Report by: Baden Prentice
The NZDA 2026 North Is. Benchrest Championship was held at the Tokoroa Shooting Sports Complex on the 24th-26th January. A record 18 competitors registered for the tournament from Whangarei to Dunedin. We also had 3 New Caledonian NZDA members fly over and 2 members competing in their first ever benchrest tournament.
Most competitors shot the 6PPC cartridge in either Light or Heavy Varmint class rifles using 65-68 grain hollow point bullets (many of them hand made). One of the first time shooters competed with a target rifle chambered in 6BR.
The weather was predicted to be wet and stormy. This was the third Auckland Anniversary weekend in a row where we have had several days of torrential downpours. We believe we need to rename this time of the year the monsoon season! The weather prevented small groups being shot but the competitive spirit was alive nonetheless.
Congratulations to the 2-Gun winners:
1st, Tony Titheridge - Nelson Branch
2nd, Peter Haxell - Auckland Branch
3rd, Steve Bell - Bay of Plenty Branch
