News

Bright continues his strong year with solid effort in Secretary’s Trophy

            SHOOTERS fronting for the 800 yard range of the Bathurst Rifle Club’s Secretary’s Trophy on Saturday could be forgiven for thinking that anything less than a double possible would be considered a disappointment. A favourable easterly breeze, good light and the large target presented a great chance for a perfect score. However, despite some heavy scoring Graeme Bright was the only one to achieve the elusive double possible.

           Bright has had a fairly successful year so far and took out his ninth Cock of the Walk (COW) to lead by two wins in the year-long trophy. Bright’s 100.13 was his fifth straight double and his sixth from seven shoots at 800 yards. He had little competition and only one other single possible, that a 50.05 to Gordon Shepherd, was completed. However, Shepherd missed a chance to put pressure on Bright with a first stage 48.05 failing to come to terms with the subtle wind variations.

           Dennis Lavelle put two excellent stages together despite a sticking bolt making shell extraction a huge problem. Battling through the distraction, Lavelle managed a pair of 49.5s and won the B grade COW. His main competitor, Jan Sibera, had a very strange shoot, dropping just three points but failing to post even one centre bulls eye in an unusual 97.0 score line. Tim Robinson continued his rapid rise with a 48.04 first stage, but like John Coghill (49.05 and 47.03) and Steve Williams (48.02 and 47.02), was unable to carry the form through to the second stage, finishing with a 45.01 for 93.05.

           F class provided a little entertainment when Geoff Willis unveiled his new barrel and high-powered scope. A low shot, followed by a high shot, then an even higher shot and finally a high miss, led to the belated realisation that he was winding the sights the wrong way. From then on, even a machine gun style finish could offer no redemption. A second stage 58/60 was some consolation. Jeff Eppleston was a little disappointed with his 112/120 with a low inner four slipping into his first stage but he did enough with a second stage 57/60 to take the F class COW.

           This Saturday the Secretary’s Trophy and the Club Championship conclude at 900 yards.

Scores: 
G Bright 100.13 (0) 100;
J Sibera 97.0 (4¼) 100;
D Lavelle 98.10 (2) 100;
T Robinson 93.05 (6) 99;
G Shepherd 98.10 (1/2) 98½;
J Coghill 96.09 (2) 98;
S Williams 95.04 (3/4) 95¾;
J Eppleston 112 (2¼) 95;
G Willis 102 (11½) 94½;
K Redding 78.02 (14) 92.