On Tuesday, March 10, the Bairnsdale Field and Game proudly hosted the 2026 Riviera High Schools Championship, welcoming 125 students from 13 schools travelling from Orbost through to Kew.
Competitors shot 20 targets across two grounds, featuring the traditional Simulated Field layout, along with a taste of both DTL and Skeet disciplines.
This format gave students the opportunity to experience a variety of clay target presentations while testing their skills.
Events of this size rely heavily on volunteers, and this day was a great example of the shooting community coming together.
Volunteers from Bairnsdale Field and Game as well as neighbouring clubs Bairnsdale Clay Target Club, Sale Field and Game generously gave their time to help ensure the event ran smoothly.
Organisers would like to sincerely thank everyone who stepped up to assist as range officers, scorers, armoury supervisors, target setters and hardworking canteen workers.
Local District Firearms Officer Shanrah Ross attended the event and completed the presentation ceremony, recognising the efforts and achievements of the students on the day.
Overall winners of the event were Orbost Community College, who were represented by Zoe Kleinitz, Mark Hederman, Mitchell Farley, Sara Gladstone and Tom Gladstone.
The overall high gun was won by Patrick Horan (Sale Catholic College), with other individual event winners Sale Catholic College’s Caleb Short (over 15 boys) and Charlie Hall (under 15 boys), Orbost’s Zoe Kleinitz (over 15 girls) and Maffra Secondary College’s Gemma Derix (under 15 girls).
Organisers were full of praise for all competitors and the schools, families, volunteers and supporters who helped make the 2026 Riviera High Schools Championship such a
successful day.
