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Bathurst Rifle Club Inc 19th December 2015 T W Willman Trophy, 900yards

            Saturday again saw a repeat of the wind/miragephenomena which has been dogging shooters at the Bathurst Rifle Range over the past several weeks. However a further obstacle was thrown at competitors with the day hosting the long 900 yard range.

           The biggest problem for shooters was the oppressive heat which sapped both strength and energy almost to the point of exhaustion. Except for Gordon Shepherd who had an extraordinary turnaround, most scores deteriorated as the day wore on. Shepherd turned a 43.01 first stage into a day topping 48.05 second stage snatching the Cock of the Walk from a group of amazed competitors.

           Graeme Bright improved but not enough to usurp Shepherds’ run of COW wins whilst Steve Williams had a strange day with a moderate 46.02 first stage followed by a big centre count second stage. Unfortunately he suffered a totally unexplainable miss followed by a magpie three to kill his challenge. His 43.06 was a strange read.

           In B grade John Coghill had a steady 46.0 first stage to jump to a comfortable lead over Dennis Lavelle who was fairly wayward, a couple of magpie three’s relegating him to a 43.02. The second stage was a different matter with Coghill melting on the mound and succumbing to a much more composed Lavelle. A lowly 42.01 was not enough to hold off Lavelle who snatched B grade with a 45.0 to win by a single centre bull’s eye.

           F class was equally as close with a second stage Jeff Eppleston meltdown, including two magpie threes, gifting the COW to Geoff Willis 105.2 to 104.2. Eppleston jumped out to a two point lead but Willis was able to top Epplestons’ score despite dropping 4 points in his last 3 shots. Ben Wright, Luke Harris and Jake Miles all found the going exceptionally tough.

           Coghill won the T W Willman Trophy but excessive handicaps are playing a distorted role in the trophy race, some even maxing out due to the weeks of low scores. 

           Next week will be a quiet celebration of the 100th anniversary to the day, Boxing Day 1915, of the opening of the Bathurst Rifle Range at its present site on Mount Panorama. Perhaps it’s a day to bring out the old .303’s or similar vintage firearms for a practice shoot. 

Scores:

J Coghill TRB 88.01 (12) 100

D Lavelle TRB 88.02 (10 ½) 98 ½

G Bright TRA 90.03 (7 ¾) 97 ¾

J Eppleston FSA 104.2 (12) 96 ¾

G Shepherd TRA 91.06 (5 ¼) 96 ¼

S Williams TRA 89.08 (3 ¾) 92 ¾

G S Willis FSA 105.2 (8) 91 ¼

B Wright FSB 95.1 (12) 89 ¼

L Harris FSB 93.0; J Miles FSB 75.1