By Dongyun Kwon
The Melbourne Gun Club (MGC) has been successful in its application to hold the FITASC Universal Trench World Championships in 2026.
Australia has sent a team to this competition every year since 2014 except for the Covid years.
MGC vice president and former Olympian Craig Henwood said MGC is excited to host it for the first time in the Southern Hemisphere.
“It’ll be massive not only for MGC but also for the Yarra Valley, Lilydale in particular,” he said.
“We’ll be showcasing our club and the area to the world.”
MGC was recommended by Sporting Clays Australia to hold the event for its success in previous experience.
MGC has held two big shooting competitions, the International Shooting Union Championships in 1973 and the Commonwealth Games in 2006.
Henwood said the club needs the community’s support to fulfil the requirements to have the event.
“The requirement is to have a minimum of four layouts and our club currently has three,” he said.
“We’re in the process of trying to find ways to get the fourth layout.
“We’re taking some donations, we’ll be running some fundraisers and raffles, and trying to secure grants.”
It will see a field of 312 competitors from countries such as Italy, France, Spain, the UK, Portugal, the Czech Republic, South Africa and New Zealand.
The former Olympian is willing to participate in the competition that is going to take place at his home ground.
“If I’m too busy working at the club, I probably won’t [participate in it],” Henwood said.
“Hopefully, all things go well and I’ll be able to compete as well.”
The club has been used as a training camp for the national team for the 2024 ISSF World Cup in Lotano, Italy.
Catherine Skinner, a 2016 Rio Olympic gold medalist, is also a member of the team and is training with her team at MGC.
She said MGC is one of the best clubs in Australia.
“There’s always a quality thing where Melbourne just trumps all the other clubs. The committee and the staff have always been friendly and accommodating,” Skinner said.
“So, it always makes things a lot easier because they’ve got all the facilities with four or five different styles.”
Skinner said it’d be fantastic to have an international competition in Melbourne.
“It gives the rest of the world a bit of reality because we always have to travel so far for all of their competitions. So, now, they get to feel what it’s like to be an Aussie,” she said.
“They’re going to discover it’s a lot harder to win here than they really expect.”
To support MGC’s fourth layout project, please visit the following website, asf.org.au/projects/melbourne-gun-club/2026-world-ut-upgrades-fundraiser
