History
Rewarding the best shot in the force is one of the oldest traditions in Commonwealth soldiering, running from Queen Victoria's Medal for the Best Shot in the British Army of 1869 through the King's and Queen's Medals for Champion Shots. Australia competed for the Imperial medal from 1924, when Temporary Quartermaster and Honorary Captain W.C.G. Ruddock of the Australian Instructional Corps became the first Australian winner.
The Champion Shots Medal was established on 13 September 1988 by Letters Patent, with its regulations gazetted that November, replacing the Queen's Medal for Champion Shots in the Military Forces for Australia. Each year the Royal Australian Navy, the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force conduct target shooting competitions with standard issue weapons at the Australian Army Skill at Arms Meet, and one medal may be awarded to the champion shot of each Service: no more than three in any calendar year.
Design & ribbon
The medal
The Champion Shots Medal is a circular antiqued brass medal, 38 millimetres in diameter, ensigned with the Crown of St Edward. The obverse depicts a vertical central panel with two crossed rifles superimposed on the stars of the Southern Cross, surrounded by two wreaths of laurel leaves. The reverse is plain.
The ribbon
Dark blue, red and light blue, the colours of the Navy, the Army and the Air Force.
The 32 millimetre ribbon has a central dark blue band flanked by bands of red and light blue. The colours represent the colours of the three Services.
Clasps
The medal is always awarded with a date bar naming the year of the win. Further wins bring further date bars, worn on the ribbon above the medal.
Eligibility
The medal is awarded by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Chief of the Defence Force or a delegate, to the champion shot of each of the three Services.
- Each Service conducts an annual target shooting competition with standard issue weapons, held at the Australian Army Skill at Arms Meet;
- One medal may be awarded for each Service, and no more than three medals may be awarded in a calendar year;
- A further win by a person who already holds the medal is recognised by an additional date bar, not a further medal.
Order of wear
The medal is worn after the Australian long service awards and before the Imperial long service medals. The precise neighbours in the order of wear should be confirmed against the current Australian Order of Wear.
Frequently asked questions
Who receives the Champion Shots Medal?
The champion shot of each of the Royal Australian Navy, the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force, decided by annual target shooting competitions with standard issue weapons. No more than three medals are awarded in a calendar year.
How is the competition run?
The competition is held at the Australian Army Skill at Arms Meet, facilitated by the Combined Arms Training Centre. The Directorate of Honours and Awards is then notified of the winner from each Service.
What happens if someone wins more than once?
A further win is recognised by an additional date bar inscribed with the year, attached to the ribbon of the original medal, rather than by a second medal.
What came before the Australian medal?
The Imperial Queen's Medal for Champion Shots in the Military Forces, which Australians competed for from 1924. The Australian medal replaced it when it was established on 13 September 1988.
What do the ribbon colours mean?
The central dark blue band flanked by red and light blue represents the colours of the three Services.
Does it carry a post-nominal?
No.