MOUNT ISA is punching above its weight in the sport of pistol shooting.
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The Mount Isa Pistol Club is celebrating the achievements of three of its members who did well in the Northern Regional Championships last month.
Amanda Murkin was one of the trio with husband Russell Merkin and Shelley Cooper who travelled to the Ayr region where they picked up medals in the Championships at the Burdekin Pistol Club.
All three were assisting at Sunday’s Come and Day to raise funds for Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo Queen Quest entrant Sarah Brisbane’s charity pistol shoot.
Amanda won a gold medal in the B Class Air Pistol category and picked up a bronze in the ladies sport match.
“I was quite pleased with that, it was very difficult competition,” she said.
Amanda’s husband Russell Murkin was also in the medals, picking up a bronze medal for rapid fire and a bronze for the standard match he competed in.
Shelley Cooper also won a gold medal in her air pistol grade and won an overall northern championship award and she also won a silver in the sports pistol in the ladies match category.
“Considering there were a lot of people in those categories, and this was our first time competing, we all did pretty well,” Amanda said.
Russell Merkin runs Cloncurry Airport and the couple got involved in the sport through gun safety and security courses they were running through the airport.
Considering there were a lot of people in those categories, and this was our first time competing, we all did pretty well
- Amanda Murkin
“We both decided we’d have a go,” Amanda said.
“We’re coming into our third year in the sport now.”
Amanda said she loved the challenge of the sport.
“About 15 years ago I had a serious back injury and it changed my lifestyle – I used to be an active hockey player and after hurting my back I was struggling with pain issues – so getting into this (shooting) is competitive and it is a sport, and it is Olympic level.”
Amanda said she herself didn’t aspire to be an Olympic medalist but others at the club had that potential.
“We have contenders here who possibly could be medalists so if we could get them excited as we are, then yes, they could be our next Olympians,” she said.
“So that’s a challenge”.