Six Southlanders have made the New Zealand team for pistol shooting, and are heading to South Africa this week for the World Championships.
For security reasons, the Invercargill Pistol Club has asked us not to name anybody, but the contingent does include a father and son who are excited to be both in the team together.
The 2025 IPSC World Hand Gun Championships in Johannesburg features five different classes - standard, production, production optic, open and classic and NZ has a team of four in each.
The 21-strong team has shooters from aged 21 right up to 60, and all of the Southlanders are new to the international circuit, which will include some professionals entered as well.
There was quite a process involved in taking firearms in and out of countries and the World Championships will see 2000 shooters descend on South Africa from many different nations.
The Invercargill Pistol Club president said they had a strong membership of 130, based at Otatara near the beach - they meet on Sunday mornings if anyone is interested in joining.
“We’re one of the strongest clubs in New Zealand," he said.
Their facilities have been rated in the top three in the country and been going strong since the late 1960s to early 1970s.
“We're fortunate that we have a strong following of both male and females involved. Once you start you get hooked” he said.
With 16 ranges to choose from, between 20m and 100m, he said hand gun shooting is quite different “and not what you see on TV."
There was quite a process involved in getting a licence, but the club offered three sessions to new members under direct supervision, to give them a go before they committed.
The club used to offer pistols. rifles and semi-automatic shot guns on its range, but when the new legislation came in banning the bigger weapons, the following for those dropped off.
The NZ team will be back at the start of October and we will update readers on their progress then.