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Bathurst Rifle Club 4th July The C R Kelly 800 yards

            Saturdays’ 800-yard range of the C R Kelly cup was a cold and dark affair with the afternoon drizzle and gusty westerly wind adding to shooters misery. The weather, however, could not dampen the performances of Dennis Lavelle and Gordon Shepherd. 

           Lavelle has finally achieved his ambition of reaching club A-grade status. Since commencing full bore shooting in 2002, Lavelle has gone close to reaching the progressive handicap of less than two points needed to qualify for A grade and he achieved that feat on the weekend with a fine shoot of 98.07 topped of with a second stage possible 50.03. Lavelles’ last two months have been sensational.

           Gordon Shepherd also had a day out with a score of 99.05, topping the charts, his second consecutive 99 posing the possibility that a midseason travel break is good for steadying the hand and sharpening the eye.

           Of the others there were not so much good scores but some strange results. Jan Sibera who a couple of weeks ago could not buy a centre bullseye, bagged a 12-centre haul with stages of 46.06 and 48.06. His first stage started with a magpie and finished with 2 inner fours, book ending a run of 6 straight centres. 

           Ron Gibson and John Coghill were unable to breach the 47 barrier and finished with like, 94.06 scores. Keith Redding was under pressure all day; the poor light his greatest handicap. Tim Halloran a shooter from the Junee rifle club who has relocated to Bathurst had his first tryout at the Bathurst range and although preferring F class tried full bore with good results. Stages of 38.02 and 44.02 were quite pleasing.

           Not so pleased was Geoff Willis who was all at sea in his first stage 48/60. A better second stage performance was spoiled somewhat by a 4 bull finish after a 6 centre start 

           Steve Williams travelled to Brisbane for the 2009 NRAA National Queens Prize Meeting but did not compete in the lead up events this year. Williams did however achieve a creditable, and satisfying, 23rd badge on a very wet Belmont rifle range

           Returning from Brisbane Williams won the right to represent the Blue Mountains District Rifle Association at the State titles with a hard fought victory over Lithgow’s Bernie Doohan. The match went to a shoot off after both shooters finished the four ranges on 199.21. Williams won the 5 shot shoot off over 900 yards, 25.05 to Doohan 25.03. Jeff Eppleston was off song in his F class event and was well beaten by Lithgow’s Dave Grayson. 

           The C R Kelly Cup concludes at 900 yards next week with Lavelle holding a ¼ point lead over Shepherd.

Scores: 
G Shepherd 99.05 (3/4) 99 ¾
D Lavelle 98.07 (1) 99
R Gibson 94.06 (2 ¾) 96 ¾
J Sibera 94.12 (2 1/) 96 ½
G Willis 104 (11 ¼) 96 ½
J Coghill 94.06 (2 ¼) 96 ¼
K Redding 79.0 (16) 95
T Halloran 82.04

by John Coghill