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[b]Bathurst Rifle Club Inc 25th January 2014 J.Wilde Memorial Trophy 700 yards[/b]

Bathurst Rifle Club commenced competition for the J.Wilde Memorial Trophy from 700yds last Saturday. Current state team member, Rob Sweegers and Kathryn Kent both from Lyndhurst club were the latest visitors to test their ability in our demanding summer conditions. With several of the locals attending the Festival of Sydney competition, both were welcome additions to the match.

This time it was a full frontal fish tail wind that caused all the damage, with sight adjustments regularly moving either side of zero. The difficulty of the required changes can be judged from the fact that the top off rifle score for the afternoon was recorded by Kathryn Kent with an aggregate of 91.7. In the first stage, she shot very well to only miss the bullseye twice, but unfortunately both were well wide and resulted in a score of 45.5. Likewise in the second stage, Kathryn was well in control before faltering at the finish for a score of 46.2.

The best of the locals was Dennis Lavelle who continues to show good form with his squirrel gun, and in fact he was the only competitor not to record at least one magpie (3) or worse. Lavelle compiled an aggregate of 89.1 to finish in front of Graeme Bright on 88.4.

With the F Class contingent all away, Laurie Sim returned to the range after a break, and decided to try a telescope. Despite the difficult conditions he proved that his rifle was capable of holding tight groups and his ability to hold elevation should certainly give him confidence for the future. He recorded an aggregate of 106.2

Handicap Scores: R.Gibson (TRB) 42.3 – 44.2 (11.75 )- 97.75 D.Lavelle(TRB) 44.0 – 45.1 (8.5) - 97.5 G.Bright (TRA) 47.3 – 41.1 (3.75) – 91.75 G.Shepherd (TRA) 38.0 – 45.3 (6.75) – 89.75 L.Sim (FC) 54.0 – 52.2 (-) – 88.25

K.Kent (TRA) – 45.5 – 46.2 - 91.7 R.Sweegers (TRA) 43.1 – 44.2 – 87.3

[b]Bathurst Rifle Club Inc 18th January 2014 Gilmour Cup 600 yards[/b]

Bathurst Rifle Club welcomed two young visitors to the range last Saturday with Wyatt and Axel Melkonian trying long range target shooting for the first time, and they certainly struck very demanding conditions. After being initially delayed by work on the Telstra tower at the top of the mount, the final stage of the Gilmour Cup started in oppressive heat and heavy mirage at 600yds. The sudden wind changes were highlighted by a gust which blew the gazebo, erected for shade, up into the air and down onto the competitors. By the end of the afternoon, lightning was flashing across the top of the mount and rain arrived just as the match was finishing.

With conditions such as this, scores were variable to say the least. Target rifle A grade, developed into a contest between Steve Williams and Gordon Shepherd with Williams taking a one point lead after the first stage. However, in the second stage the changing angles of the wind caused Williams some difficulty and Shepherd was able to snatch a win in the cock of the walk with an aggregate of 95.4. Target rifle B grade proved to be a carbon copy of last week with Dennis Lavelle and Ron Gibson going head to head. Once again Gibson grabbed a two point lead before seeing Lavelle storm home with a high centre count to win the cock of the walk on 93.7 compared to Gibson’s 93.5.

In F class Jeff Eppleston and Geoff Willis both opened with 58s before Eppleston got the upper hand in the second stage. His aggregate of 117.5 out of 120 was two points clear of Willis on 115.7 and both were outstanding shoots in the conditions.

The prestigious Gilmour Cup, named after a previous Bathurst mayor, and standing nearly a metre high, was decided by a countback after three weeks of gruelling conditions. Both Geoff Willis and Ron Gibson finished on a handicap score of 298.5 out of 300. Willis was declared a worthy winner after using a lower percentage of handicap.

Handicap Scores 600yds: G.S.Willis (FC) 58.4 – 57.3 (8) 100 R.Gibson (TRB) 47.3 – 46.2 (10.75) 100 D.Lavelle (TRB) 45.1 – 48.6 (6.24) 99.25 J.Eppleston (FC) 58.2 – 59.3 (2) 99 G.Shepherd (TRA) 48.3 – 47.1 (3.75) 98.75 S.Williams (TRA) 49.2 – 45.1 (4) 98 G.P.Willis (FC) 56.4 – 51.0 (8) 95.75 G.Bright (TRA) 45.3 – 43.1 (3) 91

G.Emms (FC) 55.2 – 54.1 (-) 91 B.Rowlands (FC) 56.3 – 50.0 (-) 88 W.Melkonian (TR) 39.0 – 45.1 – 84 A.Melkonian (TR) 39.0 – 42.1 - 81

[b]Bathurst Rifle Club Inc 11th January 2014 Gilmour Cup 500 yards[/b]

The second round of the Gilmour Cup was contested from 500yds in typical summer conditions. The heat, wind and changing mirage of the early afternoon called for some dramatic sight alterations, with Gordon Shepherd being the only one up to the task in the first stage. His score in target rifle of 50.5 was well clear of Steve Williams on 49.2.

In B Grade Ron Gibson fired an excellent 47.3 despite a magpie 3 appearing in the middle of his shoot. He took a commanding lead from Dennis Lavelle who had a liberal sprinkling of inner 4’s on his way to a score of 45.1. In F class, Geoff Willis took the early lead with a score of 57.3 to be a point clear of visitor Bruce Rowlands from Lyndhurst.

By mid afternoon, cloud cover dropped the temperature and took the sting out of the mirage changes and it was hoped that higher scores would result. However the target rifle competitors did not find this to be the case. Shepherd found the subtle changes to be more challenging than those encountered earlier, and when he could only manage a score of 48.2 he left the door open for Williams. However Williams too was caught by a change of angle in the breeze. His score of 49.2 meant that he fell two centre bulls short of Shepherds aggregate of 98.7.

Fortunes were completely reversed for Gibson and Lavelle, with Gibson all at sea in the milder conditions while Lavelle compiled and excellent 48.6 to win the cock of the walk on 93.7.

F class competitors were able to take full advantage of the softer conditions, with both Geoff Willis and Bruce Rowlands recording possible scores of 60. This maintained the status quo , Willis winning the cock of the walk with an aggregate of 117.7. Rowlands was next best with a score 0f 116.8.

The Gilmour Cup concludes next week from 600yds.

Handicap Scores: G. S. Willis (FC) 117.7 (3 1/2) – 100 S. Williams (TRA) 98.5 (2 1/4) – 100 G. Shepherd (TRA) 98.7 (2) – 100 R. Gibson (TRB) 91.8 (8 1/2) - 99 1/2
J. Eppleston (FC) 114.8 (3 3/4) - 98 1/4
G. Bright (TRA) 95.6 (1 3/4) - 96 3/4
D. Lavelle (TRB) 93.7 (3 1/2) – 96 1/2
G. P. Willis (FC) 110.5 (3 1/2) - 94 1/2
B. Rowlands (FC) 116.8 G. Emms (FC) 106.2

[b]Bathurst Rifle Club Inc 4th January 2014 Gilmour Cup 300 yards[/b]

With most district rifle clubs in recess over the Christmas – New Year period, Bathurst has welcomed visitors from Lithgow and Lyndhurst. Current N.S.W. state team members, Nick Cock (Lithgow) and Les Fraser (Lyndhurst) have been keen to maintain their form before the first of their official team practices takes place this coming weekend at Cooyal. Greg Emms and Bruce Rowlands both from Lyndhurst have also been regular visitors over what has proven to be a difficult period in terms of weather conditions.

Heat and quickly changing winds have been a regular feature with marksmen struggling for consistency and everyone striking trouble at one time or another. As a result, championship scores are on track to be one of the lowest in memory.

The Rutherford Memorial trophy was contested from 800yds before Christmas with Ron Gibson winning on a count back from Graham Willis after both had a handicap score of 100.

In the week between Christmas and New Year , the T.W.Willman Trophy was shot from 900yds in very demanding wind conditions. State team member, Les Fraser demonstrated his skill with a stand out off rifle score of 97.10 to finish well clear of the locals. In fact Steve Williams proved to be next best with 94.4, which gave him a win in the trophy on a handicap score of 97 1/4. Williams also won the K. Harvey Trophy. This is contested over a six week period and the winning handicap score of only 489 1/4 is an indication of the difficulty of the conditions encountered.

On Saturday 4th January the first round of the Gilmour Cup was fired from 300yds. Although the temperature was more comfortable, the south west wind once again kept marksmen on their toes, changing in both strength and direction. In F Class, Jeff Eppleston dominated the afternoon with an excellent score of 117.8 and a handicap score of 100.

In Target Rifle, Graeme Bright shot consistently to win the A Grade cock of the walk on 97.6. Dennis Lavelle returned to the range after a layoff to win the B Grade cock of the walk with an excellent score of 96.5. Both Bright and Lavelle had handicap scores of 100.

Handicap Scores 300yds: G.Bright (TRA) 97.6 (4) – 100 D.Lavelle(TRB) 96.5 (4 1/2) - 100 J.Eppleston(F) 117.8(3) – 100 R.Gibson (TRB) 86.3 (13) – 99 G.S.Willis (F) 113.7 (5 1/4) - 98 1/2
S.Williams (TRA) 94.3 (2 3/4) - 96 3/4
G.Shepherd (TRA) 92.7 (4) – 96 G.P.Willis (F) 109.2 (2 1/4) - 92 1/4
L.Fraser (TRA) – 96.7 N.Cock (TRA) - 94.7 B.Rowlands (F) – 112.6 G.Emms (F) - 106.2

[b]Bathurst Rifle Club Inc 14th December 2013 W Northcott Memorial Trophy 700 yards[/b]

The torture continued at the weekend with more devilish winds and a roaring mirage as the 2014 season began to turn into a lottery. It has been a long time since weather conditions have impacted on the scores in such a massive way.

 Saturday, had perhaps the most difficult of all winds this season and took a heavy toll on all competitors. Even one of Lithgow’s best, visitor Nick Cock, remarked on the difficult conditions. Cock set the standard in the first stage with 47.03 as scores tailed off from there. Steve Williams and John Coghill both shot 46.02’s, Graeme Bright scrambled to a 44.01, and Dennis Lavelle, a 42.01. Ron Gibson had two magpie sighters and then rarely found the bullseye from then on in his 41.0.

F class shooters couldn’t buy a super centre and the scores were little better than that of the target rifle group. Jeff Eppleston and Grahame Willis both dropped 10 points for 50.1’s but visitor Colin Willis did better (53.2) with a little coaching from brother Grahame. Geoff Willis arrived later in the afternoon and benefited from a slight drop off in the breeze, scoring 55.2.

The second stage was a little better than the first, with Williams’ grabbing the Cock of the Walk by reason of his better first stage. Brights’ day topping 48.06 was not quite enough to overcome his poor first stage. Gibson and Coghill had identical scores but their stages were a direct reversal of each other. Gibson won the B grade COW on count back whilst Lavelle, back after a long layoff, was very competitive. Cock was another who succumbed to the conditions.

The F class COW saw a runaway win for Geoff Willis with a second 55.1 as Eppleston and Grahame Willis just dissolved in the treacherous conditions. Colin Willis fared even worse with some aspersions being cast on the coach.

Coghill won the W Northcott Memorial Trophy as the huge handicaps are working against the more consistent shooters. The next competition is the Norman Rutherford Memorial Trophy which will be held on Saturday 21st at the 800 yard mound.

Scores:
J Coghill TRB 87.02 (13 ¼) 100 G S Willis FSA 110.3 (9) 99 ¼ R Gibson TRB 87.02 (10 ¾) 97 ¾ S Williams TRA 93.05 (3 ¾) 96 ¾ G Bright TRA 92.07 (2 ¼) 94 ¼ D Lavelle TRB 86.02 (8 ¼) 94 ¼ J Eppleston FSA 101.3 (4 ¾) 88 ¼ G P Willis FSA 99.1 (5 ½) 87 N Cock TRA 92.05 C Willis FSB 96.2