In Sweden in 2015 Orange Pistol Club’s Dean and Pete Brus rewrote the history books, becoming the first father and son duo to shoot at and win a WA1500 PPC World Championship title, setting a new world record to boot.
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After preparing for essentially two years since, there’s absolutely no reason the pair can’t do the same again in Germany this year and become the first father and son duo to defend a world title.
That’s what they’re thinking anyway, the duo flew out for Germany on Wednesday.
“Defending it is certainly the goal,” Pete said of the International Club Teams Revolver title.
“I think it might be a bit tougher this year though, the format has changed and the event really puts you under the pump,” Dean added.
“The preparation has been a bit easier this time around though. In 2015 I was trying to educate Pete and talk him through the process whereas now we can talk about that process, it’s a two-way conversation now because he’s been at that level now.”
And that world record, can it be eclipsed despite many considering it to be unbeatable?
“Well, they weren’t perfect scores so there’s always a chance,” Dean smiled.
The WA1500 revolver is one of two events the pair will compete in for Orange, the other is the pistol equivalent. In 2015, Dean and Dave Oates ran second in that one.
“I wasn’t shooting very well in the pistol back then, Davey competed with Dad, but we’re in pretty good form going into it this time,” Pete laughed.
Pete Brus also makes up one half of the Australian team for the International World Teams revolver and pistol events, Tasmania’s Chris Banfield is the other half.
Dean Brus was just edged out by Banfield for national selection, but coaches both shooters anyway and will act as their mentor.
The Brus boys finished second in the former event in 2015, while Dean and Oates won silver in the latter too.
In total, the Brus boys and Oates brought back more than 30kg worth of trophies in 2015.
Naturally, considering Pete’s competitive nature, he wants to go one better in the World Teams events with Banfield by his side.
“I’m feeling a lot more comfortable this year than I was going into Sweden, I guess being my first time I was pretty nervous,” Pete said.
“It’s been on my mind a lot but we’ve been training pretty well every day for a month, so the preparation has been full on and we’re as ready as we’ll ever be.”
I’m feeling a lot more comfortable this year than I was going into Sweden, I guess being my first time I was pretty nervous.
- Pete Brus
“Pete’s seen it all at this level now but Chris hasn’t,” Dean explained.
“He can shoot a 10, there’s no doubt about that but he has to be able to do it repeatedly in a pressure-cooker environment but I’m sure he’ll be able to keep his head on his shoulders.
“In a way, Pete’s in the same shoes I was in two years ago and Chris is in Pete’s.”
The Brus boys finished that preparation in Narrabri last weekend, making the four-and-a-half hour trip for one last foray into a competitive environment.
“You’ll never get anywhere close to the pressure you feel at the worlds, but we try and put ourselves under the pump leading in to give ourselves the best preparation we can,” Pete explained.
There’s also seven individual events to compete in at the world titles, which kick off on August 16.