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Weekly Review 04/06/2011-11/06/2011
Posted on Jun 12, 2011
At 300 yards Graeme Bright had the only possible but there were some very close calls with Gordon Shepherd, Dennis Lavelle and Bright, in his second stage, all falling one short.
Bright took out the Cock of the Walk from a rapidly improving Shepherd with Williams, whose form has faltered a little of late, in third place. Lawrence Sim slipped at his second dig but managed to hold onto the B grade COW whilst Jeff Eppleston took out the F-class section with a pair of 58’s which included 8 super V’s.
Form has been a touch inconsistent of late with most shooters having mixed fortunes, week on week. Bright, Shepherd and Sim have shown steady improvement whilst Geoff Willis has been experiencing a low period.
The 500-yard range changed all that as Shepherd shot his first double possible for three years, and Willis claimed his first ever double possible, since taking up the F-class discipline. Both shooters took out their respective COW.
Shepherd’s improved form could be put down to familiarization of his new sights whilst Willis is certain the new barrel is his savior. Another improver is Sim who just missed his first possible but shot an excellent 49.07 second stage to win the B-grade COW.
Bright on the other hand changed his powder weight on peer advice, but found the change did not produce the required result, and will now revert to his original ammunition in an effort to regain his edge.
Lavelle is among others to prosper over the past weeks, and is slowly gaining confidence in his 5.56mm rifle. He is becoming very consistent and has almost eliminated the wayward shot. John Coghill on the other hand is starting the long learning curve associated with fitting a new barrel, sights and trigger and Ron Gibson is bemused by his inability to put two good stages together.
Jan Sibera is making slow progress since starting to use the bench gaining a couple of points each shoot. Grahame Willis is not producing the big scores but his consistency is keeping him among the top contenders for most of the trophies.
The F A Wilde Trophy concludes next week at 600 yards
SCORES:
300 yards:
G Shepherd 97.06 (4) 100
D Lavelle 96.10 (5 ¼) 100
G Bright 99.09 (1) 100
G P Willis (F) 112.5 (9 ¼) 99 ½
G S Willis (F) 111.5 (12 ½) 100
J Eppleston (F) 116.8 (1 ½) 98
S Williams 96.07 (1) 97
L Sim 90.05 (6 ½) 96 ½
R Gibson 82.05 (11 ½) 93 ½
T Halloran 68.03
E Willis (F) 102.2
L Moore-Gilbert (F) 71.0
500 yards:
G Shepherd 100.12 (1/2) 100
G S Willis (F) 120.14 (2 ¾) 100
L Sim 96.10 (5 ½) 100
G P Willis (F) 113.2 (6 ¾) 99 ¾
J Sibera (F) 108.4 (10 ½) 98 ¾
J Coghill 93.06 (5 ¾) 98 ¾
G Bright 98.05 (3/4) 98 ¾
D Lavelle 94.07 (4 ½) 98 ½
J Eppleston (F) 116.6 (2) 98 ¼
R Gibson 89.02 (8) 97
T O’Rourke 72.01 (20) 92
C Mills 40.01
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Weekly Review 28/05/2011
Posted on May 29, 2011
Newcomer Lawrence Sim, with barely the required number of shoots in just half a season of competitive shooting, took out the B grade Championship, and the days B grade COW, at the start of what promises to be strong future in the sport.
The weather was so good that almost everyone shot above their handicap and novices Liz Willis and Lindsay Moore-Gilbert had a good introduction to the sport at the difficult 900-yard range.
Bright took out the open Cock of the Walk with 100.11, the only shooter to attain the double possible, although Steve Williams and John Coghill both with 50.04 stages chased Bright all the way. Williams was finally bought undone when he was required to shoot in the gloom at the close of the day.
Brights’ new barrel came too late to allow him enough time to mount a serious challenge for the Championship but his form has improved markedly over the latter part of the season. Coghill, on the other hand finally accepted that his barrel was worn out, and with a new barrel, front sight, and trigger, shot his best score in over a year, narrowly missing the double possible
Dennis Lavelle is another who has shown improvement, and with quite a deal of development his .223 calibre rifle is progressing with each stage. Tim O’Rourke’s progress has been hampered by study and lack of practice, and despite a wild outer finish, the 42.02 showed his potential.
The Willis brothers again had a tight tussle, Geoff finally gaining ascendancy over Grahame with a 60.2 final stage possible. Jan Sibera has gradually raised his scores over recent weeks in spite of his health battles and the use of a bench seems to be helping in that regard.
Liz Willis, who has been chafing at the bit to start competitive shooting, showed natural ability with the rifle, and it is expected that she will develop into a very good target shooter.
Bright won the Secretary’s trophy on count-back, from Williams and Grahame Willis, with all shooters on the maximum 200 handicap points.
The F A Wilde Trophy commences next week at 300-yards
SCORES:
G Bright 100.11 (1/2) 100
J Coghill 99.06 (7 ¼) 100
G S Willis (F) 116.5 (12 ½) 100
G P Willis (F) 111.5 (13 ½) 100
D Lavelle 94.06 (7 ½) 100
J Eppleston (F) 118.8 (2 ½) 100
S Williams 99.06 (1 ¼) 100
L Sim 92.0 (7) 99
J Sibera (F) 106.3 (12) 98 ¼
T O’Rourke 71.02 (20) 91
E Willis (F) 96.1
L Moore-Gilbert (F) 37.0
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Weekly Review 21/05/2011
Posted on May 22, 2011
Steve Williams with a rifle he has not shot since his trip to Bisley, UK, several years ago and using two different projectiles in his bullets was able to hold off Graeme Bright, who has shed a little weight from his overweight rifle, in an exhibition of fullbore target shooting.
On a mild day with some cloud and little breeze the variation in light was about the only contentious issue fronting shooters. At 800-yards, the larger target offers some relief after the tight aiming marks of recent weeks. Williams and Bright seemed to appreciate the task as they went shot for shot over the two stages, little more than a centre bulls eye or three separating the pair.
At the end of the day just one centre bullseye separated the pair with both achieving double possibles. Williams clawed back a three centre first stage deficit to snatch the Cock of the Walk from Bright with a final stage 50.09, winning 100.13 to Bright's 100.12.
There were some other good performances but not in the same class as the top two. Gordon Shepherd started with a 49.04 but was disappointed with his 48.02 second stage whilst Dennis Lavelle showed continued improvement with his 5.56 calibre, shooting 49.05, before also slipping with a 47.01 second stage.
John Coghill hoping for some improvement with a new barrel shot 44.02, which included a magpie three. before discovering that both his rear sight and the block holding his front sight were loose. With both sights tight, a second stage 47.05 was at least some encouragement.
Ron Gibson had a steady day with a pair of 46’s whilst Lawrence Sim played around with ring sizes in his front sight much to his own detriment. One of the most difficult things to learn for new target shooters is the correct size rings, and these are specific to each individuals eyesight.
Grahame Willis dominated F-class with 111.4 but was not overly happy stringing together a run of five bulls eyes in a first stage 54.1, after getting out of touch with the small changes in the direction of the breeze and mirage. A second stage 57.3 was a better result.
Jan Sibera, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment, continues to amaze all at the club as he persists with his shooting. Sibera who is shooting off a bench at present, was pleased with his efforts of 50.2 and 54.1, his second stage free of inner fours. Geoff Willis was less than happy with his pair of 51.1’s after rushing through both stages in order to leave early
The Secretary’s Trophy concludes next week at 900-yards
SCORES:
S Williams 100.13 (0) 100
G Bright 100.12 (0) 100
G P Willis 111.4 (14 ½) 100
J Coghill 92.07 (7 ¼) 99 ¼
G Shepherd 97.06 (2 ¼) 99 ¼
J Sibera 104.3 (14 ¾) 99
R Gibson 92.05 (6 ¾) 98 ¾
D Lavelle 96.06 (2 ¾) 98 ¾
L Sim 88.05 (6 ¼) 94 ¼
G S Willis 102.2 (10 ¼) 93 ½
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Weekly Review 14/05/2011
Posted on May 15, 2011
The 600-yard range saw the killer blow delivered by both shooters and whilst Eppleston elected to go fishing this weekend, Williams consolidated his place in the records with another Cock of the Walk performance at 700 yards.
Williams’s performance at 600 yards in relatively mild conditions was superb, his 100.15 including a 50.09, missing the perfect possible by millimeters. Eppleston likewise, had a big 117.13 with a 59.06 second stage as he added his name to the F class Champions Cup for the fifth time and maintained his monopoly of the trophy.
The main challengers Graeme Bright, Gordon Shepherd and the Willis brothers (F-class) were no match for the top two. Lawrence Sim took out B grade at both ranges although he learnt a lesson in concentration when he moved the sight the wrong way, not once but twice, and wound himself out of the bulls eye. Switching rifles and disciplines involves using sights with different operating parameters and can become quite confusing.
Williams 700 yards was not without error but his consistency was too much for the competition and his pair of 49’s won the day. Graeme Bright tried to atone for his slipup last week with a 50.03 first stage possible but again he stumbled dropping three points for a disappointing second stage 47.03, although it must be admitted, the weather was not conducive to high scoring, with a strong south westerly gusting over the range.
Grahame Willis had it all over his brother Geoff at both ranges as he redeemed a 2-point deficit at 600 to come home strongly with a 59.5, winning by 2 points, and consolidated his 700-yard first stage lead with a 57.3 second stage, to win easily and take the F-class COW.
Grahame Willis won the L Williams cup by 1-½ points from Williams, Bright the I Hughes Trophy by ¼ of a point also from Williams, and Ron Gibson won the J Porter trophy by ¼ of a point from Sim.
The Secretary’s Trophy commences next week at 800-yards
600-yard SCORES:
S Williams 100.15 (0) 100
J Eppleston 117.13 (6) 100
G S Willis 109.2 (13 ¾) 100
D Lavelle 95.08 (6) 100
G P Willis 111.7 (10 ¾) 100
G Bright 96.07 (3 ¾) 99 ¾
G Shepherd 96.07 (3) 99
L Sim 86.0 (5 ¾) 91 ¾
700-yard SCORES:
G P Willis 110.5 (14) 100
R Gibson 89.03 (13 ½) 100
G Bright 97.06 (3 ½) 100
S Williams 98.07 (1 ¾) 99 ¾
G Shepherd 93.03 (5 ½) 98 ½
L Sim 92.03 (6 ¼) 98 ¼
D Lavelle 86.05 (12 ¼) 98 ¼
G S Willis 97.0 (16) 94 ¼
M Willis 99.1(F)
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Weekly Review 30/04/2011
Posted on May 01, 2011
Williams shot with purpose, seemingly determined to show his disappointing shoot at 900 yards was a one-off occurrence. Stages of 50.05 and 50.06 put the Cock of the Walk firmly in his grasp with a three shot margin over his nearest rival, a much improved and relieved Gordon Shepherd.
After the travails of his last shoot Shepherd kept his first stage in the black and mostly in the bulls eye for a 47.03 and then iced the cake with a 50.05 possible, his first for three months.
Graeme Bright with a pair of 48’s for 96.10 and Lawrence Sim with 95.05, his best score since switching from F class, were the next in line. Sim in particular is improving with every shoot and took out the B grade COW with a score topping some of the A grade competitors.
Dennis Lavelle with 93.06 and John Coghill 91.05 were not as competent although Lavelle is coming to grips with his change to 5.56mm from the larger 7.62mm calibre and his groups are tightening.
Jake Miles put together a solid 83.02 in only his second shoot this year and Jason Bemrose settled for a quick stage of 44.01. Clint Mills did likewise, for a 39.01.
Jeff Eppleston stamped his authority in F class with an opening stage of 60.2 to grab the fourth possible of the day. Although unable to repeat that shoot, a 58.2 was more than enough to secure the F class COW. Grahame Willis kept in touch with Eppleston with a first stage 58.1 but fell away with a 54.1 second stage. Aaron Smith again shot off the rest for a credible 47.3.
Eppleston won the Captains Trophy, which was decided before the break, with a three-point margin over Shepherd.
The L Williams Cup will conclude on 7th May at 600 yards.
SCORES:
S Williams 100.11 (0) 100
L Sim 65.05 (5 ¾) 100
G P Willis 112.2 (8 ½) 100
D Lavelle 93.06 (7 ¼) 100
J Coghill 91.05 (8 ¾) 99 ¾
J Eppleston 118.4 (1 ¾) 99 ¾
G Shepherd 97.08 (1 ½) 98 ½
G Bright 96.10 (1 ½) 97 ½
J Miles 83.02
J Bemrose 44.01
C Mills 39.01
A Smith (F) 47.3
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