By 1987, Australian male and female athletes (including a Ladies Relay Team), were participating in World Cup biathlon events. However, the Men events were sometimes held separately to the Ladies and Junior Men races.
The April 1987 SkiShooter Magazine (the official newsletter of the Australian/Victorian Biathlon Association) shows a number of results:
World Cup Ruhpolding, GER 22-25 January 1987
Andrew Paul and David Butler took part in Men Senior 20 km Distance event and Andrew Paul in the Senior Men 10 km Sprint, with the best Australian result being Andrew Paul 50th in the Sprint behind winner Fritz Fischer of FRG.
Kerryn Pethybridge (Rim), Helen Schofield and Cheryl Power took part in the “Ladies 10 km Distance” and “Ladies 5 km Sprint” events, placing eighth behind winners Norway, with the best Australian personal result being Kerryn Pethybridge placing 15th in the Distance race, behind Eva Korpela of SWE.
The Australian Ladies placed eighth in the 3 x 5 km Ladies Relay event, while Andrew Paul and Peter Cranage skied the first and second legs of the Men Relay.
In Junior class, Peter Cranage participated in the Junior Men 15 km Distance and 10 km Junior Men Sprint events, with his best result being 28th in the Distance race, behind Frank Luck of GDR.
Men World Championships in 1987 at Lake Placid, USA, 12-15 February 1987
Participants for Australia were the Senior Men as listed above, the events included 20 km/10 km events. The best Australian result was Andrew Paul, placing 55th in the Sprint behind Frank-Peter Roetsch of DDR.
Ladies and Junior Men World Championships in 1987 at Lahti, FIN, 24-28 February 1987
Participants were same as for Ruhpolding World Cup the month before, and included results in Ladies Relay, Distance and Sprint events.
Best Australian result was another 15th place for Kerryn Pethybridge, in the Distance, behind Sanna Gronlid of NOR. The Ladies Relay Team finished in 12th position.
Sole Junior Men athlete, Peter Cranage, had his best result in the Sprint event, finishing 50th, behind Sergei Tsepikov of USSR.
The Pre-Olympics at Canmore, CAN 19-22 February 1987
Men participants were Andrew Paul and David Butler, best Australian result was Andrew Paul in 79th position, behind Valeri Medvetsev of USSR.
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