News

Bathurst Rifle Club 29th November Diggers & G James Cups

          Four weeks into the new season and the predicted rout has materialized with scores plummeting and handicaps blowing out to extreme proportions. The new ICFRA targets can take some of the blame, being significantly smaller, but the weather has been abysmal, strong winds, extreme heat, and raised dust being just some of the hurdles shooters have had to overcome.

          Early in the month Jan Sibera surprised everyone with a decisive win in the season opening 300-yard shoot. On a day with a brisk, variable left breeze the new targets certainly contributed to the bulk of the dropped shots with magpies and outers very common. Sibera, belying the conditions, held sway over the higher graded shooters with a pair of 49's. 

          A week's break, and a clash with the Canberra Queens prize meeting, saw a small group tackle 600 yards on a very hot windy day. Gordon Shepherd won the day but his score of 91.05 was nothing to crow about. Magpies and outers were plentiful with no one escaping unscathed. Andrew Trevillion introduced his new F class rifle to the mound but was stymied by the treacherous conditions-altogether a sobering result, and a portent of things to come for all members.

          This week a screaming north-north-westerly wind and significant airborn dust greeted shooters at the first Championship shoot of the season over 300 yards. The strong wind not only buffeted shooters mercilessly on the mound, but also, swung wildly across the range without any consistency. Steve Williams started with a less than auspicious 47.04 but a redeeming 49.04-second stage, saw him take out the days honours. Williams had just returned from the Canberra Queens with yet another Queens badge to add to his large collection of honours from National competitions. Gordon Shepherd started as though he was on a different range with a 49.05 but lost all direction with an inner fueled 45.02-second stage. 

          Graeme Bright could manage just 46.01 first up but did somewhat better second time around with a 48.04. Sibera was the best of the B graders but he added a magpie and outer to his all too common inners fours. Siberas' trials were nothing compared to many others on a very trying day.

          F class shooters Jeff Eppleston and Trevillion were not influenced so much by the buffeting wind (having rifle rests) but still found the difficult condition and small target, a barrier to good scoring. Trevillion who won the day is finding his footing with the new rifle and promises to provide F class Champion Eppleston, with another hurdle in his quest for a fourth straight title in 2010. 

          Next weeks 500-yards shoot is the penultimate range of the Diggers and G James Cups.

SCORES:

G Shepherd 94.07 (5 ¼) 99 ¼

S Williams 96.08 (1 ¼) 97 ¼

R Gibson 86.03 (10 ½) 96 ½

G Bright 94.05 (1 ¼) 95 ¼

J Sibera 88.01 (7 ¼) 95 ¼

J Eppleston 104 (7 ½) 92 ¾

D Lavelle 85.02 (7 ¼) 92 ¼

T Robinson 79.02 (12 ¾) 91 ¾

A Parkinson 75.02 (16 ¼) 91 ¼

A Trevillion 106