Always Aiming for Excellence
From 3 to 5 April 2025, two Directors of the PISA Integrity Assessment Centre; Joanette and Chris Karsten competed at the South African Target Rifle Association (SATRA) National Championships, held at the Bloemfontein Shooting Centre. This prestigious event is currently the largest gathering of smallbore rifle shooters in South Africa, attracting top talent from across the country. The South African Target Rifle Association is a National Association that was started prior to 1942 and has a long and rich shooting history.
The competition began with a demanding three-position shooting event on the first day. Both Joanette and Chris competed, with Joanette achieving an outstanding second-place finish overall—competing against both male and female shooters.
The remaining days were dedicated to prone position matches, consisting of five individual competitions. Scores from each day were aggregated to determine overall standings. Joanette delivered a standout performance, shooting a personal best of 593/600 on the second day—only to surpass it on the final day with an exceptional score of 595/600. This remarkable achievement was the highest recorded score in the ISSF Open Prone Class for the week.
Both Joanette and Chris were selected to represent the Northern Gauteng Provincial A Team, which went on to win the gold medal for best provincial team performance. Joanette also represented the Pretoria Military Smallbore Club, which secured the gold medal for the best club.
In the final standings, Joanette placed third overall in the highly competitive A-Class, with the top honour going to Freek Senore. She also earned the gold medal for Best Female Shooter of the Championships. Chris delivered a commendable performance as well, securing second place in the B-Class, just behind winner Gretchen Du Plessis.
Speaking to Chris Karsten about the achievements, he said that “We could not have done it without the support of the PISA Integrity Assessment Centre, and the talents we received from God, we are truly grateful. It took hard work and dedication to make the most of the opportunities given, and we will continue to commit ourselves to excellence.” “Yes, we are truly thankful and truly blessed. The fact is that there are no shortcuts, you take what you have, and you put in the time and effort to make the most of it, and we will continue to do so,” added Joanette Karsten.
