WHEN it comes to handling a rifle, Merlind Osthoff of the St. Michael’s school for girls in Bloemfontein, can surely hold her own.
Osthoff started shooting at the Bloemfontein Metallic Silhouette Shooting Club (BMSSC) when she was only in Grade 3. She took part in her first competition at the mentioned club in 2005 and thereafter entered for competitions twice a year, ie, the BMSSC competition as well as the South African Metallic Silhouette Shooting Association (SAMSSA) annual championship event.
Osthoff told Play On in an interview that she is currently shooting with a Mauser rifle as well as a .22 hand gun. She explains further that there are various categories relevant to the age groups in which shots fight it out for victory. “I started off in the ‘pee-wee’ section (u.14), but, currently I take part in the u.18 age group” she added.
Osthoff won her first medal at the mentioned SAMSSA event as long ago as in 2005 and she recalls that it was bronze in colour. She was at the time the youngest competitor in her age group to clinch a podium position.
From 2006, Osthoff’s major competition were all moving up in age category and there was no stopping this young lady from St. Michael’s. One gold medal after another was on her annual agenda, and this at both the annual events.
The shy to talk about her performances, Osthoff at least shares with one, the fact that she possesses an award (trophy) for the best “pee-wee” shot at one of the SAMSSA events and adds, “I can’t remember in which year I won the award”.
After “threatening” Osthoff with a proverbial rifle for more information on her excellent performances, she told Play On that she once won a so called “Kopskiet” competition, “beating two boys older than me”.

By Rufus Botha