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Weekly Review 08/06/2013
Posted on Jun 09, 2013
[b]Bathurst Rifle Club Inc 8th June 2013 F A Wilde Trophy 500yards[/b]
A surprisingly mild and sunny winter’s day produced a standout performance from Geoff Willis who shot his first double possible 120/120 in two years. Willis who finished runner up in the F class championship this year has been building to this level after a string of high scores. His accuracy in the 60.7 and 60.4 stages was unmatched in the day’s competition.
With little or no wind all that remained was to judge the strength and direction of a mirage which persevered all day. Occasionally flicking from side to side and getting a little help from the feathery nor-nor-east breeze the conditions were on the surface quite benign.
However Willis was the only shooter to go unblemished as one by one, a missed point here or a dropped shot there, brought all the other competitors undone. Graeme Bright and Gordon Shepherd both had close possible calls dropping just the one point in their 49/50 first stages. Bright with another 49 outlasted Shepherd who with the Cock of the Walk in his grasp dropped two points in his last three shots to finish one point shy of Brights' 98.07.
Grahame Willis looked some chance to replicate brother Geoff, until a double bulls eye finish left him with a 58.2 first stage. His second stage looked better but again misfortune struck with a bullseye finish for a 59.3. Brad Aitcheson in just his fifth shoot showed immense promise with stages of 56.5 and 55.2 to again achieve a 100% handicap score. Aaron Smith and Clint Mills also had their best off rifle scores getting close to their handicaps.
In B grade Dennis Lavelle won his second COW in succession with 46.01 and 47.03, his consistency beating Ron Gibson who set himself a very difficult task after a 44.02 first stage. He almost achieved the task with a 48.05 second stage, a mere one point short.
Of the others Jake Miles had a poor day as did John Coghill who settled for trialing different ammunition loads. Darren Crinston used the peep sighted .308 club target rifle as he makes the change from the small bore to the full bore discipline.
F-class Club Championship Jeff Eppleston took out the divisional championship at Lithgow last week and will now represent the Blue Mountains District Rifle Association in the State Champion of Champions in the near future.
The F A Wilde trophy concludes next week at 600 yards.Scores:
G S Willis (F) 120.11 (1 ¼) 100
B Aitcheson (F) 111.7 (11 ¼) 100
G Shepherd 97.09 (3 ½) 100
A Smith (F) 110.4 (9 ¾) 99 ¾
G P Willis (F) 117.5 (2 ½) 99 ½
C Mills (F) 102.1 (16 ¾) 99
G Bright 98.07 (3/4) 98 ¾
R Gibson 92.07 (6 ¼) 98 ¼
D Lavelle 93.04 (3 ¼) 96 ¼
J Coghill 90.02 (5) 95
J Miles (F) 93.1 (18 ¾) 93 ¼
D Crinston (F) 93.1
Weekly Review 01/06/2013
Posted on Jun 02, 2013
[b]Bathurst Rifle Club Inc 1st June 2013 F A Wilde Trophy 300yards[/b]
The imminent threat of rain and the ultimate arrival did not curtail the afternoon’s proceedings although some of the participants ended the day looking a little wet and bedraggled. The fine misty rain which commenced from the first shot gradually increased in intensity as the afternoon wore on, but even the light breeze which did its best to confuse could not stop Graeme Bright form achieving a double possible 100.08
After missing out on the Club Championship by a narrow margin Bright admitted the trigger change which has lead to his recent form surge came a little too late to impact on the major prize. Bright’s Cock of the Walk winning double was his first in almost a year.
Gordon Shepherd tried hard to put pressure on Bright with a first stage 49.05 but fell away in a second stage 47.04. Dennis Lavelle and John Coghill went head to head with Coghill taking a one point lead after a first stage 47.03 but he was unable to stop Lavelle taking the B grade honours by one centre bullseye, his first win since returning to the target rifle discipline.
Geoff Willis arrived late to contest F class but that did not stop him from overhauling a rampant Jeff Eppleston who started with a 59.6. Willis could manage just 57.3 but Eppleston left the door open as he finished with a moderate 57.2 second stage. Willis shooting in a drenching drizzle shot six super V’s in a row whilst dropping just one point to count Eppleston out, clinching the F class COW by a single super V.
Brad Aitcheson, who has had just four trips to the mound, found himself having to shoot without a coach in close attendance, but excelled with his best score to date despite the uncomfortable conditions. Aitchesons’ 54.0 and 54.1 was a very promising start to his shooting career.
Jake Miles shot a good 52.2 first stage but succumbed to the wet and gloomy afternoon conditions with a 46.2 second stage. Darren Crimston a small bore target shooter tried out both the peep sighted .308 and the scoped .223 rifles and will decide his preferred option in coming weeks. Laurie Sim put a telescope on his full bore rifle but had difficulty seeing the target clearly and settled for just the one disappointing stage.
The F A Wilde trophy continues next week at 500 yards.Scores:
G Bright 100.08 (1 ¼) 100
B Aitcheson (F) 108.1 (20) 100
J Coghill 93.04 (6 ¾) 99 ¾
G Shepherd 96.09 (3 ½) 99 ½
G S Willis (F) 116.9 (1 ¼) 97 ¾
D Lavelle 93.05 (4 ½) 97 ½
J Eppleston (F) 116.8 (3/4) 97 ¼
J Miles (F) 98.4 (15 ½) 94 ½
D Crimston (F) 36.0 (.308)- 50.1 (.223)
L Sim (F) 42.0
Weekly Review 25/05/2013
Posted on May 26, 2013
[b]Bathurst Rifle Club Inc 25th May 2013 Club Championship and Secretary's Trophy 900yards.[/b]
The Club Championship came to an end without fireworks as the challengers failed in their bids to unseat the reigning champions. In what was expected to be a close competition in both disciplines Graeme Bright dropped three points in his last two shots in a first stage 45.02, gifting Steve Williams the Championship. F-class champion Jeff Eppleston who was not expected to be back from a fishing adventure returned early to ensure Geoff Willis’s simple equation of shooting 110/120 was no longer valid.
A fine sunny day with a mild, if not erratic, breeze was a perfect setting for the final. Bright started the day one point behind and needed to beat the champion by two points, with Williams’ having a superior centre count. The magpie, centre, magpie finish to Brights’ first stage was a mortal blow to his chances. Williams calmly accumulated a pair of 48’s to douse the challenge despite Brights’ gallant 49.04 second stage. Brights’ best chance in years was destroyed by a fickle breeze which saw him fall just three points short.
In F-class fearing the loss of the trophy which has been his alone since inception in 2007 Epplestons’ decision to shoot meant Willis had to beat him by eight or more points on the day. Both shooters had very low scores to cut but Willis although winning the Cock of the Walk was unable to climb the mountain, falling seven points short.
B grade was a much easier affair with Ron Gibson merely needing to shoot to qualify and take out the B-grade Championship. This he did in steady fashion after finally overcoming the reloading problems which have been plaguing him in recent weeks.
Williams continued his six-year unbroken Club Champion run and Eppleston ensured his was the only name on the F-class cup. Gibsons' second consecutive B grade cup was sweetened by his winning the Secretary’s trophy a point ahead of Gordon Shepherd.
One notable performance was put in by Dennis Lavelle who when changing his rifle to the target rifle specification forgot to replace the sling attachment. Without a sling and his front arm waving in the breeze Lavelle somehow managed to score a credible 31.01. The value of a sling was emphasized by his second stage 49.02
The F A Wilde trophy commences next week at 300 yards Scores R Gibson 89.04 (15 ½) 100 S Williams 96.05 (3 ¼) 99 ¼ G P Willis (F) 110.3 (8) 98 ½ G Bright 94.06 (4 ¼) 98 ¼ G S Willis (F) 114.5 (3 ½) 98 J Eppleston (F) 113.4 (2 ¾) 96 ½ G Shepherd 90.03 (6 ½) 96 ½ J Miles (F) 94.1 (17) 95 ½ J Coghill 83.04 (11 ¼) 94 ¼ D Lavelle 80.03; M Wright (F) 100.0
Weekly Review 18/05/2013
Posted on May 19, 2013
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Bathurst Rifle Club Inc. 18th May 2013 The Secretary's Trophy 800yardsÂ
The first taste of winter greeted competitors on the 800 yard mound as the Secretary’s trophy commenced on Saturday afternoon. With all of the F-class shooters visiting warmer climes or tucked up at home it was left to a few hardy target rifle competitors to take on the cold gusting west south westerly wind.
            It was a day of surprises as the wind which was relatively steady threw in the occasional gust or dropped off just as suddenly with little indication from the directional flags. A super V followed by a magpie three and just as suddenly back to a V bull was typical of the not so subtle effect the wind changes had on the projectile. It became difficult to hold a group inside the bullseye ring.
            Another surprise was the form of John Coghill who has been hopelessly out of form for many months. Coghill seemed to relish the distance and conditions as he led out with a first stage best of 49.04. Gordon Shepherd shot a 48.03 and Ron Gibson surprised with a 48.0. Graeme Bright struggled with 46.01 and Dennis Lavelle again had trouble with his ammunition having to retire halfway through the stage. He resumed later and did well to rescue the situation with a 46.02.
            With the wind maintaining its strength and variability and the day becoming much colder the second stage became a test of endurance. Bright turned his first stage around with a lead grabbing 49.05 but Coghill responded with a 47.05, which included a magpie three, to take a one point lead. Lavelle battled with the ammunition problem and the cold but was obviously distracted ending with a 44.01. Similarly Gibson pulled out a mixed batch of ammunition which covered the face of the target in a very inaccurate 43.03.
            Shepherd knowing he only had to shoot 48 with a bunch of centre’s to take the win started disastrously with two inner fours in his first three shots. Still with a chance but needing 6 centre bulls’ eyes he steadily mounted the challenge with three centres in a row. Unfortunately for him he could manage just four bulls eyes to finish equal on points but three centres behind Coghill.
            Coghill took out the B grade Cock of the Walk in the process eclipsing the A grade winner who just happened to be his arch nemesis Shepherd. Next week is the climax of the 2013 Club Championship over 900 yards and the whiff of change is in the air.
Scores
G Shepherd 96.06 (4 ¼) 100
J Coghill 96.09 (2 ¾) 98 ¾
G Bright 95.06 (3) 98
R Gibson 91.03 (6 ½) 97 ½
D Lavelle 90.03 (6 ½) 96 ½
The first taste of winter greeted competitors on the 800 yard mound as the Secretary’s trophy commenced on Saturday afternoon. With all of the F-class shooters visiting warmer climes or tucked up at home it was left to a few hardy target rifle competitors to take on the cold gusting west south westerly wind.
            It was a day of surprises as the wind which was relatively steady threw in the occasional gust or dropped off just as suddenly with little indication from the directional flags. A super V followed by a magpie three and just as suddenly back to a V bull was typical of the not so subtle effect the wind changes had on the projectile. It became difficult to hold a group inside the bullseye ring.
            Another surprise was the form of John Coghill who has been hopelessly out of form for many months. Coghill seemed to relish the distance and conditions as he led out with a first stage best of 49.04. Gordon Shepherd shot a 48.03 and Ron Gibson surprised with a 48.0. Graeme Bright struggled with 46.01 and Dennis Lavelle again had trouble with his ammunition having to retire halfway through the stage. He resumed later and did well to rescue the situation with a 46.02.
            With the wind maintaining its strength and variability and the day becoming much colder the second stage became a test of endurance. Bright turned his first stage around with a lead grabbing 49.05 but Coghill responded with a 47.05, which included a magpie three, to take a one point lead. Lavelle battled with the ammunition problem and the cold but was obviously distracted ending with a 44.01. Similarly Gibson pulled out a mixed batch of ammunition which covered the face of the target in a very inaccurate 43.03.
            Shepherd knowing he only had to shoot 48 with a bunch of centre’s to take the win started disastrously with two inner fours in his first three shots. Still with a chance but needing 6 centre bulls’ eyes he steadily mounted the challenge with three centres in a row. Unfortunately for him he could manage just four bulls eyes to finish equal on points but three centres behind Coghill.
            Coghill took out the B grade Cock of the Walk in the process eclipsing the A grade winner who just happened to be his arch nemesis Shepherd. Next week is the climax of the 2013 Club Championship over 900 yards and the whiff of change is in the air.
Scores
G Shepherd 96.06 (4 ¼) 100
J Coghill 96.09 (2 ¾) 98 ¾
G Bright 95.06 (3) 98
R Gibson 91.03 (6 ½) 97 ½
D Lavelle 90.03 (6 ½) 96 ½
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Weekly Review 11/05/2013
Posted on May 12, 2013
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Bathurst Rifle Club Inc 11th May 2013 The I Hughes/J Porter Trophies, Championship and QVMÂ 700yards
            The penultimate range of the Club Championship did little to highlight the likely winner in the target rifle section but went a long way in defining the chances of Geoff Willis in the F-class division.
            Willis was a class above the field in both disciplines shooting 119/120, his equal best score in the past three years. Two of those scores have been in the last three ranges of this year’s Championship and sees him in the prime position to put his name on a trophy which has had only one name on it since inception in 2007, that of Jeff Eppleston. With Eppleston unlikely to show for the final 900 yard range Willis knows that a moderate 110/120 will give him the title.
            In target rifle Steve Williams clings onto a narrow lead over Graeme Bright after misfires ruined Brights’ big chance at last week’s 600 yard range. Williams couldn’t improve on his previous 700 yard scores and Bright could only gain one centre bullseye. Williams toyed with an experimental lens in a below par first stage 44.03 and despite a 48.05 second stage his chances of gaining the jump on Bright were squashed.
            Bright overcame his mechanical problems by borrowing a trigger from Williams but 96.07 was the best he could manage. This leaves Williams equal with Bright after three completed ranges, only one 900 yard range left to determine the winner. Bright has scores of 95 and 94 already in the pocket whilst Williams has a 96 and needs to shoot again to qualify. The simple equation is that Bright needs to beat Williams by two shots to win the Championship.
            There were few other shoots of any worth with Bright and Willis taking out the respective Cocks’ of the Walk. Gordon Shepherd was the best of the rest with a 94.06 easily eclipsing his arch rival John Coghill who could only scrape together a 90.04. Dennis Lavelle and Ron Gibson made heavy work of the mirage and rear fishtail which appeared late in the day for scores of 88.02 and 89.02.
             In F-class, Eppleston and Grahame Willis were left in Geoff Willis’s wake as the conditions became their master and scores of 113.4 and 113.7 were only average for a day that offered much more. Bright won the I. Hughes trophy and Coghill, the J Porter trophy. The Secretary’s trophy begins next week at 800 yards followed by the final Club Championship range over 900 yards on 25th May with, maybe a regime change in both disciplines.
Scores  Â
G S Willis (F) 119.6 (3/4) 99 ¾
G P Willis (F) 113.7 (6 ½) 99 ¼
G Shepherd 94.06 (5) 99
J Coghill 90.04 (8 ½) 98 ½
G Bright 96.07 (1 ½) 97 ½
J Eppleston (F) 113.4 (2 ¼) 96
R Gibson 89.02 (6 ¼) 95 ¼
S Williams 92.08 (3) 95
D Lavelle 88.02 (6 ¼) 94 ¼
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            The penultimate range of the Club Championship did little to highlight the likely winner in the target rifle section but went a long way in defining the chances of Geoff Willis in the F-class division.
            Willis was a class above the field in both disciplines shooting 119/120, his equal best score in the past three years. Two of those scores have been in the last three ranges of this year’s Championship and sees him in the prime position to put his name on a trophy which has had only one name on it since inception in 2007, that of Jeff Eppleston. With Eppleston unlikely to show for the final 900 yard range Willis knows that a moderate 110/120 will give him the title.
            In target rifle Steve Williams clings onto a narrow lead over Graeme Bright after misfires ruined Brights’ big chance at last week’s 600 yard range. Williams couldn’t improve on his previous 700 yard scores and Bright could only gain one centre bullseye. Williams toyed with an experimental lens in a below par first stage 44.03 and despite a 48.05 second stage his chances of gaining the jump on Bright were squashed.
            Bright overcame his mechanical problems by borrowing a trigger from Williams but 96.07 was the best he could manage. This leaves Williams equal with Bright after three completed ranges, only one 900 yard range left to determine the winner. Bright has scores of 95 and 94 already in the pocket whilst Williams has a 96 and needs to shoot again to qualify. The simple equation is that Bright needs to beat Williams by two shots to win the Championship.
            There were few other shoots of any worth with Bright and Willis taking out the respective Cocks’ of the Walk. Gordon Shepherd was the best of the rest with a 94.06 easily eclipsing his arch rival John Coghill who could only scrape together a 90.04. Dennis Lavelle and Ron Gibson made heavy work of the mirage and rear fishtail which appeared late in the day for scores of 88.02 and 89.02.
             In F-class, Eppleston and Grahame Willis were left in Geoff Willis’s wake as the conditions became their master and scores of 113.4 and 113.7 were only average for a day that offered much more. Bright won the I. Hughes trophy and Coghill, the J Porter trophy. The Secretary’s trophy begins next week at 800 yards followed by the final Club Championship range over 900 yards on 25th May with, maybe a regime change in both disciplines.
Scores  Â
G S Willis (F) 119.6 (3/4) 99 ¾
G P Willis (F) 113.7 (6 ½) 99 ¼
G Shepherd 94.06 (5) 99
J Coghill 90.04 (8 ½) 98 ½
G Bright 96.07 (1 ½) 97 ½
J Eppleston (F) 113.4 (2 ¼) 96
R Gibson 89.02 (6 ¼) 95 ¼
S Williams 92.08 (3) 95
D Lavelle 88.02 (6 ¼) 94 ¼
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