7 BiEA biathletes headed off from their training base at Obertilliach for their last weekend of biathlon racing in Austrian Cup No 3 at Windishgarten.

Events included a Sprint and Mass Start for the Juniors with the U14, U12 and U10’s age category racing air rifle. Conditions were overcast with grey skies and snow threatening throughout the weekend. However, for the Australian biathletes, there were some sparkling results!

In the Junior Girls, Darcie Morton finished 2^nd in the Mass Start on day 1 and then stepped up a gear to take the win in the Sprint on day 2. Her sister, Damika, however went one better and took the no 1 position on both days in the U12 Girls air-rifle category. Alberto Allan, showed the benefit of his European winter training and like Damika, took the No 1 spot on both days in the U10 Boys air-rifle.

For the other athletes, the competition was strong with Sam and Phoenix continuing to learn and benefit from their 6 weeks of biathlon in Europe. Phoenix especially has developed his ski speed and was the third fastest skier in the U14 boys air rifle event.

Will and Archie used the weekend’s events to continue refining their racing tactics and shooting ahead of their participation in 2020 IBU World Juniors from 26^th January at Lenzerheide in Switzerland.

The weekend was a huge success for the biathletes and special thanks to Rheinhard Grossegger from Hochfilzen and the Kitzbuhl region for the use of two air rifles for Phoenix and Damika. Without their generosity, the athletes would not have been able to compete.