When Matt Brumby and Taryn Dickens took out the National Para Biathlon Championships at Mount Hotham on the weekend, they were likely unaware they were part of what is believed to have been a world first.

Similarly, it is also likely none of the other competitors involved in weekend racing were aware they were possibly part of history.

Not only is it extremely rare for biathlon courses to feature different classifications of para biathlon taking place at the same time - in this case sitting and visually impaired - it is most likely that this was the first time para biathletes competed on exactly the same course at the same time as able-bodied athletes.

"Although we are aware that Canada and USA have run inclusive para biathlon events with able bodied biathletes, our World first National Para biathlon event had all Super Sprint athletes from World Cup (Darcie Morton), Fabian Suchodolski (IBU Junior Cup ranking 14 from Poland), Boris Stanish (IBU Cup) and our Youth and Junior biathletes compete on exactly the same 4km Super Sprint course at the same time as our National Para biathlon team athletes," said Murray Johnson, Biathlon Australia director. 

"All competitors completed the 4km cross country skiing course, two shooting bouts and 75m penalty loops were in place.

While James Millar competed at the Torino 2006 Paralympics para biathlon, this is the first time we have had a visually-impaired skier - Taryn Dickens with guide Daniel van der Ploeg - and a sit skier - Matt Brumby - participate at Whiskey Flat biathlon range in the same 4km Super Sprint event as a World Cup and other AUS junior and development team athletes."

Famed coach and international official Kasper Wirz said "this is a great start - keep up the great work."

Biathlon Australia will continue to follow the progress of Taryn and Matt as they attempt to become Australia's first Paralympic biathlon competitors in 20 years at Milano-Cortina.