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Weekly Review 16/04/2011
Posted on Apr 18, 2011
A bizarre second stage by Gordon Shepherd followed a steady but unspectacular first stage 46.03. With seven shots on, Shepherd had not dropped a point, but an inner four followed a wild outer two, and, to complete the comedy of errors he put his last shot on the wrong target.
Dennis Lavelle started very slowly and was out of contention early with a 43.03 but as with his recent shoots, his second stage was a much-improved 46.02
B grade saw the continuance of Lawrence Sims’ rise as he took out the COW. Tim O’Rourke and Clint Mills both showed glimpses of their ability but the lack of their own rifles and shooting equipment appears to be holding them back. Aaron Smith used a borrowed F class rifle with good effect scoring a competitive 52.1.
F class was a no contest as Geoff Willis shot perhaps his worst ever stage with only magpies, inners, and a lonely super V to show for his effort. Eppleston now appears to have consolidated his grip on the 2011 F-class Championship cup with a steady 110.5 performance.
The Victorian Queens was quite a successful one for Williams as he finished ninth in the Queens and 5th in the Grand Aggregate after being near the top of the leader board with John Baxter (Lithgow) with one range to complete. The 1000 metre final stage proved a step to far as the conditions were very trying and caught out many competitors. Baxter finished 8th just ahead of Williams in what were excellent performances.
Bright was caught out in another bizarre way when his rifle was found to be 150 gram overweight and he had all points deducted for that range. On appeal he had most of the points reinstated, losing just 5, but that slipup cost him a Queens badge. The cause of the miscalculation was found to be the new barrel Bright had fitted before he left for Victoria, which, unbeknown to him was of a much heavier profile. Bright completed his Queens with duct tape and foam in place of the usual stock accoutrements.
The L Williams Cup will recommence on the 30th April at 500 yards the range being closed over Easter for motor racing
SCORES:
D Lavelle 89.05 (18 ½) 100
G Bright 98.10 (2 ½) 100
J Eppleston 110.5 (11 ¼) 100
S Williams 96.09 (3) 99
G Shepherd 87.04 (9 ½) 96 ½
L Sim 88.01 (7 ½) 95 ½
J Sibera 97.0 (17 ½) 92 ¾
G S Willis 95.3 (15 ¼6) 92
T O’Rourke 59.02 (20) 79
C Mills (T) 67.01
A Smith (F) 52.1
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Weekly Review 09/04/2011
Posted on Apr 11, 2011
Gordon Shepherd was the leading contender on the day and duly lived up to that ranking but not before some anxious moments. After a first stage best of 49.04, one shot ahead of John Coghill and Lawrence Sim, Shepherd only needed a steady second stage to take out the days’ Cock Of the Walk. He looked quite safe until he suffered a split case, blowing smoke and fumes back into his face. The unsettling experience induced a last shot flinch which resulted in a wild magpie three and a gettable 96.08 final score.
Sim started in pursuit of Shepherd in great fashion but fell apart in mid stage with four inner fours in succession, before finishing on a bulls eye, two points off the pace. Coghill by contrast blew his chances right at the beginning of his second stage with two inners after two inner four sighters. The task of getting 7 centre bulls eyes in the remaining 8 shots proved well beyond him and Shepherd pocketed the COW by a five, centre bulls eye margin.
Jason Bemrose whose work commitments restrict his appearances was another to show good form but a couple of late second stage magpie threes brought him undone.
Grahame Willis took on the task of unseating Jeff Eppleston and applied the pressure right from the start. A first stage 59.4 spoiled only by a last shot bulls eye set up his challenge. Eppleston replied with 58.4 before Willis almost went to pieces midstage with an inner four amongst a scattering of bulls eyes. Eppleston despite commenting on the almost total lack of wind fumbled his chance and could do no better than Willis’s 54/60. The resulting COW win was the fifth for Willis this year.
Jan Sibera, just out of hospital after a set back in his cancer treatment, is an inspiration to all around him and he had his best shoot since January, matching both Willis and Eppleston with a last stage 55.3.
Clint Mills, Tim O’Rourke and Aaron Smith continued their full bore education with Mills enjoying a good 40.01 and identifying a problem with his trigger technique. O’Rourke and Smith did not have the same success after switching from the use of a rest.
Late news from Victoria had Steve Williams placing 12th in the “Symeâ€, the lead up event to the Queens.
Next week is the third 900-yard range of the Club Championship and the conclusion of the Captains Trophy
SCORES:
G P Willis 114.8 (14) 100
J Coghill 96.03 (6 ¾) 100
G Shepherd 96.08 (5 ½) 100
L Sim 94.03 (7 ¾) 100
J Bemrose 91.03 (9 ½) 100
J Sibera 102.4 (17 ¾) 99 ¾
J Eppleston 113.6 (6 ¼) 99 ½
C Mills 40.01
T O’Rourke 22.0
A Smith 22.0
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Weekly Review 02/04/2011
Posted on Apr 03, 2011
Although the difference was only one point, in each case they were able to make marginal gains, and with 4 rounds left, two of which are the long and difficult 900-yard range, the task of bridging the nine shot gaps confronting each shooter, is not insurmountable.
Steve Williams scored the only 50/50 on the day but was unable to repeat the feat falling to a miserable (for him) 46.0, second stage. Graeme Bright whilst not able to match William’s first stage, none-the-less stuck to the task, shooting a 49.04 and a 48.04, his consistency winning the COW for the second week running.
Geoff Willis also took it up to Jeff Eppleston whose dominance of the F-class discipline has been absolute for the past three years. Pipping Eppleston by one super V in the first stage, Willis backed his 57.4 with a 57.3 second stage as Eppleston faltered early. Despite a strong finish with three super V’s Eppleston was left one point and one super V off the pace.
Ron Gibson whose form has been variable of late took out the B grade COW with an excellent 48.03 after a moderate 45.02, first stage. Gordon Shepherd had a wicked low shot almost dropping off the target in a 43.02 stage but at least he had the satisfaction of a 49.03 second stage.
John Coghill, shooting with a borrowed rifle, struck extractor problems and had to retire early. Returning to the mound his returns were hardly exciting with a pair of 45’s the best he could muster, but at least he avoided the dreaded magpie. Tim O’Rourke continued his introduction to target shooting with a strong, two centre bulls eye start, but fatigue probably contributed to a drop off in his scores as he put together a 62.03.
Grahame Willis has had a minor form slump but is now taking chunks out of his handicap as he tries for consistency. A pair of 54’s was the result of a much-improved grouping.
Aaron Smith still debating whether to go target rifle or F-class, performed quite well in both with stages of 56.3 in F-class and 35.01 in target rifle, F-class emerging as the likely choice.
The program reverts back to the original dates for the Captains Trophy of 9th April (800 yards) and 16th April (900 yards)
SCORES:
GS Willis 114.7 (8) 100
R Gibson 93.06 (8) 100
J Coghill 90.02 (10 ¼) 100
G Bright 97.08 (2 ¼) 99 ¼
G P Willis 108.1 (10 ½) 98 ¾
G Shepherd 92.05 (6 ½) 98 ½
J Eppleston 113.6 (4) 97 ½
S Williams 96.04 (1 ¼) 97 ¼
L Sim 85.05 (8 ¼) 93 ¼
T O’Rourke 62.03
A Smith (F) 56.3
A Smith (T) 35.01
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Weekly Review 26/03/2011
Posted on Mar 27, 2011
The Championship protagonists Steve Williams and Graeme Bright fought out a close contest with Bright setting up the Cock Of the Walk win with a 49.03and following up with a 47.04. Williams battled hard after a 47.03 first stage left him precariously placed and despite an eight-centre bulls eye second stage the dreaded mirage did its work. Needing a 49+ to take the day, consecutive inner fours either side of the bulls eye was testament to the difficult conditions. Brights' win keeps him in the hunt to dethrone Williams for the 2011 Club Championship.
Gordon Shepherd fell foul of the conditions with two doubles, a pair of magpie threes in his first stage, and a pair of inner fours in his second. His 48.06-second stage was a satisfying improvement over his first stage 44.01.
Dennis Lavelle was consistent and avoided any major errors with a pair of 45’s and Lawrence Sim continued his rise up the points table with an 88.06 to take out the B grade COW. John Coghill and Ron Gibson both had horror second stages with magpie threes being the dominant score. In each case their moderate first stages showed no inkling of what was to come and the conditions were only partly to blame for their huge fadeouts.
Clint Mills had his first double stage of full-bore target rifle, sling, coat and all the gear, with excellent results. The first stage 37.02 showed promise, which was realized in his second stage, as he finished in or close to the bulls-eye on his last seven shots scoring 42.01. Aaron Smith continued his trials with and without the rest as he contemplates which discipline to follow.
Geoff Willis threw down the gauntlet to Club Champ Jeff Eppleston with an easy win in the F-class COW. Both shooters had trouble with their first stages although Willis avoided the inner four ring, which Eppleston visited on too many occasions. Willis improved significantly over the day from 52 to 57 but Epplestons' improvement was only marginal, 49 to 53.
The Bathurst contingent at the recent Lyndhurst OPM performed unspectacularly except for Adam Parkinson who, although disappointed in his shooting, won the second day C grade title taking out all three ranges and the aggregate.
Geoff Willis won the K Redding Trophy on count back from Lavelle, both attaining the maximum handicap points. A change in program will see the L Williams Cup commence in conjunction with the last of the 300-yard Championship ranges next Saturday 2nd April.
SCORES:
GS Willis 109.3 (13 ½) 100
D Lavelle 90.01 (11 ¼) 100
G Bright 96.07 (3 ½) 99 ½
G Shepherd 92.07 (9) 99
J Coghill 87.05 (11 ¾) 98 ¾
S Williams 95.11 (2 ¾) 97 ¾
J Eppleston 102.0 (14 ¼) 97
L Sim 88.06 (8 ¼) 96 ¼
R Gibson 82.01 (13) 95
C Mills 79.03
A Smith (T) 27.0
A Smith (F) 40.0
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Weekly Review 19/03/2011
Posted on Mar 26, 2011
Scoring however was not as easy as it appeared and one by one shooters left the mound disappointed. Gordon Shepherd did not display his usual degree of control as he dropped shots at regular intervals, and, as has become common in recent months finished both stages with inner fours. Shepherd set a lowly 94.05 target, which appeared eminently achievable for his competitors.
John Coghill was the only happy camper as he compiled the days best stage a 49.03 but he soon came down to earth with a thud as his second stage, which started with a centre bulls eye and ended in a magpie three, disintegrated. The 43.02, was a total reversal of his first stage form and he threw away the Cock of the walk which was for the taking.
Another who dropped the ball was Adam Parkinson whose first stage 47.03 was destroyed by an inner four, magpie finish. Still well in the running for the COW, a mid stage collapse saw his challenge disappear with a 44.02 score. An inspection revealed a worn rear sight, which may explain his wild shots of late.
Dennis Lavelle is slowly regaining his form and confidence with the 5.56mm rifle he has recently rebuilt. A pair of 46.02’s could have been so much better but for the run of inners late in both stages.
Ron Gibson continued the trend of a second stage crash as he too missed the chance to top the day. A 46.03 first stage kept him in contention but the second stage 44.02 continued the disappointment. Gibson started both stages with a string of inners before finishing both with a run of centre bulls eyes for a very strange looking scorecard.
Lawrence Sim followed the trend of second stage fadeouts after a good 45.03 first stage in only his fourth target rifle match. Sims’ second stage was cruelled by two magpie threes and a triple inner finish.
Jan Sibera battling a serious illness showed great courage to complete two stages of prone F-class shooting but he too had a second stage fadeout. His task was made a little easier with the 5.56 cal rifle but the bench may be the go for future shoots.
The day ended with Shepherd, Parkinson and Sibera taking out their respective grades and Coghill winning the W Cutler Cup with 300 from Parkinson on 299 ¼.
The K Redding trophy and the third 700-yard championship round will be held next Saturday 26th March
SCORES:
J Coghill 92.05 (10 ¾) 100
R Gibson 90.05 (12 ½) 100
A Parkinson 91.03 (9) 100
D Lavelle 92.04 (6 ¾) 98 ¾
G Shepherd 94.05 (4 ½) 98 ½
J Sibera 95.1 (20) 95 ¾
L Sim 87.04 (8 ½) 95 ½
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