Match Rifle

The Website for Match Rifle Shooters in Australia and Worldwide

James Freebairn

 

Role:                    Wind Coach

 

Hometown:          Snowtown

 

State:                   South Australia

 

Local Club:          Balaklava

 

Occupation :         Farmer        

 

Age:                       Old enough   

 

Family:

Married to Merrilyn for 36 years, children Airlie (semi-retired rifle shooter – married to an Aussie Rules footballer/cricketer), Ian (rifle shooter) and Alexandra (rifle shooter/match rifle shooter – living with a rifle shooter), and 5 grandchildren (none big enough to be shooters yet).

 

Australian Match Rifle Team Representation:

Captain: 1997 (Tasmania), 2001 (Scotland/Bisley), 2004 (South Australia)

Coach: 2010 (Queensland)

 

State Match Rifle Team Representation:   

SA Captain: 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010

 

Match Rifle Career:                                  Commenced:  1990 in Bisley

After shooting Match Rifle at Bisley during a world shooting tour, James has driven the formation of the Australian Match Rifle Association. He was instrumental in obtaining approval for the Woomera Rifle Range to shoot back to 1200 yards, the only ultra long distance range in the country at the time, and organized the subsequent first National MR Championships in 1993 – at which he came 2^nd using peep sights.

 

Since then James has coordinated and shot in every National Championship; originated the Match Rifle State Teams competition (Rowlands Match); set up the South Australian Championships and provided the impetus for other states to follow; and introduced international competition with the Woomera Trophy.

 

James was awarded Life Membership of the Australian Match Rifle Association in 2004.

  

Most Memorable Shooting Moments

• Finally winning the Freebairn Teams of four match at the 2000 Nationals in Brisbane!

• Winning the Rowlands State Team Match at Corryong in 2002.

• Being part (coach) of a very good squad in the Palma Match in South Africa, 1999.

• Winning coach for the Macarthur Onslow long range match in Brisbane, 1994.

• Winning coached teams of four at the DRA prize shoot at Balaklava in 2009 for the Balaklava Shield (bit of life in the old dog yet)!

• Winning the Ampol Hunt in 1997 in Adelaide, but could only ever manage second in the Queens (Adelaide, 1990).

• Scoring 13 centres in a row at 1000yds after an Ungarie Bowling Club Breakfast!

 Winning Strategy

Still trying to find out what it is. Happy seeing that other people succeed in this discipline.

 

Advice For New Match Rifle Shooters

Come and give it a go. Match Rifle shooters are a friendly bunch and are always prepared to help.

  

Other Interests   

Shooting, shooting and more shooting; history, in particular family history, of which he wrote part of the Freebairn Family History; Freemasonry; exhibiting grain at the Royal Adelaide Show (numerous wins over the last 25 years, including Grand Champion Wheat and Most Successful Exhibitor in the Agricultural Produce category on several occasions); one time golfer and occasional lawn bowler (night owls).

 

Ancestry

As far as is known, no criminals are included, just the hard done by from Scotland and a few other places. Fifth generation Australian on one side and sixth on the other.