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Bathurst Rifle Club Inc 28th February 2015 W Cutler Cup, 300yards

            The conditions for Saturday's first round of the W Cutler Cup were as near perfect as can be found on the Bathurst rifle range, normally known for its high degree of difficulty. The short 300 yard distance added to the chances of shooters obtaining a Championship "keeper". 

           The two leading contenders showed their wares with high centre bull's eye possible's, Nick Cock just missing the perfect possible, shooting 50.09 in a masterful display. Steve Williams countered with 50.05, but the scores tailed off from that point. Graeme Bright battled hard with an uncertain 48.02 whilst Dennis Lavelle and Ron Gibson fought out B grade. Both shot 46.03 whilst collecting a dreaded magpie three along the way. Gordon Shepherd again showed the consistency which has him in the running for the Club Championship with 47.04. 

           The second stage scores were a bit of a surprise as no one achieved the possible although Williams was closest, being denied that prize with a last shot inner four for 49.05. Cock had two early inner fours and a strong run of centre bull's eyes to finish his shoot, but that was not enough to deny Williams the Cock of the Walk. Bright's group was still loose but he managed to gain and extra point for 48.01 whilst Shepherd also improved to a 48.03. 

           B-grade was a contest in two with just one centre bull's eye between Lavelle and Gibson. After Gibson seemed to throw the win away with a late inner four Lavelle also stumbled with a last shot inner, finally falling over the line, 91.08 to 91.07. 

           F-class was a cake walk for Grahame Willis who although disappointed with his shoot, put in a "keeper" for the Club Championship. Willis's 56.2 and 57.5 added three points to his Championship aspirations. Laurie Sim was quite rusty in his rare appearance with just 104.1. 

           A trio of tyros again tried out with Kodi Thomas using the club's .223 rifle, under the coaching of Willis to record stages of 51.1 and 54.1 at just his second visit to the range. Ben Wright used his recently purchased .308 with scope to shoot stages of 51.1 and 49.0 without the aid of a coach in a promising display whilst Will Grey, also at his second appearance, used a 6 mm Remington bush rifle with scope and did not appear overawed, despite a run of inner fours destroying his second stage. His 52-46 was a good result. 

           The second range of the W Cutler Cup will be contested next week at 500 yards. 

Scores: 
R Gibson TRB 91.07 (12) 100
S Williams TRA 99.10 (1 ¼) 100
G Bright TRA 96.03 (1 ¼) 100
G Shepherd TRA 95.07 (4 ½) 99 ½
N Cock TRA 98.15 (1 ½) 99 ½
G P Willis FSA 113.7 (5 ¾) 99
D Lavelle TRB 91.08 (5 ¾) 96 ¾;
L Sim FSB 104.1 (8 ¼) 93 ½
J Coghill TRB 80.01 (12) 92
K Thomas FSB (Tyro) 108.4
B Wright FSB (Tyro) 100.1
W Grey FSB (Tyro) 98

by John Coghill