On 8-9 August 2026, in somewhat challenging conditions, Biathlon Australia successfully hosted the inaugural Oceania Cup – the first ever International Biathlon Union (IBU) sanctioned Regional Event in the Southern Hemisphere. Athletes, coaches, officials and fans from the ACT, NSW, Victoria, Finland, France, New Zealand and Poland descended upon the Australian Biathlon Arena, at Whiskey Flat, Mt Hotham, Victoria for the festive atmosphere, sunshine and competitive racing.
This was the culmination of months of preparation under the leadership of Biathlon Australia’s Sports Director Sandra Paul OLY, who together with the Biathlon Australia Board, Executive Officer Robyn McEvoy and National Integrity Manager Brooke Irvine, worked closely with the IBU, the State Government of Victoria, Hotham Alpine Resort Management, Biathlon Australia Head Coach Ana Kinnunen OLY and New Zealand Biathlon.
“It was great to see the motivation and effort put in to make this competition and provide opportunities for your Athletes to compete,” said Tomasc ‘Tomek’ Bernat, IBU Sport Development Manager and Oceania Cup Technical Delegate. “Thank you to your whole team, especially Sandra and her family for inviting me and hosting me in Australia.”
2026 Milano-Cortina Australian Paralympic team members Dave Miln PLY and Lynn-Maree Cullen were in attendance; along with IBU World Cup and World Championship athlete Noah Bradford – Australia’s highest ranked biathlete. Equally important was the strong contingent of international competitors – Baxter Pollard (NZ), Ewenn Fercot (FR / AU), Jessica Gould (NZ) and Winifred McAllister Brown (NZ). And of course, Australia’s incredibly talented members of Australia’s Development, National & Masters Teams.
“Being able to line up at an event like this in Australia is another important step in continuing to grow Para Biathlon at home,” said Dave Miln PLY. “Hopefully the first Oceania Cup is the first of many. Plenty more work to do, but pretty bloody cool to be part of another little piece of Australian biathlon history.”
“It was incredible that the planning team managed to get a course together and hold the event,” said Master’s athlete and gold medalist Ro Packer. “With the good weather on Saturday there was a real sense of camaraderie amongst everyone having completed a difficult course and enjoying a BBQ sausage afterwards. It was great to have a NZ contingent and our young French Australian competitor to kick off the first international event in Australia.”
The 2026 IBU Regional Event | Oceania Cup Champions (across all age groups) are Ava McCann, Carmen Cullen-Croke, Dave Miln PLY, Eva Skilton, Ewenn Fercot, Finn Meehan, Heather Wiederkehr, Ian Smith, Isabella Moon, Jade Findlay, Liam Cullen-Croke, Noah Bradford, Oscar O’Sullivan, Paul McDonald, Ro Packer, Rosie Franzske, Samuel Johnson, Stephen Meehan and Thea Harvey. They will go down in the annuls of history as the first ever IBU Regional Event | Oceania Cup gold medallists. All the results are available on the BA website (https://www.biathlonaustralia.com.au/events-/race-results-)
And congratulations to dual gold medallist and Oceania Cup Hot Shot – Eva Skilton shooting 19 out of 20 across the weekend. With special mentions to Dave Miln PLY and Thea Harvey for shooting 9 out of 10 on Saturday.
“It was great having international athletes to race with in Australia, and BA pulled off a miracle to run the inaugural event despite the lack of snow!,” said Gold Medallist Ava McCann. “Hopefully this helps to remind the rest of the world that we can actually do biathlon in Australia! There have been some jokes about the next World Cup being held at the Great Dividing Range. Thanks again to BA for going to all the effort to organise this important event, to coach Ana, Tomasz from the IBU for coming all the way from Poland, Michal for timing and all the volunteers!”
And in another first for Biathlon Australia, all the action was broadcast live and exclusive on Snow.TV and a 30-minute highlight show on 7Plus.
