Disciplines · Shooting Fact Sheet

During March 1977 the Committee and members of the Malta Shooting Club inaugurated the Bidnija Range in the limits of Mosta. After the closing of the Attard range due to the fact that building had crept close to the vicinity of private residences and also, their was felt the need of a more modern venue of international level.

For the sport of Shooting in Malta their was felt the need for a building that could offer an Olympic Trap complete with fifteen machines, capable to work semi automated and which could be used at the required international level of competence for professional competitions.

Financial support from members and from Mr. Paddy Stubbs, an English residing in Malta, brought about the building of the first proper range thus Malta could confirm its position as a member of the International Shooting Union (UIT). As a result members could participate in competitions overseas while Malta could organize competitions on an international scale.

Maltese Shooters had the honour of participating in the Mediterranean Games of 1958 held at Beirut, and in 1960 in the eternal city of Rome for the Olympic Games. These Games served as a spur to the committee and its members to look forward to being able to organise on an International level Games at the Bidnija Range. The first games to be organized successfully being the Small States Games, at that time consisting of five states namely, Luxembourg, Monaco, Andorra, San Marino and Malta. This competition proved to be the inspiration of the way these games are being organized nowadays even though the states have been complemented by the addition of Cyprus, Liechtenstein and Iceland.

For the 1993 Games of the Small States held in Malta, the Government laid the layout of two Olympic Trap ranges and for Skeet. On the 10th February, only 3 months before the opening of the games the new ranges became operable. The committee had quite a task in preparing the shooters. An elimination system was devised with Emanuel Abela and Philip Busuttil acquiring medals, first for Trap and the second for Double Trap respectively.

Further success was in store when medals where won by Emanuel Abela, Horace Micallef and Frans Pace at the Mediterranean Games held in France. Horace Micallef also held a record score of 123/125 during the Commonwealth Games held in India. These shooters held the title of “Sports Person of the Year’ for three years as well as “Sports Team of the year”.

The Bidnija Ranges are patronized by both Maltese and foreign shooters. This includes the Maltese Australian Adam Vella, the Italian Olympic squad, consisting of Peliello, Venturii, Cioni, Benelli and Rossetti, under the direction of the famous coach Elio Matarelli who had won a gold medal at the Mexico Olympics; and Lordos of Cyprus and Think of Luxembourg.
Nowadays shootouts, Trap, Skeet, or Double Trap is occupying every weekend. The club offers a number of amenities to its members, including modern sophisticated and computerized apparatus, monitors outside and inside the clubhouse, which is also equipped with a pool table, restaurant and adequate parking facilities. Another addition to the range is the ‘Air Weapons Range’ that was inaugurated in October 1996. All this, makes this place one of the most modern in Europe.

Latest successful achievements obtained by shooting athletes were at the GSSE Games in San Marino were Philip Busuttil obtained Gold and William Chetcuti obtain Silver in Double Trap; and France Pace obtained Silver in Trap.

The Malta Shooting Federation is the sole governing body for shooting sport in Malta. Affiliated members are the Qormi Clay Shooters Club in Handaq, Qormi and the Southern Shooting Club in Hal Far l/o Birzebbugia. These have a permanent member each on the MSF Committee. The Federation also has very close relations with the Gozo Shooting Club who has a modern range in Zebbug. Altogether the Federation boasts of around 300 members.

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