News

            Saturday saw another day of very difficult shooting conditions with everyone a little rusty after two weeks off due to motor racing and hot weather cancellations. Whilst still very warm the wind played the major role in defeating all who attempted to overcome the various challenges.

 

            Right from the first shot it was very apparent that it was going to be a nightmare trying to keep the fall of shot within the black aiming mark. And so it proved as shooter after shooter fell victim to rapid wind changes and were either blown out into the white or missed the change and were way over corrected and went into the white surrounds in the opposite direction.

 

            Although the score didn't show it Gordon Shepherd's first stage was an excellent shoot and set him up for the most number of centre bull's eyes on the day. Nick Cock and Dennis Lavelle were next best but they had the advantage of sitting back and watching the conditions as the shoot progressed. Both Graeme Bright and Steve Williams were caught out with big wind shifts as outer two's became an unwanted commodity rather an exception.

 

            F-class was a disaster for much of the day with the exception of Grahame Willis who redeemed some creditability for the group with a final stage 59.2, his only blemish a tight bull's eye five on his second last shot. Jeff Eppleston and Colin Howell struggled all day, Eppleston picking up 3 points over his first stage 50.0 but Howell had a quantum jump picking up 10 points over his lowly first stage 43.2.

 

            Even with the advantage of watching the wind all day scores did not improve much. Compounding the difficulty, the wind changed direction from north-west to south-west during the stage, coupled with a slight drop in temperature. As has come to be expected Cock put on another masterly display dropping just one point (and that on the last shot) for a 49.03. Bright stayed inside the inner 4 ring but Williams and Lavelle, taunted by several magpies flying across their line of sight, and even wandering up and along the mound to inspect the shooters, were finally intimidated enough for the inevitable magpie three to show on their scorecards.

 

            Next week will be the last range of the J Wilde Memorial Trophy and the third 900 yard range of the Club Championship.

 

G Shepherd TRA 89.06 (9 ½) 98 ½

N Cock TRA 95.05 (3/4) 95 3/4

D Lavelle TRB 91.02 (3) 94

G P Willis FSA 110.4 (2 ½) 93 ¾

J Eppleston FSA 103.2 (7) 91 ¾

G Bright TRA 89.05 (2 ½) 91 ½

S Williams TRA 87.03 (3 ¾) 90 ¾

C Howell FSB 96.2 (12) 90