News

Bathurst Rifle Club Inc. 14th April 2018, Captains Trophy 800yards

            Wind, the bane of all target shooters, struck with a vengeance on Saturday as a strong westerly gusted across the range and persisted all day. There was virtually no light spot nor period of constancy as the wind moved the projectiles around like pieces of paper. Whilst Bathurst Rifle Range regularly suffers from windy days it is rare to see wind of such ferocity and constancy.

            Nick Cock was again the standout but even he was caught out on two occasions when the gusts became more urgent. Cock shot an excellent 98.07, easily outpointing his rivals, with Steve Williams, although showing some control falling for the three card trick with a magpie three on his first counting shot and a magpie on his last counting shot, settling for a 92.07.

            From there the scores fell away dramatically as magpie threes became common and outer twos began to feature on many score cards. Ron Gibson shot a well compiled 89.04 to trail A grader Williams by just 3 points and actually beat off all of the remaining A grade contenders including Jim Jeffrey,88.06, Graeme Bright, 86.04, and Gordon Shepherd, 84.02.

            Gibson was a class ahead of fellow B grader John Coghill who decided to play with a short barreled .223, definitely not the right choice of firearm on a long windy range. Shepherd who is waiting on a new barrel to overcome his woes and Coghill who finally admits his brass cases are worn out need to up their ante to play with the big boys.

            Ben Wright was the only F class contender and returning from a catastrophic tendon injury to his left arm was thankful that he had a rest to shoot off. He started well with a 54.2 but got into all sorts of strife with magpie threes and inner fours in his second stage of just 47.0.

             With next weeks’ local shoot cancelled due to a Cycling Hill climb on Barry Gurdon Drive and Sulman Park; several club members will contest the Victorian State Championships and Queens Prize competition in Bendigo. And as the second range of the Captains Trophy is cancelled Gibson has been declared winner based on the 800 yard range only.

            The next shoot will be the L Williams Cup over 300,500 and 600 yards commencing on the 28th April

Scores:

R Gibson TRB 89.04 (11 ½) 100
N Cock TRA 98.07 (¾) 98 ¾
G Shepherd TRA 84.02 (12) 96
S Williams TRA 84.02 (2 ¼) 94 ¼
B Wright FSB 101.2 (7 ¼) 90 ¼
J Coghill TRB 77.02 (12) 89
G Bright TRA 86.04 (2 ½) 88 ½
J Jeffery (Lyn) TRA 88.06

by John Coghill