His target, like him, doesn’t move, though it may flutter in the breeze.
From a prone position, anywhere from 700 to 1,000 metres away, the shooter locks in on the target through the scope on his rifle. The shooter is outdoors, and there could be wind that shows up unexpectedly, so it’s wise to listen to the offerings of the wind coach.
That target is a five-inch dot on a piece of paper. Ready, aim, fire. The shooter repeats this 14 more times during one round in competition.
And there’s also the pressure of wearing the national team’s colours.
Lavington’s Greg DeLeenheer was part of the home-side Canadian squad at the 2017 ICFRA F-Class World Championships held at the Connaught Ranges in Ottawa. The event is held every four years, and was awarded to Canada in honour of the country’s 150th birthday.
DeLeenheer helped the eight-man Canadian team win the silver medal, finishing just six points behind the champions from Australia, and finishing ahead of North American rivals and neighbours, the U.S. There were 13 countries and 460 competitors taking part.
“I was really stoked to win a medal,” said DeLeenheer, 55, with a big smile in the living room of his Lavington home. “But it was especially sweet to beat the Americans.”
F-Class shooting is a precision, long distance target shooting sport where competitors shoot at targets between 300 and 1,000 metres. The object is to place shots as close to the centre as possible.
The sport involves using highly accurate single-shot centrefire rifles, high-powered scopes and a means of steadying the rifle, like a tripod. It was started in Canada by the late George (Farky) Farquharson, after whom the sport is named.
A planerman millwright with Tolko Industries for 31 years, DeLeenheer started shooting four decades ago as a 15-year-old at turkey shoots with his dad and grandfather at the Vernon Fish and Game Club, though the targets were only about 100 yards away. He gradually moved into F-Class shooting and worked his way up the Canadian ranking system.
He attended the 2016 national championships as a qualifier and things didn’t go that well.
“I did terrible,” said DeLeenheer. “My equipment wasn’t right but I learned so much. This year, I knew what to expect.”
The nationals were also at Connaught Ranges and would be used as a try-out to determine Canada’s team for the world championships. DeLeenheer was asked if he would try out.
“It’s like a culling process,” he said. “Team officials kind of know who the best shooters are.”
The nationals featured two days of individual shooting and one day of team competition, with DeLeenheer placed on a team of four from Western Canada. With a clean score being 225, DeLeenheer dropped one point during the competition and finished with a 224. His team finished third, capturing a bronze medal.
Still, the Canadian team for the worlds would be determined with a one-day shootout the day before the championships commenced.
Shooters would fire two strings of 15 rounds, one at 700-metres, one at 800m. DeLeenheer was called out for the 700m event but didn’t hear his name for the 800m.
“I was bummed,” he said. “I got all of my equipment packed up when the captain (Eric Bisson of Calgary) looked at me and said, ‘Have you shot yet?’ I said, ‘You never called my name.’ He said, ‘Get out there and shoot.’
“I shot well. My rifle was dialed in like a laser.”
DeLeenheer, who builds his own rifles in his Lavington workshop, fires a 284 Winchester rifle cartridge. His marksmanship earned him a spot on the Canadian team for the worlds, which included Mark Thibault and wind coach Richard Dreger, both from Kamloops. He finished middle of the pack in the individual competition in the worlds and at nationals.
“I wish I could have done a little better,” he said.
“That’s the thing. You can have a great day and be at or near the top (of the standings), then you can drop down to 100th. The scoring is so close.”
DeLeenher was in fourth place at 800m at the worlds, dropped two points the next day and sat in 125th place.
He rates the international experience nine out of 10.
“I was there mainly for the team shooting and I wanted to make the team,” said DeLeenheer.
“It was an emotional event and I shot the s—ts but I learned a lot and watched the best shooters in the world. And I came home with a medal. We have phenomenal shooters in Canada.”
The next world championships are set for 2021 in South Africa.