News

Bathurst Rifle Club Inc. 27th May 2017, Secretary's Trophy, 900yards 

             The 2017 Championship which was run over the full year format for the first time did not produce higher totals even though there were an increased number of shoots available for qualification. Weather conditions early in the Championship saw many scores discarded as non competitive. Nick Cock, in his first full year since transferring from the Lithgow Small Arms Rifle Club in mid 2016, had a comfortable win over former champions Steve Williams and Graeme Bright who filled the minor placings. Cock scored 783.68/800, Williams 774.68 and Bright 772.54.

             The F-class Championship was won by Grahame Willis for the third consecutive year with the winning total of 912.46/960, well below Jeff Epplestons' record 932.70 total in 2013. The B grade Championship went to Dennis Lavelle for the third year in succession over a disappointing John Coghill. The scores, 728.39 to 719.30 were well below those of past years.

              Saturdays shoot was conducted in mild sunny conditions with a light breeze from the northwest which tended to run up range at times and then square up at other times. After a late start the target rifle shooters seemed to find the conditions more to their liking than the F class contingent who were a little patchy with their accuracy. Williams was the standout on the day winning the Cock of the Walk with a double possible 100.07. Gordon Shepherd back from a trip to the Shaky Isles shot a 99.06 and Lyndhurst visitor Jim Jeffrey’s 99, contained no less than 13 centre bull’s eyes. Ron Gibson regrouped from a 44.02 to take the B grade with a second stage 48.0.

              Eppleston took the F class COW with a 116.8/120 although Willis produced a top stage of 60.2 at his second trip to the mound. Izaac Bower a grandson of the Willis clan tried out for the first time under the tutelage of his Pop, Geoff Willis, who is recovering from surgery. It was quite an auspicious debut and despite shooting a super bull on the wrong target (Pop’s fault) still managed to score 106.4/120.

              Shayne Barnsley continues to refine his ammunition and techniques over the long ranges with an excellent 53/100 in the black powder discipline.

              Williams won the Secretary’s Trophy on count back over Eppleston both with 199 ½ points.

              With the 2017 Championship now finished the remaining twelve weeks of the season will contain six trophies spread over two runs from 300 yards to 900 yards, the first of which will be the F A Wilde Trophy commencing next week at 300 yards.             

Scores: 

S Williams TRA 100.07 (3/4) 100

G Shepherd TRA 99.06 (2 ½) 100

R Gibson TRB 92.02 (8 ½) 100

J Eppleston FSA 116.8 (4 ½) 100

G P Willis FSA 114.3 (5 ¼) 99 ½

N Cock TRA 97.07 (2) 99

J Coghill TRB 83.04 (12) 95

J Jeffrey (Lynd) TRA 99.13

I Bower FSB 106.4

G Bright 47.0-Rtd

D Lavelle Rtd:               

Black Powder: 

Shayne Barnsley 22-31 53/100  

by John Coghill