News

             It was just another day on the Bathurst Rifle Range where the elements conspired to thwart shooters ambitions. The wind predominantly from the west varied from virtually zero windage points to upwards of eight when it squared up and was at the maximum wind gust.

 

            Once again no one was able to completely overcome all the obstacles but the cream rose to the top with Nick Cock and Geoff Willis easily taking out the Cock of the Walk in each of their disciplines.

 

            Cock was the outstanding competitor on the day just missing a double possible in each stage. His final stage started with a run of six centre bull's eyes and finished with a total of eight, for 49.08. Combined with his first stage of 49.02 Cock's tally of 98.10 was in line with his Australian team member status.

 

            Willis was not quite as impressive but he held sway all day beating off his only real competitor, his brother Grahame by the comfortable margin of 3.2 points. Gosford visitor Terry Howell was up there in the first stage but his challenge fell in a hole achieving just 51.2 at his second dig. Jeff Eppleston, Colin Howell and Ben Wright were brought undone by one wayward stage in each of their shoots. 

 

            Steve Williams was the strongest challenger to Cock in target rifle but he couldn't get on top of the wind and fell short by three points and a heap of centre bull's eyes. Dennis Lavelle and Gordon Shepherd clung to the leaders in the first stages but fell away at their second efforts. Lavelle won the B grade COW having no competition from John Coghill who is totally out of his depth. He steadfastly refuses to succumb to the dark side, namely, F-class. Steve Pelin fronted for a single stage maybe, just to keep the cobwebs out of his barrel.

 

            With no possible scored Saturday was a case of weather conditions one, competitors zero. Geoff Willis won the R.L. Gilmour Cup (a trophy he and his brother have won in three of the past four years) by half a point over Lavelle 295 ¼ to 294 ¾.

 

            Next week is a bye and shooting will recommence on the 11th February with the first range of the J Wilde Memorial Trophy and the third 700 yard range of the Club Championship.

 

G Shepherd TRA 90.04 (11) 100

G S Willis FSA 115.6 (5 ¼) 100

N Cock TRA 98.10 (1 ¾) 99 ¾

G P Willis FSA 112.4 (7 ½) 99 ½

S Williams TRA 95.05 (3) 98

B Wright FSB 103.2 (11 ¼) 95 ½

C Howell FSB 102.0 (12) 95

D Lavelle TRB 91.04 (3 ¾) 94 ¾

J Eppleston FSA 104.3 (9 ¾) 94 ½

J Coghill TRB 78.01 (12) 90

T Howell (Gosford) FSA 108.4

S Pelin FSB 47.0