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Bathurst Rifle Club Inc 25th April 2015 L Williams Cup, 500yards

            In the spirit of the now defunct diggers day shoot Geoff Willis brought out his old .303 rifle and put a stage on the target. His score of 30/50 was about par with scores of that post WW2 period.

           That interlude aside the days’ competition was held in fine but threatening conditions with a north to northwest breeze sweeping the range. There was just sufficient angle on the breeze to accentuate the changes in wind strength and as a result there was not a single possible scored.

           Gordon Shepherd and Graeme Bright were head to head all day with no more than a centre bulls’ eye between them. Shepherd eventually won out with a 49.06 second stage, pipping Bright on count back, both finishing with 98.09. Neither shooter was able to grasp the elusive possible, a single inner four in each of their stages keeping them locked in a tight contest. Dennis Lavelle and John Coghill had their usual tussle for B-grade honours but a poor first stage 44.01 by Coghill gave the advantage to Lavelle and he didn’t let up, finishing with a fine 48.04 and a four point margin.

           Having seen, with his .303 exploits, what the wind was doing, Geoff Willis, now using his F-class rifle, laid on a 58.5 first stage, almost matched by his brother Grahame Willis, but neither was up to the 59.4 scored by Jeff Eppleston. The second stage mirrored the first with just one point between the three competitors although scores were down on their first efforts. Eppleston left the door open with a rough 57.1 but Grahame Willis had four too many sighters before he hit the spot and his 56.3 left him two points adrift. Geoff Willis also missed the boat with his 57.3 leaving the situation as it was after the first stage, Eppleston winning the COW by a point.

           The L Williams Cup and the last 600 yard range of the Club Championship conclude next Saturday, 2nd May at 600 yards. 

Scores: 

G Shepherd TRA 98.09 (2 ½) 100

G Bright TRA 98.09 (2) 100

D Lavelle TRB 94.05 (5 ¼) 99 ¼

J Eppleston FSA 116.5 (2 ½) 98 ¾

G S Willis FSA 115.8 (2 ½) 98

G P Willis FSA 114.7 (3 ¼) 97 ¾

J Coghill TRB 90.04 (7 ½) 97 ½

by John Coghill