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Target Sprint – A Sport for All. Richard Toye

Target Sprint is an exciting combination of air rifle target shooting and middle distance running that requires participants
to develop accurate rifle shooting skills and physical fitness.
Target Sprint participants are assigned to relays and begin
each relay with a mass start and a fixed distance run. At the
end of the first run, they stop at a 10-meter air rifle shooting
range where they must shoot at and hit five knockdown tar-
gets from the standing position.
The best athletes do this in a shorter period of time and start
their second running stage as soon as all targets are down.
More than five shots are often required, but that adds to the
shooting time.
At the end of the second run, participants must shoot another
five targets before beginning the third and final running stage.
The winner is the person who completes the three running stages and two shooting stages first.
The emphasis in Sport for All athletes is, however, not on winning, but on participating to develop the fitness and skill
needed to complete the competition. Target Sprint participants are normally divided into categories according to age and
gender.

Target Sprint contests can be organized anywhere a safe air rifle range and a 400 meter running course can be set up. The
air rifle targets are simple, mechanical biathlon-type targets. The low-cost, single shot 4.5mm air rifles used are safe, accu-
rate and easy to learn how to fire accurately.

Target Sprint is a challenging ‘fire and ice’ combination of physically exhausting runs and fast-moving target shooting that
is made more difficult by loss of breath and a racing heartbeat. Everyone who completes a Target Sprint event goes home
with a real sense of accomplishment.

Target Sprint is a discipline covered under the auspices of Target Rifle Australia Ltd. however the discipline is only in its
infancy at this point in time. Target Rifle Australia Ltd conducted a Target Sprint at the 2018 National Championships in
Brisbane as a demonstration event and it proved popular.

The TRA Ltd. Board is currently examining the option of making this event a permanent part of the National Champion-
ships for the future. You can view a short video of the 2018 Nationals event here: https://
www.facebook.com/131293723593702/
videos/1936723556384034/

Some of our State Associations including Queens-
land Target Sports and Target Rifle South
Australia have trialled the event in recent years
and are examining the feasibility of conducting
state level competitions that usually form part of
the respective State Championships.

At the club level, Target Sprint is also only in its
infancy at this stage, however the TRA Board is
examining ways and means to promote and
develop this event throughout our member
bodies and affiliated clubs and to support our
clubs and State Associations to develop a
pathway for our members to compete at all levels
including the international level (currently Target Sprint is an ISSF World Championship Event).

Anyone interested in finding out more about Target Sprint and other ISSF Sport for All initiatives such as Supported Rest
Shooting and Three-Position Air Rifle Sport for Juniors, can view the rules and details here: https://www.issf-sports.org/
theissf/rules/sports_for_all.ashx