Nanango’s David Metcalfe to compete in IPSC Czech Republic shooting comp
What started as a new hobby during the Covid pandemic has turned into an international pursuit for a local South Burnett businessman.
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What started as a new hobby during the Covid pandemic has turned into an international pursuit for Nanango’s David Metcalfe.
Mr Metcalfe was in his mid-60s when he took up the sport of shooting during the pandemic, but it has quickly become an important part of his life.
The local man has competed in handgun shooting competitions since 2022, travelling the country and overseas to participate in world class events.
Most recently, Mr Metcalfe has competed in the International Practical Shooting Competition (IPSC) PCC and Mini Rifle World Shoot, held in Znojmo, Czech Republic from May 12 to 25, 2025.
He said the best part about the IPSC competition was that “everyone’s got a chance to compete on the world stage, if there are entries available”.
Mr Metcalfe is part of a group of four competitors called Team Wombat, who have all been shooting and competing for many years.
He competed in PCC (Pistol Calibre Carbine) shooting, a sport not currently hosted in Australia.
Unlike traditional pistol shooting, competitors shooting PCC move through a course and engage targets from various positions, typically with barriers or screens in place.
Mr Metcalf said the sport could be tense, and he had seen at least one person disqualified for safety breaches.
“It’s pretty high tension. The rules are so strict … safety is paramount for this sport,” he said.
While it can be daunting competing against athletes with decades of experience, Mr Metcalfe said ultimately he was not focused on beating other people.
“There is only one person I have to beat, and that’s myself,” he said.
“You have to come off every stage smiling and happy.
“I made some silly mistakes yesterday, but you just smile and have a laugh about it.”
He said shooting was a sport for everyone, and while it wasn’t cheap, it was something different.
He encouraged anyone who shoots or was interested in the sport to come along to the South Burnett Pistol Club.
“It’s open to everyone, from 12-years-old up, so age doesn’t matter,” he said.
“I’ve just turned 71 … You’ve still have to do it, regardless of age, you still have to get out there and do it.”
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Originally published as Nanango’s David Metcalfe to compete in IPSC Czech Republic shooting comp
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