Singleton’s Rod Davies and Branxton’s Tim Nugent have returned from the 2017 F-Class World Championships, in Canada, with a bevy of medals.

The titles for long-range rifle shooting using telescopic sights wrapped up at the Connaught Range in Ottawa, attracting more than 600 competitors.

Davies, 47, won four individual golds and a bronze in the F-Open class, scoring 89 bullseyes from 100 shots across 700, 800 and 900-metre ranges.

His total of 489 put him four clear of UK’s Paul Sandie with another Australian, Adam Pohl, a further three in arrears.

He then joined fellow Cessnock Rifle Club member Nugent, who owns a metal fabrication business in Branxton, in the eight-member national team.

The squad successfully defended its F-Open crown, which Australia won at the previous championships in New Mexico in 2013.

On this occasion, Nugent led the scores for the “green and gold” with 443 points from a possible 450.

Davies admitted he was “very, very happy” with the outcome.

“I was quietly confident of doing well before the event – and aiming for a top 10 position,” the WesTrac workshop supervisor at Ravensworth North mine said.

“I thought if things went okay, I might do better.

“But, I probably wasn’t expecting this [result].

“In the end, there was a lot of relief, too.

“It took almost two hours for the final results to come through.

“I knew I was in with a chance, however it was still a bit nerve-wracking.”

After two seasons with an organisation in Cairns, Davies has spent the past seven years with the Cessnock Rifle Club.

And, he’s not about to rest on his laurels either, despite his recent overseas success.

“I’m having a bit of a break,” he admitted.

“Then I’m taking aim at the Victorian and South Australian state championships early in the new year.”