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Weekly Review 12/03/2011
Posted on Mar 13, 2011
John Coghill, although a long way off his best, showed some light at the end of the tunnel with an improved 47.04 after a 46.0 first stage. A major change in front sight, ring sizes, may bring about permanent change. Dennis Lavelle reintroduced his 5.56mm rifle with limited success as scores of 46.02 and 45.01 attest.
B grade was an Adam Parkinson benefit as he blitzed the competition with a pair of 48’s to continue his run of six wins from seven shoots this year. Parkinson in fact finished second overall on the day. Lawrence Sim who recently changed from F-class to target rifle is showing rapid improvement in wind reading and shooting technique. A pair of 46’s was his best result of three outings to date.
Ron Gibson whose appearances on the mound have been somewhat sporadic this year showed some improvement over the day and his final stage of 46.02 was up there with his better results of recent times. Clint Mills and Aaron Smith who have both been shooting off the rest, tried target rifle with varying results. Mills, using the better of the two club rifles, shot a 40.0, and after a slow start his group size shrunk considerably. Smith on the other hand found the “old banger†a little hard to handle, but still managed to keep all shots on the paper.
F-class continued the trend with Club Champion Jeff Eppleston having an easy win. Just the one dropped shot in a first stage 59.02 set up the win and although his 4 super V’s was low compared to his competitors totals, consistency won the day bringing his seasons tally to nine wins from twelve starts.
Geoff Willis pipped Grahame Willis, whose last shot inner four proved very costly. The two points dropped on that last shot had the pair separated by just one point, Geoff winning 114.9 to 113.9. Little separates the brothers and the experience of his early years of target rifle has Geoff just ahead in the bragging stakes at this time.
A third Willis is close to making an appearance as Elizabeth Willis daughter of Grahame is about make her F-class debut in coming weeks.
The Cutler Cup concludes next week at the third of four Club Championship ranges over 600 yards. A large contingent of Bathurst Rifle Club members are intending to converge on Lyndhurst for their Annual Open Prize Meeting next weekend bleeding numbers from the local competition.
SCORES:
A Parkinson 96.08 (8) 100
G S Willis 114.9 (8) 100
G P Willis 113.9 (8 ½) 100
J Coghill 93.04 (8) 100
J Eppleston 117.4 (2) 99 ¼
R Gibson 91.02 (7 ¾) 98 ¾
S Williams 98.09 (1) 98 ¼
D Lavelle 91.04 (7) 98
G Bright 96.05 (1) 97
L Sim 92.03
C Mills 40.0
A Smith 29.0
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Weekly Review 05/03/2011
Posted on Mar 06, 2011
There was some very close contests in all grades, the highlight being the A grade tussle between Graeme Bright, Steve Williams and Gordon Shepherd.
Bright, after a moderate first stage 47.04 fell two points behind Williams who started with a 49.05. A second stage 48.04 by Williams seemed to seal his win, with Bright required to shoot an unlikely possible. With his new barrel performing miracles Bright achieved a huge 50.07 to snatch the COW by just two centre bulls eyes.
The enigma on the day was Shepherd who blasted the centre bull for a 12-V count, but dropped 5 points in two shots. A magpie three in his first stage was topped by a wild outer two in his second, his only other blemish being a narrow inner four. John Coghill stayed on the right target for once and showed some improvement over recent performances, breaking 90 for the first time in weeks.
B Grade proved just as close Jason Bemrose and Ron Gibson returning after an absence to put some pressure on Adam Parkinson. Gibson started the best of the trio with 46.01 and Bemrose matched Parkinsons' 45.04. However a second stage meltdown by Gibson (42.01), and Bemroses’ inability to raise the stakes, allowed Parkinson some breathing space and he cruised to a two point win despite a magpie three on his last shot. Lawrence Sim continued his conversion to target rifle with a solid 82.03
F-class was a battle between the Willis brothers with Geoff grabbing a small advantage late in the first stage and maintaining that advantage over Grahame for the remainder of the day. Jan Sibera had a tough day at the office.
The number of novice and new shooters proved a handful, with a swapping of rifles and other equipment, and changes in the disciplines undertaken. Jake Miles persevering with the club rifle off a rest and minus the sling and Tim O’Rourke with the sling on the club rifle and no rest, gained valuable practice and experience.
Aaron Smith borrowed a Willis firearm with telescope after using the club rifle off the rest, and made a huge jump on his scorecard whilst Clint Mills tried a scoped rifle with an excellent 55.1, and a target rifle with a predictable result.
The Cutler Cup continues next week at 500 yards.
SCORES:
G S Willis 114.8 (9 ¾) 100
G Shepherd 94.12 (7) 100
J Bemrose 90.03 (11 ¼) 100
G P Willis 111.4 (9 ½) 100
J Coghill 91.04 (9 ¼) 100
G Bright 97.11 (2 ½) 99 ½
A Parkinson 92.08 (7 ¼) 99 ¼
S Williams 97.09 (1/2) 97 ½
R Gibson 88.02 (7 ¾) 95 ¾
J Sibera 92.2 (20) 93 ½
L Sim 82.03
T O’Rourke 67.01
C Mills (TR) 33.0
A Smith (F) 103.4
J Miles (F) 76.0
C Mills (F) 55.1
D Lavelle (.303) 30.01
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Weekly Review 26/02/2011
Posted on Feb 27, 2011
The two strong performers were the top seeds, Steve Williams and Graeme Bright, just one point separating then after the first stage. The installation of a new barrel in Brights' rifle seemed to overcome the elevation problems of recent times and despite the rough conditions he put together the best stage of the day a 49.07. This was however not enough to derail Williams who despite a dearth of centres held onto his first stage advantage to win the Cock Of the Walk by that one point.
There were no heroics by any of the other shooters as one by one they had their shots scattered around the target by the invisible force. Jeff Eppleston was perhaps the next best shooter on the range and despite a disappointing 54.1 first stage finished with a 58.3 to win the F-class COW from Geoff Willis who was at best consistent with a pair of 55’s.
To compound the problems for shooters the wind reversed its earlier turnaround to return to its northerly origins. As in the first stage wind strength increased as it passed through the westerly quarter.
Some competitors had a little redemption as the conditions moderated later in the day, the biggest improver being Adam Parkinson, who after a horror 33.0, put together a good 47.04 second stage, spoiled somewhat, by a late magpie. Dennis Lavelle and tyro Lawrence Sim had identical score lines, both coming from 40.01 first stages, to much more satisfying 47.02’s.
Gordon Shepherd battled hard in the difficult first stage with a centreless 48.0 and then faltered in the seemingly milder weather for a 45.02. John Coghill continued his comedy routine of last week by shooting the wrong target, this time not once, but twice, in a pretty inept performance. Grahame Willis also fell foul of the shooting gods as magpies accumulated on his scorecard with unwanted regularity.
It seemed almost unfair testing the newcomers Jake Miles, Tim O’Rourke and Aaron Smith against the tyranny of wind, light and the difficult 900-yard range while contending with unfamiliar equipment. Despite the occasional miss most shots found the target. It was a lesson well learned and a return to the short ranges next week will be a blessing. The third round of the Club Championship commences on Saturday 5th March with the first range of the W Cutler Cup at 300 yards
Geoff Willis won both the J Wilde Memorial and K Redding Trophies.
SCORES:
J Eppleston 112.4 (12 ½) 100
G S Willis 110.1 (14)
D Lavelle 87.03 (17 ¾) 100
G Shepherd 93.02 (7) 100
S Williams 96.05 (2 ¾) 98 ¾
G Bright 95.11 (2 ½) 97 ½
J Coghill 81.05 (15) 96
G P Willis 101.1 (13 ¾) 95 ¾
A Parkinson 80.04 (10 ¼) 90 ¼
L Sim 87.03
T O’Rourke 42.0
J Miles 57.0
A Smith 37.0
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Weekly Review 19/02/2011
Posted on Feb 20, 2011
Whilst no one totally mastered the conditions Graeme Bright fared best and turned the tables on Club Champion Steve Williams with a one point win in the days Cock of the Walk. Bright sealed his win with a final stage 49.04 the best for the target shooters on the day.
Gordon Shepherd slipped in a 49.03 but it was a waste of effort as his miss in the first stage consigned him to a mid field finish. Dennis Lavelle started both stages in a blaze of glory, saving all four sighters with centre bulls eyes, but his finishes seemed to indicate the onset of fatigue. A 91.08 was however just enough to grab third spot. Adam Parkinson took out the B grade section with a 91.04 and John Coghill after a late switch of targets looked headed for bronze until he took the change literally and fired on the wrong target.
Tim O’Rourke, one of a group on new shooters, dispensed with the rest and tried fullbore, full on. His 38.02, was an excellent debut on a difficult day at long range. Lawrence Sim also switched with one stage at F class and one at target shooting with the aim of gaining more experience at wind reading.
F class saw a monumental struggle for honours with Geoff Willis grabbing the top spot from Club Champion Jeff Eppleston after both had troubled 53’s in the first stage. Eppleston seemed to seal the win with a second stage 59.4, but not to be outdone, Willis slotted home the only possible of the day, a 60.5, to steal the win by a single point, 113.7 to 112.4. Graeme Willis and Jan Sibera were a little overwhelmed and finished midfield but Aaron Smith shot an excellent 50.1 without the aid of a telescope. Clint Mills also without the scope found the going tough and struggled with the conditions.
The second round of the Club Championship concludes next week with the 900-yard last range of the J Wilde Memorial Trophy and the K Redding 8/900 yard trophy.
SCORES:
G S Willis 113.7 (9 ¾) 100
A Parkinson 91.04 (8) 99
G Bright 97.07 (1/2) 97 ½
D Lavelle 91.08 (6 ½) 97 ½
J Coghill 89.02 (8 ¼) 97 ¼
J Eppleston 112.4 (3 ¾) 96 ½
S Williams 96.09 (0) 96
G Shepherd 91.07 (2 ½) 93 ½
G P Willis 95.1 (14 ½) 91 ¼
J Sibera 87.1 (17) 86 ¾
L Sim (T) 42.0
L Sim (F) 50.1
T O’Rourke (T) 38.02
C Mills (F) 37.1
A Smith (F) 50.1
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Weekly Review 29/01/2011
Posted on Jan 30, 2011
On the local front the quest for club championship points was very tight. A bright sunny day produced a mirage which moved from side to side with such rapidity that it was impossible to keep up with. The target possible was never threatened with changes of three or more windage points necessary after each shot, and the scores underlined that fact. Steve Williams just held out Graeme Bright and Gordon Shepherd despite a 46.04 second stage which included a double inner finish. Both Bright and Shepherd had horror first stages but fought back well with 48.03 and 48.02 respectively, only one point finally separating each shooter. Dennis Lavelle was consistent without threatening but Ron Gibson and John Coghill were never in the hunt.
F-class was even tighter with Lawrence Sim and Geoff Willis laying it down to Eppleston, and only two super V’s separated Eppleston from Sim, with Willis one point in arrears. Eppleston after a fine 57.5 in the difficult conditions, crashed to a 50.0 second stage, but Sim also lost ground and Willis could not improve on his earlier 53.2. Grahame Willis was a little off form on the day and did not pose a serious threat, as with Jan Sibera who is gaining consistency but needs more practice with the telescope discipline after many years and many trophies won in the full bore division
Clint Mills, Tim O’Rourke and Aaron Smith have all shown an interest in the competitive side of rifle shooting and have taken some familiarization shoots with club supplied gear and at this stage with full side-by-side coaching.
The range will close for two weeks to allow the Bathurst 12 hour motor race and the Bathurst Gun Clubs’ Top Gun event to be conducted. The J Wilde Memorial Trophy will continue on the 19th February.
SCORES:
G S Willis 106.3 (14 ¾) 100
D Lavelle 90.04 (10 ½) 100
J Eppleston 107.5 (12 ¼) 99 ½
G Shepherd 93.05 (5 ¼) 98 ¼
L Sim 107.2 (10 ¼) 97 ¾
R Gibson 87.02 (9 ¼) 96 ¼
J Coghill 85.02 (10 ¾) 95 ¾
S Williams 94.07 (1/4) 94 ¼
G Bright 92.03 (2) 94
G P Willis 101.0 (9 ½) 92
J Sibera 93.0 (17) 91 ¾
C Mills 41.1
T O’Rourke 37.0
A Smith 33.0
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