It’s a little-known discipline… And yet, the best sports shooting athletes on moving targets are competing in Indre at the moment! The running target world championships take place at the Center national de tir sportif in Châteauroux-Déols from Monday August 1st until August 8th.
An Olympic discipline until 2004, target running is practiced with a rifle. You have to shoot at a target that moves from right to left, then in the other direction, at different speeds, at 10 meters, then at 50 meters. Small particularity: for shooting at 50 meters, the target is in the shape of a boar!
Only one French representative
15 nations are represented by around sixty athletes. And among them: only one Frenchman! Romain Bidaut is the only French chance to shine during the competition.
– Emeline Ferry
“I started at the age of 10, thanks to my father, a sports shooter, says the sportsman of Parisian origin. As soon as I touched what is called the moving target, I fell in love and I have been practicing this discipline for more than 15 years!”. A first series of shootings took place on Wednesday August 3, a second this Thursday.
Access to the CNTS is free throughout this competition. The opportunity to go and encourage the Frenchman. “I will shoot every day, whether in competition or in training”, says Romain Bidaut. For the curious, it is also the opportunity to discover this little-known discipline.
– Emeline Ferry
“It’s true that sport shooting in general is not well knownrecognizes Maxime Coursimault, the coach of the France team. It is becoming more and more known in the region thanks to the events of the Olympic Games which will take place in Châteauroux in 2024. The CNTS regularly hosts competitions, there we are lucky that it is open to the public. So don’t hesitate to come and see us, we’re affordable!”.
“There are really no barriers between the athletes and the publiche continues. Me, as a trainer, I sit in the stands while the sportsman shoots. The athletes are also in the stands, so come meet us, come and share!”.
“The facilities are great for good performancesbelieves Romain Bidaut. Don’t hesitate to come and see this place which will host the Games in 2024. And that might make a lot of people want to come and shoot.”.