The club held the 100 Target Classic on Monday, with shooters from as far as Queensland coming to Natimuk to compete.

There was a strong Victorian representation amongst the field, with shooters coming from places including Melbourne, Warrnambool, Portland, Ararat and Wycheproof for the event. 

There were also plenty of shooters from Natimuk and Horsham competing. 

President of Natimuk Field and Game Tom Hardman said it was the biggest event the club has held in a few years. 

“Internationally ranked shooters who have never come to the region before are here shooting,” he said.

“This is definitely the most amount of people we have had shooting here in a number of years. People have come from all around Australia to try out our range.”

More than 200 shooters flocked to the shooting range, with the winner taking out a shotgun as the top prize. 

“Hopefully this can be an ongoing thing and we can make it better and bigger each year,” Mr Hardman said.

Bill Jorgensen from J & A Shooting Supplies said it was great to be able to team up with Natimuk Field and Game to help put the region’s shooting range on the map.

“We really wanted to take this opportunity to bring people to Natimuk and show them the range that is available here,” he said.

“There are some fantastic shooters here from across the state, and some have come from interstate too.”

Mr Jorgensen said the event provided a boost to the economy of Natimuk and surrounding towns.

“The Natimuk Pub was booked out on Sunday night and all the hotels around here have benefited from the event,” he said. 

“We have helped bring hundreds of people to town and hopefully it can be an ongoing event.

“The event has helped bring shooters to the region, and with more than eight thousand dollars in prizes on offer, we have been able to entice some top shooters to come down.”