THE HARRY MADDEN HISTORY
In the 1948 the National Bench Rest Shooters Association was formed in the USA and formal competitions commenced and the organisation grew and expanded all over the USA. The essential elements consisted of benches to sit at and shoot from, a front 'benchrest' usually an adjustable pedestal containing a sandbag and a rear rest being a sandbag plus a rifle to shoot from this position. Target frames were then arranged at measured distances, rules including time limits set and measuring devices to measure the 'groups'. A group being a cluster of 5 shots hopefully together.
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A scoring device to measures the distance between the two shots furtherest apart in the group. The idea is to have a competition where men and women could shoot and compare their results at the same location and at the same time. In Australia some informal matches began at Baulkham Hills rifle range in Sydney in 1955. Many years later Harry Madden from Brisbane managed to get organised competitions and rules on a National basis happening with the SSAA (Sporting Shooters Association of Australia). The sport has continued to grow and expand and now there are world championships held bi annually by an organisation called the WBSF (World Benchrest Shooting Federation) with approx 28 member countries.
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1965 – Nov 13th & 21st billed as the First Benchrest Championships to be conducted on all SSAA rifle ranges
1966 – Chairman Harry Madden promised modifications to 1965 "National" and advised it is hoped that 1966 will be shoulder to shoulder in Sydney toward the end of the year.