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Bathurst Rifle Club Inc 11th June 2016 F A Wilde Trophy, 600yards

             Winter has arrived and the exposed shooting mound at the rifle range was not an ideal place to spend a Saturday afternoon. Although there were periods of bright sunshine the cold west-south westerly wind took away any benefit of the suns warmth. To add to that, intermittent cloud cover further reduced whatever heat there was in the day.

             The gusting breeze did enough to catch all shooters out and points were dropped on a regular basis. Ron Gibson was the first stage standout and shooting in bright sunshine he showed the way for all to follow with a good steady 48.04. Gordon Shepherd and Graeme Bright were not far behind with 47.03 a piece but John Coghill struggled for just 45.02.

             The F-class group which included visitors from West Wallsend Rifle Club did not have it any better, all dropping regular points. Geoff Willis shot first, and promptly left for work, setting a target of 56.3 which became the top stage of the first round. Peter Duncan, from Gosford, was just two super centres behind with Ken Eppleston, another visitor, shooting 55.1 to tie with his brother Jeff Eppleston. Grahame Willis’s rifle troubles continued as he cobbled together a 54.2 and Ben Wright (51.1) never really got going.

             The second stage was dogged by varying sunshine and overcast conditions which affected sighting. Bright appreciated the duller light and completed the only possible of the day a 50.05. Shepherd should have followed suit but he dropped two points for 48.05 and Coghill pulled it together a little for 47.04. Gibsons' liking for the bright sunshine was destroyed with the overcast conditions and his challenge disappeared in the dim light.

             Duncan showed up the locals with the days’ best F-class stage of 59.3. Jeff Eppleston fell short of overhauling Duncan scoring just 58.5 as Grahame Willis (56.4) and Ben Wright (54.1)set about regaining some confidence. Ken Eppleston found the dull conditions late in the day not to his liking and struggled to 53.2.

             Bright won the A grade Cock of the Walk, Coghill the B grade after Gibson disappeared in the afternoon gloom whilst Duncan knocked out the local contingent led by Jeff Eppleston. Coghill won the F A Wilde Trophy, one of only two shooters to complete all ranges.

             Next week will be the start of the three-range C R Kelly Cup at 700 yards.

Scores: 

J Coghill TRB 92.06 (8 ¼) 100

R Gibson TRB 92.04 (7 ¼) 99 ¼

G Shepherd TRA 95.08 (3 ¾) 98 ¾

G Bright TRA 97.08 (1 ¼) 98 ¼

J Eppleston FSA 113.6 (4 ¾) 98 ¼

G P Willis FSA 110.6 (6 ¼) 96 ¾

B Wright FSB 105.2 (8) 94 ¼

P Duncan (West Wallsend) FSA 115.4

K Eppleston (West Wallsend) FSA 108.3

G S Willis FSA 56.3