Bulls-eye bonanza

Brett Foster takes aim at the Australian Pistol Championships in Perth.

Contributed

BUNDABERG'S Brett Foster produced a near-perfect performance to make it back-to-back Australian titles at the National Rifle Association Championships in Perth last week.

The 34-year-old Isis Smallbore Rifle Club member ruled in the Open Class International 1920 Match at Whiteman Park with a score of 1918.

Foster said the top five shooters in the event all scored 1918 but he claimed the crown with 174 x's (bulls' eyes).

Runner-up Zeljko Cvetnic, of Springvale Victoria, had 168 x's, while third placegetter Geoff Matthews, of Blacktown recorded 166, with one of Foster's Queensland teammates, Nigel Gordon, of Warwick, finishing fifth with 159.

Foster was delighted to defend the national crown against such strong opposition.

"I only shot 1916 last year so I improved, but I couldn't have done much better," Foster said.

"The Queensland team was also third overall to New South Wales and Victoria, and I was also part of the Queensland Metallic team which also finished third behind Victoria and New South Wales."

Foster had previously won the Queensland championship for the fifth year in a row at the Gold Coast Pistol Club with a perfect score of 1920 and 174 x's, giving him six state titles overall.

He continues to reap the rewards of plenty of hard work and training, but he will have a short break from high level competition before his next major shoot early next year.

"I have nothing major until the Gold Coast Australia Day Open Shoot on January 22, and hopefully that will be the start of another big year," he said.

Foster is certain to be picked in the Australian team to compete at the Bianchi Cup, which is the equivalent of the United States Nationals, for the third year in a row in May.

He is also hoping to challenge for the title there after rising in the rankings this year.

"I came seventh out of 210 shooters and was the second Australian, and I would love No. 1 - that's very tough but I'll give it my best shot," he said.

"I couldn't have done much better."