Winner of the New Zealand National Rifle Championships and runner up in the USA Spirit of America Rifle Championships David Rich from Serviceton has taken out the January Award in the Horsham Sports and Community Club Sports Star of the Year.  

Last month David won the New Zealand “Ballinger Belt” Series Championship, the pinnacle event for rifle shooting in that country.  Shot at Trentham in New Zealand, David took out the title by an impressive 4 points from his nearest rival and fended off another 182 competitors from around the world. 

In September last year, he finished second in American Championships – an impressive one point behind a US Marine who shoots full time in the Military.

In the past two years, David has produced some ‘stellar’ performances.  As a long range shooting specialist, he knows exactly how to stay on target back to 1000 yards.  He has the uncanny ability to adjust his sight allowing for wind and mirage and repeatedly hit a very small target with open sights almost a kilometre away.  

Captain of the Wimmera Rifle Association Geoff Evans says that David has earned international respect for his impressive performances in local and overseas large bore rifle shooting events.

Also nominated for the month were Scott McMillan (Pistol Shooting) and James Robertson (Lawn Bowls).  A member of the Horsham Pistol Club, Scott posted world class results at the International Youth Shooting Games in Sydney last year.  Scott competed in the air pistol and free pistol events and qualified for finals in both disciplines in the open age division and the 17 to 20 year bracket.  In the open division Scott finished 8th in the Air Pistol, second in the free pistol and in the 17 to 20 group was 5th in the Air Pistol and second in the free pistol.  James has had a great season with the Warracknabeal Bowling Club winning the A Grade and B Grade Singles Championships, was a member of the 2008 winning North Wimmera Bowls Association Division 1 Pennant side Runner Up in the Group 3 30 & Under Singles at just 14 years of age and was a section winner of the Victorian Under 18 singles.

David joins Kye Chapple, Trent Orval, Steve Schultz, Phil Butsch, Levi Burns, Lachlan King and Joel Ladlow as previous winners of the monthly awards who are eligible to win the $1,000 Sports Star Scholarship and trophy to be held on Monday February 16, 2009 at the Horsham Sports and Community Club where guest speaker will be Beijing Olympic Silver Medallist Rower Cameron McKenzie McHarg.