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Bathurst Rifle Club 29th August The B Gurdon Cup & A Pratley Shield 300 yards

          Saturdays shoot was blown away by the wild winds and intermittent rain to such an extent that the second stage over 500 yards had to be abandoned when a target leg shattered before it was fully raised.

          A second 300-yard stage was substituted but many of the competitors decided against completing the shoot opting for just the one stage. The wind coming from over the right shoulder was quite ferocious, and buffeting on the mound made it almost impossible to hold steady. The rain further added to shooters misery. 

          Gordon Shepherd seemed to be shooting at another range as he put together a miraculous 97.10 to win the Cock of the Walk. No one else came within a bulls roar and John Coghill (88.03) was the only other competitor to break 80. Adam Parkinson did exceptionally well in only his third full bore shoot to score 78.01 winning the B grade COW ahead of Keith Redding on 78.05.

          Steve Williams, back from the QRA Queens Prize Competition where he added to his large collection of badges with a 25th placing out of 230 of Australia's top rifle shooters, decided one stage in those conditions was sufficient and settled for a 45.01. New shooters David Ducker (29.0) and Chris Lofts (18.0) were understandably blown away by the experience and also opted for just the single stage. 

          Dennis Lavelle picked the wrong time to try out a .222, finding the small projectile no match for the wild wind. A second stage with a .303 proved no more a match for the wind and a combined 72.02 was the best he could muster.  

          F class was no better, despite the use of rests and telescopes with inner fours common and the occasional magpie dotting the scorecards. Grahame Willis managed a 106/120 but he was the only one to break 100. Brother, Geoff Willis after a lowly 93 appears ready to give his .223 a major overhaul as he struggles to find any consistency with the rifle and loads.

          Tim Halloran, 45/60, and Ben Winslett, 44/60, both had had enough after the one stage and decided against further torture. Caelan Hadley tried shooting off the rest at his first attempt at full bore shooting and performed well under the tutelage of Club Captain Graeme Bright hitting the target with every shot for 30/60.   

Scores:

G Shepherd 97.10

J Coghill 88.03

A Parkinson 78.01

K Redding 77.05

D Lavelle 72.02

S Williams 45.01

D Ducker 29.0

C Lofts 18.0  

G P Willis 106

G S Willis 93

T Halloran 45

B Winslett 44

C Hadley 30