Shooters aim high

By Shaun Inguanzo
WOMEN who participated in a sport shooting course at Springvale say they will continue the activity after experiencing it first-hand.
Star last week reported that the Springvale Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (SSAA) range was conducting the Women Give It A Shot course in order to attract more women to the sport.
Participants Kearin Guziak and Erika Coates said that, prior to the course, they were unsure what to expect from the sport, but were interested in trying something new.
This week, the enthusiastic pair said they intended to join the women’s sub-club and invite friends to the range.
“It was as fun as I expected, but probably still a different experience to what I expected,” Ms Guziak said.
“I am definitely joining the women’s group today. I will join the SSAA, and come once a week now.”
Ms Coates said she was so excited during the course that after telling her friends all about it, they told her they would also visit the range to try shooting.
“I had a couple of them ask, male and female, and they said they were interested in coming down.”
Ms Coates will also continue as a member of the women’s club, and said the off-hand (standing without a support) position was not only challenging but also her favourite target-shooting discipline.
Both women said the course had debunked myths and misconceptions regarding firearms, saying it was far more challenging than expected, and a safe sport.
“I had never seen a real gun before,” Ms Guziak said. “It is not so scary any more.”
The Springvale SSAA will run the four-week course again beginning on 27 April, and is welcoming new participants willing to try their hand at sport shooting.
Contact SSAA sport administrator Shane Oliver on 8892 2777 for more information.