News

Bathurst Rifle Club Inc 30th January 2016 J Wilde Memorial Trophy, 700yards

            A savage thunderstorm swept across the range after just two shooters had completed their first stages and it looked likely that the days shooting was at an end. However the weather cleared and moderated significantly such that the days’ competition was completed without further interruption. A rear fishtail breeze followed the storm and conditions remained quite tricky for the remainder of the day with uneven light becoming a factor as the day wore on.

           The first stage divided into three separate groups, all shooters following their grading. In A grade Nick Cock and Steve Williams dropped two points for 48’s and Graeme Bright and Gordon Shepherd lost a further point each for 47’s. 

           A big step down from there was the B grade trio of Ron Gibson 45.03, John Coghill 44.02 and Dennis Lavelle 44.0. Gibson started his shoot with sighting shots of outer two, inner four, and his first counting shots were two magpie threes. From there he was a skinny inner four short of going clear for his final eight shots.

           The F class contingent was dominated by Festival of Sydney winner Jeff Eppleston who shot a brilliant 59.6. Geoff Willis who suffered a wet tail during the early cloudburst could manage just 53.1 and he was in fact bettered by visiting Hornsby Rifle Club member Luke Harris who put together a 53.3.

           In the second stage Williams and Cock went head to head both shooting 49’s and with their centre counts tied for the day Williams won the Cock of the Walk on count back. Shepherd 48.04, went one better than his first stage but Bright fell victim to the light and breeze managing just 45.0.

           B grade was a walkover for Lavelle as both Coghill and Gibson imploded with their targets looking like they had been attacked by a shot gun. Coghill also committed the wrong target offence. Eppleston easily won the F class COW despite Willis edging him out in the second stage but Harris suffered late afternoon sighting difficulties and fell away with just 49.0.

           The J Wilde Memorial Trophy will continue at 800 yards on Saturday 13th February following the two week shutdown for the Bathurst 12 hour motor race.

Scores: 

G Shepherd TRA 95.06 (5) 100

J Eppleston FSA 117.9 (2 ½) 99 ½

S Williams TRA 97.05 (2 ¼) 99 ¼

D Lavelle TRB 90.0 (8 ¾) 98 ¾

N Cock TRA 97.05 (1 ¾) 98 ¾

G S Willis FSA 112.5 (4 ¾) 97 ¼

G Bright TRA 92.04 (4 ¼) 96 ¼

J Coghill TRB 84.03 (12) 96

R Gibson TRB 82.03 (12) 94

L Harris FSB 102.3