News

Bathurst Rifle Club Inc. 22nd August 2015 B Gurdon Cup and A Pratley Shield, 3/500yards

            The return of the NSW State representatives did not turn out as expected as Ben Wright, a tyro F-class shooter, upstaged them with a great performance in very blustery conditions. The north to north westerly winds gusted, and changed direction in a 30 degree arc, and while the light was even, the conditions were far from ideal.

           Wright seemed to have, if not mastered the conditions, at least have a much better handle on the state of the wind than everyone else on the range. A pair of 56.2’s was a top result and far better than his competitors. Geoff Willis who arrived late and could not contest the 300 yard range was able to better Wright’s 500 yard score in lightening conditions late in the day but he was ineligible for the trophy. Jeff Eppleston fresh from his State team triumph looked like he had been shooting for seven days straight and needed a rest whilst Grahame Willis was totally out of sorts.

           The target rifle contingent was battered about by the wind and scores were like a group of C-graders having a practice fun day. Gordon Shepherd started with a bang but then just managed to hold his group inside the bull’s eye ring until a last shot inner destroyed his looming possible. Graeme Bright had a monumental hiccup in the middle of his stage with a magpie three-inner four blotting his scorecard. Dennis Lavelle, John Coghill and Ron Gibson battled hard but were no match for the stiff breeze. 

           Shepherd after leading going into the second stage stumbled badly with two strings of three inner fours leaving him with just 44.02 for his efforts. Bright however tightened up and dropped just two points to take a firm hold on the days honours whilst Coghill in dying wind conditions had a 48.01. Lavelle however snatched the B grade honours by 4 centre bull’s-eyes with a 47.03 but Gibson was unable to repeat last weeks’ heroics and carded a 45.02 to finish a rough day. 

           The B Gurdon Cup and A Pratley Shield trophies will continue next week over the split ranges of 600 and 700 yards.

Scores:

J Coghill TRB 93.02 (6) 99

B Wright FSB 112.4 (5 ¾) 98 ¼

D Lavelle TRB 93.06 (4 ½) 97 ½

G Shepherd TRA 93.04 (4) 97

G Bright TRA 95.08 (1 ¼) 96 ¼

R Gibson TRB 88.02 (5 ¼) 93 ¼

G P Willis FSA 103.2 (2) 87 ½

J Eppleston FSA 101.2 (4) 87 ½

G S Willis FSA (2x500) 114.7

by John Coghill