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Bathurst Rifle Club Inc 6th December 2014 the Diggers and George James Cups 600yards 

          For the second week in a row rain interfered with the shoot and as a result the day was declared incomplete as four shooters failed to start their second stages. The same storm front that disrupted the motor race in Sydney had hit Bathurst two hours earlier with strong westerly winds and driving rain forcing shooters to run for cover. 

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          The early part of the shoot was conducted in soaking showers and light winds. Scores were mid range with Jeff Eppleston the exception, shooting an excellent 60.4 possible. Graeme Bright posted a moderate 48.02 and it was sufficient to hold off the remainder of the target rifle group with Nick Cock producing a 47.06, John Coghill 47.04, Gordon Shepherd 47.03 and Ron Gibson and Dennis Lavelle following on with 46.03 and 45.0 respectively. 

          Geoff Willis dropped two early shots but held it together for a 58.3 and Grahame Willis followed his brothers' early example but then failed to consolidate dropping two further points for a 56.4. The second stage started in dry conditions but the horizon was shrouded in a very dark threatening storm. Gibson and the Willis brothers got their shoots away in the mild, dry conditions, Geoff Willis shooting 59.3, Gibson a repeat 46 with four centre bulls eyes and Grahame Willis in trouble with a 54.1. 

          Cock and Bright no sooner arrived at the mound than the front hit with an increasingly strong wind preceding the driving rain. Bright went from zero points, right wind to upwards of nine points in a matter of three shots, Cock did likewise the change totally unsettling both shooters. Bright did well to avoid anything worse than inner fours and finished with a 46.01 but Cock succumbed collecting a magpie three in his 45.0 

          With the rain bucketing down and the wind howling, shooting was suspended and almost immediately called off for the day. The cancellation of the shoot was devastating for most of the competitors as they needed a result to qualify for the Diggers and James Trophies. 

          As a consequence there were only three qualifiers, Coghill winning both trophies ahead of Lavelle. Next week is the W Northcott Memorial trophy and the first 700 yard range of the Club Championship. 

Scores:
G Bright TRA 94.03
N Cock TRA 92.06
R Gibson TRB 92.07
G S Willis FSA 117.6
G P Willis FSA 110.5
J Eppleston* FSA 60.4
J Coghill* TRB 47.04
G Shepherd* TRA 47.03
D Lavelle* TRB 45.0
(*Rained out)