Where do you live and what is your home range?

Reside in Sydney and home range is Silverdale

When did you first start benchrest?

At Illawarra range - Dapto 1978/79

Who helped you in the early days?

Ron Marsden and Tom & Ann Brummell

What was your first BR rifle?

22PPC, Remington XP100 action, Hart barrel, Leupold 24X
smithed by Ron Marsden (RTM)

When did you get your first HOF point?

1982 Nationals - Newcastle in HV

What year did you qualify?

2003 at Silverdale. Qualifying point came in Experimental class along with the National record. The rig used was in 22PPC and built by Ron Marsden and previously used by his son Michael. The rig was retired from competition after this for sentimental reasons but ownership is retained.

Where do you shoot most?

Silverdale and Canberra

Which ranges do you like and dislike and why?

Favourite ranges – Silverdale, Canberra and Coffs Harbour. All have well run matches and a convivial atmosphere during and post matches.
Least favoured – Brisbane and Jarrahdale. Not a fan of venues where the wind blows from any less than a dozen ways at once. Am ambivalent about Little River (Eagle Park) but at least the gale only screams from right to left or vice a versa as opposed to Brisbane and Jarrahdale.

Which matches do you like most each year?

NSW State titles, Australia Day matches and Banana Coast.

Have you shot overseas, when, where, how did you go?

Have not had the opportunity to date.

What is your current equipment?

Actions – Stolle Panda and Stolle Teddy, Barrels – Kriegers and Harts,
Stocks - Kelbly and Treloar and finished by Alex Chryss, Scopes – Sightron and Leupolds, have my own reamers and do all my own fitting and chambering.

What is your philosophy for benchrest?

Don’t be discouraged by a bad target or match. Never give up after a few disasters or disappointments. The next match is another day.

What advice would you give to new shooters?

Listen and learn, open your eyes and ears especially when the most experienced compete and if the opportunity arises engage them in conversation or better still ask their advice, most are very approachable. Make an effort to find a mentor.

Sadly, Steve passed away on 8th of October 2023.