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Bathurst Rifle Club Inc 6th August 2016 W & J Brown Shield, 800yards

            It’s the Queensland Rifle Association Queens Prize time again and the top Bathurst Rifle Club shooters have decamped and headed off to contest Club and District Rifle Association competitions and the Queens Prize this week. They left a shivering group of stay at home’s to contest the second round of the W & J Brown Shield at 800 yards.

           Early on in the shoot a gentle zephyr of a breeze wafted in from the north north-west barely moving the directional flags. It was a prime opportunity to take a bite out of the range that has bitten shooters so hard in recent weeks.

           And that they did with three “possibles” and other relatively good scores. Geoff Willis, with work commitments, shot his two stages before the first change of markers giving him the chance to plunder the conditions. He did just that with a 60.5 first stage but missed a golden opportunity to double up with a dropped shot spoiling a perfect shoot. Grahame Willis matched his brother with a 60.3 but shooting a second stage later in the day as a breeze sprang up dropped two points for 118.7.

           In target rifle Gordon Shepherd jumped out of a slump to collect a 50.05 first stage possible but he too dropped the ball with a second stage inner four to fall short of the double. Dennis Lavelle had one too many sighters and dropped a further point at the end of his first stage for a 48.03. He persevered however and finished on a high with a 49.02 second stage to easily win the B grade Cock of the Walk.

           Ron Gibson had a poor first stage but finished much more strongly although he was no match for the dominant Lavelle. John Coghill again put in a very poor shoot, his first stage 46.0 was notable for losing four points in his last five shots. His second stage was lamentable as he completely lost the rhythm of the breeze.

           Ben Wright returned after a short layoff to get his rifle barrel replaced and showed that was a good move, as a first stage 55.3 was followed by a stage of 58.1 in the breezier conditions. Colin Howell’s scores have plateaued although his two stages of 52.2 and 52.1 were perhaps held back by the club equipment he is using. A change of rest and rifle is in the wind.

           The rifle range will be closed next week to allow the Bathurst Clay Target Club to conduct a Beretta Demonstration on their range on Mount Panorama on Friday 12th and Saturday 13 August. The W & J Brown Shield will conclude on the 20th August at 900 yards. 

Scores: 
G Shepherd TRA 99.09 (2) 100
G S Willis FSA 119.11 (1 ½) 100
D Lavelle TRB 97.05 (3) 100
R Gibson TRB 91.04 (9) 100
B Wright FSB 113.4 (6) 99 ½
G P Willis FSA 118.7 (1/2) 98 ¾
J Coghill TRB 87.0 (11) 98
C Howell FSB 104.3