FATHER and son shooting duo Eric and Darren Brown are aiming to put Selkirk on the map when they travel to Dortmund, Germany, next month to compete in the 29th ISAS Small-Bore Rifle International event.
Local police officer Eric will take part in the men’s competition for the PSUK (Police Service UK) team, while Darren will compete in the juniors under the banner of Selkirk High School.
This will be the first time a Selkirk Rifle Club junior has shot in an international competition abroad and 14-year-old Darren is looking forward to the whole experience.
He told TheSouthern: “I can’t wait to get out there. Dortmund has one of the most advanced ranges in the world, it’s massive.
“I think my main aim this year will be not to come last.”
While Darren is going for his first taste of international competition dad Eric will be competing in the PSUK team for the third consecutive year.
“Even I find the whole thing a bit awesome,” said Eric.
“The closest we have to anything like it is in Aberdeen and even at that the computerised monitors are black and white. In Dortmund they use the very latest technology, so you are basically shooting against yourself and trying to achieve the highest score possible. Last year, my last two shots were just a bit off, but that’s what makes the difference at the end of the day.
“Darren competes on the Thursday and I am on the Saturday, so I will be able to second for him on his shoot. I’m sure he will love it.”
Eric and Darren have been warming up nicely for the event. Brown Snr lifted the Selkirk club’s monthly medal and Tinline Cup with perfect scores of 100 in each event, while his son clinched the junior medal.
The McDougall Cup was won by Peter Noble.
A number of club members attended the Watsonians open shoot. Keith Nixon was first in the B class, Bill Vaughan came third in the veterans’ section and Darren Brown headed the under-15s, with Christian Hackett-Reed third.
Also last week Darren received word that he had been selected to represent Scotland in the Scottish Schools A Team to shoot in the British Schools Small-bore Rifle Association International match against England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands.