Central Otago Pistol Club is gearing up to host three of this year’s NZ Masters Games’ South Island events.

The club will open its range at Galloway, near Alexandra, for cowboy action, black powder and speed steel challenge shooting events during the games from February 3 to 11. 

A spokesperson for the club said while Dunedin is the main host for other sports being played at the NZ Masters Games, the club saw an opportunity to add some extra elements to the event.

“We managed to get [the organisers] to agree that we could host some Masters Games activities in Alexandra, mainly because no one else was going to be doing them in Dunedin.”  

As a result, cowboy action, black powder and speed steel have been added to the line-up, events which the public was welcome to attend.

Cowboy action is a type of multi-gun match utilising a combination of pistols, rifle and/or shotgun, in a variety of 18 “old west themed” courses of fire for time and accuracy.

Firearms are generally replicas of those used pre 1899 and include lever and pump action rifles, single action revolvers and pump action and double barrel coach guns.

Participants must dress in appropriate theme or era costume.

Competitors in the cowboy action event will be dressed in costume for the occasion. PHOTO: Supplied

The black powder target shooting competition will include antique and replica black powder, percussion, flintlock and matchlock muzzle loading rifles (and smoothbores), muzzle loading and cartridge hammer fired shotguns, percussion, flintlock and matchlock pistols, as well as slightly more modern cartridge revolvers and rifles - pre dating 1889.

There will be a series of targets at distances from 15m to 50m, and shotgun clays.

“Expect to see a lot of smoke and flame,” he said.

“This will be loud so bring earmuffs and eye protection if possible.”

Steel challenge is a speed shooting competition shot from a stationary position at five static steel plates per stage. 

Competitors shoot each of the eight stages five times and add their best four times to become their stage score.

They are scored solely by the time it takes them to complete each stage and the match winner is the competitor with the lowest overall time.

It can be shot with rimfire pistols and rifles, or centre fire handguns, including revolvers and pistol carbines, or lever action rifles.

Most participants will compete with up to three firearms.

“There are some seriously quick shooters participating in this, with some able to hit five targets in under three seconds.”

All three events are international sporting competitions, with some variation to fit within NZ firearm laws.

Overall, the events will bring about 75 people to the district to compete, an occasion about 100 people throughout Alexandra are helping organise.

“It’s a good opportunity to host people around the country. We’ve got people coming from as far as Auckland.”

Anyone wanting to spectate can attend the events at Central Otago Pistol Club, 63 Crawford Hills Rd, Alexandra, and must adhere to the rules.

“Safety is our biggest focus, so any visitors and participants in sports are expected to follow instructions of range officials at all times.”

Events

Cowboy action: February 3-5, 9.30am to 3pm

Black powder: February 6-7, 9.30am to 3.30pm

Speed steel challenge: February 10-11, 9.30am to 4pm