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Bathurst Rifle Club Inc 1st November 2014 the Diggers and George James Cups 300yards 

          Two of the oldest trophies contested annually in Bathurst Rifle Club competition, are on the line over the next six weeks. The Diggers Cup, an off-rifle event first presented in 1933, and the George James Cup, a handicap event first presented in the 1947-48 season will proceed over two rounds each at 300, 500, and 600 yards, the best score at each of the three ranges being totaled to determine the winner. 

          It is fortunate that the worst score at each range can be eliminated as conditions on Saturday were nothing short of impossible with a strong gusty north wind alternating between directly up-range to square right wind. The ferocious breeze did not let up until the very end of the day and it was virtuously impossible to hold the rifle steady with the fierce buffeting experienced by all shooters on the mound. 

          F-class shooters at least had the advantage of a front rest but the wind played havoc with the bullet trajectory. Jeff Eppleston handled the conditions best with a pair of 57s the latter with 6 super Vs. Grahame Willis however left himself too big a task after shooting a 55.2 first stage and despite coming home with a rush fell 2 Super Vs short of Epplestons' Cock of the Walk winning total. Geoff Willis was steady, but just average, with a 55.3 and 56.3 for 111.5. 

          The target rifle group had the worst of the day but it was a single stage by Dennis Lavelle that really caught the eye. Lavelle built on outer two, magpie three sighters to compile an excellent 48.1 in the worst of the conditions. A second stage meltdown did not prevent him from winning the B grade COW. Gordon Shepherd battled through the tough conditions to record a pair of 46s to win the A- grade COW, which bodes well for his upcoming season. John Coghill's season started as the last one finished, with rifle problems of his own making. After a fractured 39.0 first stage he managed to at least take advantage of the only quiet period of the day with a 48.01. Graeme Bright did not even have that satisfaction as he blew away in the strong wind. After starting each stage with a centre bullseye, outers, magpies and inners became the dominant numbers on his card. 

          The Two cups move on to the 500 mound for round two next week. 

Scores:
G S Willis (FSA) 111.6 (6 ¾) 98 ¼
G P Willis (FSA) 114.5 (2 ¾) 97 ¼
J Eppleston (FSA) 114.7 (2) 96 ¾
D Lavelle (TRB) 89.03 7 ¾) 96 ¾
G Shepherd (TRA) 92.06 (4 ½) 96 ½
J Coghill (TRB) 87.01 (8 ¾) 95 ¾
G Bright (TRA) 79.01 (2) 81