sealed this affiliation.
MSSF is now the official ERABSF representative for Malta. The two delegates representing MSSF for
Malta in ERABSF are Mr. Stanley Shaw and Mr. Kris Debattista.

Without doubts it is also a must to have private ranges licenses issued in Malta as soon as possible to
provide the required environment for Maltese Bench Rest enthusiasts in Rim and Air Bench Rest to
start developing their skills. The Maltese rim fire bench rest enthusiasts must start gaining the required
experience without further delays. At the moment only air rifle bench rest is possible. The Malta Allied
Airgunners Club shoots air bench rest together with other air gun disciplines like Field Target (FT) at
the Victoria Shooters Range, Limits of Tal-Handaq Qormi. Although cartridge shooting for civilians can
now take place at AFM range in Safi, rim fire rifle shooting is not allowed yet. It is also very important
that bench rest facilities are included in future private ranges and in a future National Shooting Range
complex. This is not an impossible task. Such projects will increase the possibilities for Malta to host
future International Rim and Air Bench Rest events. The next European Championships are set due in
2010 and the second World Championships will take place in USA in 2011. The European
Championship venue is still not finalized so Malta is still in time to market its name along side with
Germany and Italy for the next Europeans.
 MSSF, ERABSF delegates for Malta and
representatives from other MSSF affiliated clubs
and associations will in the next weeks setup the
structure of ERABSF-Malta. ERABSF-Malta
Council has the aim to promote Rim and Air Rifle
Bench Rest sport in Malta, beyond club level to a
National Level for all Maltese enthusiasts, both in
Rim and Air Bench Rest. Definitely there is a long
road ahead, but with joint efforts from clubs,
associations, all the Maltese bench rest enthusiasts
and local authorities we can succeed in this sport.
More details will be released as they become
available about ERABSF-Malta.

For more information about other air rifle and air pistol shooting disciplines and bench rest shooting
please contact the Malta Allied Airgunners Club (MAAC) on maacmalta@gmail.com or visit our website
www.malta-maac.blogspot.com .In our website you can see all relative information about the disciplines
practiced and MAAC activities. Should you have any queries do not hesitate to contact us or visit us at
the Victoria Shooters Range Limits of Tal-Handaq Qormi. MAAC will host two open air rifle bench rest
matches till end of 2008 on the 28th September 2008 and 21st December 2008.

Stanley Shaw
MAAC Chairman
(ERABSF Malta Delegate)