The South African Open Championship, held March 9-15, 2024 for “Target Rifles”, was the first. The first was the South African Open Championship for “Target Rifles”, which took place March 9-15, 2020. The 32nd World Long Range Championships were held from March 16-23 2024 for Fullbore/Palma Rifles, with individual and teams competitions. The World LR Championships was for “hard-holders” who shot iron-sighted rifles prone, with sling. Shooters came from at least twelve countries: Australia Canada Channel Islands Germany Great Britain Japan Kenya Ireland N. Ireland New Zealand South Africa and the USA. The World LR Championships as well as the South African Open Championships took place at the Genl De Wet range west of Bloemfontein, South Africa. Conditions were challenging, with extremely hot temperatures and strong winds on the range. 32nd World Long Range Championships full results >> South African Open Championships full results
Congratulations to Brandon Green on his comeback win in the shoot-off to win the South African Nationals. Brandon is using one of our Gen 2 rear sights. Individual Top 20 Results 32nd World Long Range Championships Ash Bidgood, an Australian, won the Individual World Championships with a 739-92V. Glyn Barrnett of Great Britain was second (on the V-Count) and scored 739-86V. J.C. Underwood was third with 738-78V. Two Americans were ranked in the top 15: Amanda Elsenboss (650-59V) and Brandon Green (733 82V, 8th position). Both Brandon and Amanda were USA National Champions in the past. They both served with the U.S. Army, and shot for the USAMU Team. Other Grand Aggregate divisional winners include:
Veterans: B. Carter, New Zealand, 661-60V
Ladies: R.L. Furniss, Great Britain 662-73V
Veterans Over 70: J. Jeffrey (Australia) 548-51V
Under 25-21 Age M. Baily (Australia, 661-84V
Under 21: T. McGowen (USA), 648-61V Results of the 32nd World Long Range Championships Day 1: 3580.474 Day 2: 3592.522
2. Day 1: 3578.469 Day 2: 3590.536
3. South Africa Total: 7153.869 | Day 1: 3562.405 Day 2: 3591.464
Click HERE to see all team scores 4. United States Total: 7140.876
5. New Zealand Total: 7030.703
6. Canada Total: 6946.592
7. Germany Total: 6683.465 Team Australia has won the Long Range World Championship, with the highest scores on both competition days. The Aussies won the Gold Medal with a total of 7172.996 compared to 7159.1004 by the Brits. Team Australia posted on its Facebook page that it would like to summarize the 2024 Palma and highlight how extraordinary it was. World records were broken repeatedly. While Australia retained its world championship title won in 2019, it was only the fourth time Australia had won the Palma. On Day 2, Australia broke the single-day Team world record with 3592.521. This is 37 points higher than GB’s previous team record, 3555.424, set in 2015. Brett McCauley of Australia set the new World Record for Individual (during team competition). He scored 450-73V, breaking Toby Raincock’s previous record of 449-50V. On Day 2, Great Britain’s Theo Dodds broke the individual world record for a single day with 225-40V. Brandon Green, USA, Wins South African Open Championship Former USAMU Shooter Brandon Green won the South African Open Championship which was held before the World Championships. Brandon Green won the SA Open Individual Title in a dramatic shootout. Brandon Green deserves a big congratulations for his impressive comeback victory at the South African Nationals. Brandon Green finished with 924 – 93V and edged out Great Britain’s M.J. Ensor (923-201V) by one point. That’s a close call!
Photo credit Chris Wheeden. GB Veterans Team Shooter’s Report from South Africa, by Paula Crenshaw
The first week was the South African National Championships, which (for some) was a warm-up for the World Long Range Championships. Five teams represented the U.S. National Rifle Team. The five teams were: Palma Team (Veterans Team) (over 60), Goodwill Team (Junior Under 25, and Junior under 21). The competitions included both team and individual competitions. I am not satisfied with my performance, but I am not disappointed either. I know what I have to do. My.223 Rem Palma rifle also wasn’t ideal, and I am eager to shoot my.308 win rifle. My Goodwill Team came second in the Chairman’s Match.
Photo from the last day of the individual World Championship. The heat was brutal. The whole experience was amazing. The heat and wind were also very challenging. My teammates were outstanding and I met many wonderful shooters from different countries. It was interesting to shoot while wildebeests, ostriches and other animals roamed around the range. Captain Bob’s dash to retrieve my forgotten bolt was one for the books… and his comment about him doing it again even though he had been banned from the range warmed me. To my teammates John and Mark, our coach Yvonne, and Seth: Thank you!
The USA women competitors. From left to right: Trudy F., Paula Crenshaw Yvonne Roberts Kacie McGowan Amanda Elsenboss Jessica Hudson. Here’s a cool aerial photo of the Genl De Wet firing range outside Bloemfontein in South Africa.
Photo credit Chris Wheeden GB Veterans Team About Long Range World Championship – Rifles and Course of Fire
By Paula Crenshaw Fullbore is a different course of fire than Palma, but they are both fired with similar rifles. The 87th South African Open Bisley Championships were fullbore events held from March 9-15, 2020. There were both individual and team matches. The 32nd World Long Range Championships were a Palma event, held March 16-23 2024. A Palma match can be shot at 800 yards, 900 yards, or 700, 800 meters. There are 15 shots per distance for each distance, using a.223 Rem (7.62×51 caliber) or.308 win (7.62×51 caliber) iron-sighted rifle. A Palma rifle will always be shot with iron sights and a sling. Fullbore competitions have 2-3 shooters per mound (except the USA, where string fire can be allowed at 1000 yards), ten shots (sometimes fifteen) and are shot at 300 yards, 500 yards, 600 yards, 900 yards, or the equivalent in meters. The Palma discipline evolved into “The World Long Range Championships Individual and Palma Team Matches”. Since 1876, the match has undergone many changes and developed its own rules and requirements for targets, rifles, and cartridges. The match is now played every four years. Teams consist of 16 members firing and two alternates, plus a support group that includes a team captain and adjutant. There are also five coaches and a non-firing armourer. The match in South Africa took place at 700,800, and 900 meters. The Palma match is one of distinction. The Palma teams are the most prestigious of all the teams in the long-range championships. This includes the Veterans teams, the Under 25, the Under 21 and the USA’s Goodwill Team. The World Long Range Championships culminate in the Palma teams from each country competing. Hap Rocketto’s 1996 book A History of the Palma Match (CLICK HERE FOR PDF) is a great source of information. Credits: Top image, range flags, and Brandon Green chair image Great Britain Rifle Team. Other images credit Paula Crenshaw. Team USA, Team Australia and Chris Wheeden.
