Impact Xtreme Shooting is the sole endorsed host for KO1M SA and KO2M SA. So, what is Impact Xtreme Shooting, and how did it start? Brendan Fike and Jaco Heyns established Impact Xtreme Shooting in 2018 as a platform to kickstart the growth of Extreme Long Range (ELR) shooting in South Africa. They held the inaugural King of 2 km (KO2KM) event at Bokpoort Cowboy Ranch in November 2018, a first for South Africa. Shooters from all over the country packed into Bokpoort to try their hand at this crazy +2 000 m event.
Post-Bokpoort saw the ELR Scene in South Africa literally exploding. In 2019 there were more Impact Xtreme Shooting events like the Master of 2 km+ (MO2KM+) event at Moreson Ranch and participation at MO2KM in France. We undertook this trip mainly to show fellow South Africans that we can compete with the best in the world. Our hope was to grow an annual group of South African shooters to compete in these international ELR competitions.
Despite the 2020 and 2021 Covid-19 restrictions, the South African ELR scene now has multiple ELR events planned throughout the year, like Send It, ELR Shooting, Truvelo Precision Series, Brothers Arms Precision Series, Peregrine ELR Shoots, Impact Xtreme Shooting and some others.
Impact Xtreme Shooting currently comprises Brendan Fike, Graeme Warrack, Liezl Meyer, Janrich Abraham, Zeldine Abraham, Shaun Flink, Arthur Coleby and Malcolm Warrack. Our focus now is to strengthen ties with other competing countries and to grow the King in South Africa into a larger, more competitive annual multinational event. Networking is key, which we learnt quickly in France in 2019. Having international shooters participate here will strengthen our local industry and open up many more opportunities.
A different perspective
We decided this year to focus on the perspective of the event organiser or host so you can experience the many challenges that must be dealt with. Hosting an event is really all about planning and problem-solving. We have also included some interesting shooter age/origin demographic analytics, year-on-year growth of the King in South Africa, including all the scoresheets, equipment lists and a bird’s-eye view of the overall event costs.
We have three years’ worth of event infrastructure, so keep in mind that the costs indicated under Section 2 in the 2021 Event Expenses spreadsheet were mostly incurred additionally. We hope a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes world of running an ELR event of this magnitude will help you appreciate the immense stress and personal expense involved.
Khoisan Karoo Conservancy
The 2021 King was held at a new venue in the Northern Cape. The Khoisan Karoo Conservancy is a vast area of 8 000 ha dedicated to the conservation of the local fauna and flora. This area falls within the Great Karoo, a semi-desert region spanning more than 400 000 km2, stretching over the Eastern, Northern and Western Cape provinces. For comparison, this area is larger than Germany. The Great Karoo is our version of the Australian Outback or North America’s Chihuahuan Desert. Characterised by extensive open plains bordered by dolerite-capped mountains, the San word ‘Karoo’ means ‘Land of Great Thirst’.
This venue is pretty much central between Johannesburg and Cape Town, and is accessed by the N1 highway. It is far more accessible by road from the Eastern Cape, Free State and especially the Western Cape. The hope was that it would attract more shooters from the latter province, as these shooters are highly regarded as being among the best and most skilled in South Africa.
New Holme Nature Lodge
The landowners are PC and Mariska Ferreira based at the main lodge, namely New Holme Nature Lodge. New Holme is a popular wedding venue, birders paradise and nature lovers’ retreat. It also hosts the annual Colesberg Equestrian Endurance ride and the Lazy Hippo Mountain bike stage race. A firm guest favourite is the ‘Shy Five’ night drive, which focuses on rarely-seen nocturnal animals such as the aardvark, aardwolf, bat-eared fox, porcupine and black-footed cat.
The Send It, ELR shooting team had started working with PC to establish an ELR range on the farm. PC saw a future synergy with his current business model. Soon a professional land surveyor was on-site to survey five new
