Image: (fltr) Jacques du Plooy presents Morné Barnett with his award after he was crowned world champion in the .223 rifle class.
Former Hoërskool Ermelo learner Morné Barnett has been crowned world champion in the .223 rifle class.
Barnett’s achievement came at the International Hunting Rifle Shooting Association‘s 5th World Championship, held at Louvain Guest Farm near Herold in the Garden Route from 12 to 18 July 2026. The championship included .22LR/PCP, .222/.223 and Open rifle categories.
Competitors from South Africa, Namibia and the Czech Republic were among those represented at the event, with South Africa ultimately crowned the overall champion.
Photo: SAHRSA
Hunting-rifle shooting is not simply conventional shooting from a fixed position. Competitors shoot at paper targets depicting animals and steel gongs while dealing with changing distances, wind, time limits and various shooting positions designed to simulate hunting conditions.
Following his success in the .223 class, Barnett has set his sights on qualifying for the National Protea team in the Open rifle class. Hoërskool Ermelo congratulated its former learner on the achievement and wished him well as he takes on the next challenge.