The 2014 World Field Target Championships were held in Wellington, New Zealand between 31st August and 7th September. Run to the rulebook of the World Field Target Federation and in conjunction with the New Zealand Airgun Field Target Association, the event was hosted by The Brookfield Scout Camp, a multi-sport venue which offered course layouts spanning through open fields and native bushland.
Despite plenty of home talent, England’s Brian Samson made another addition to his impressive silverware haul by winning the Spring Gun Class. The Team Solware hotshot used a heavily customised Air Arms TX200 springer and Bushnell Elite scope to notch up 125 points over the three sessions – enough for a comfortable win over USA’s Raymond Appelles, who finished a full 10 points behind Brian.
But it was a 15-year-old who took top honours – South Africa’s Stefan Viljoen, who notched up 138 points against a trio of shooters on 136. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th placings were ultimately decided by a shoot-off, with former Welsh Open FT champion and well-known English shooter Richard Beaugie (coming out of retirement especially for these World’s!) just pipping USA’s Paul Plauche, who also beat England’s John Costello into fourth.
English and Team Solware shooter, Brian Samson, on his way to victory in the Spring Gun Class at the 2014 World FT Championships
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Well-known airgun authority Nigel Allen is the editor of Britain's award-winning shooting magazine, Airgun Shooter (available worldwide). Email: nigel.allen@futurenet.com
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