News

Bathurst Rifle Club Inc. 22nd December 2018, Diggers and G James Cups (Round two), 600yards.

             It started out as a Christmas gift to shooters as the gentle southeaster wandered through the trees on the left of the range However that was not to be as one by one competitors were forced to admit failure due to a multitude of problems visited on themselves through reloading errors and wrong equipment choices.

            The first stage was a good one for early TR shooters but not so for all. John Coghill and Graeme Bright set the tone with 48.03 each followed by Gordon Shepherd on 47.02 but almost indiscernible changes to wind strength thwarted their efforts to post the elusive possible. Steve Williams (44.03) got lost in the shifts whilst Ron Gibson got confused with his rear sight choices and had to retire.

            In F-class Colin Howell was the only one to show some semblance of control with a 56.1 as Jeff Eppleston experienced problems with some shells refusing to go into the chamber, eventually finishing with a 54.3. The newer brigade Angus Ogilvie, Isaac Bower and Nick Webster all carded 50/60 as Hornsby RSL Rifle Club member Luke Harris celebrated the end of his school year with a very rusty 40.1/60.

            The second stage was a disaster for some and redemption for others. Williams put it all behind him with the days’ best stage a 50.06 but it was not sufficient to topple leaders Bright and Shepherd, and despite Shepherd just missing a possible with a 49.03 his centre count was 2 short of Brights’ total. Coghills' change from Sierra to Nozzler projectiles had a devastating effect with his group almost as big as the target face. Gibson got his act together but not before he misplaced his eagle eye.

            The “effeys” all learnt from their first stages and showed good improvement except for Eppleston who had to retire due to running out of usable ammunition. Ogilvie with 53.1, Bower 54.2 and Webster 54.3 all passed the “ton” and Harris improved 9 points on his first stage. It was left to Howell to top the day by a significant margin.

            Bright won the Diggers Cup with 288.29, Williams second on 286.23 and Howell won the F-class version with 344.19 ahead of Geoff Willis on 338.17. Coghill won the G James Cup with a perfect score of 300/300, Lavelle tailing by a mere ¾ of a handicap point

             Next week the 29th December is the W Northcott Memorial Trophy at 700 yards .

Scores; 
C Howell FSB113.4 (8) 100
G Shepherd TRA 96.05 (3 ¾) 99 ¾
G Bright TRA 96.07 (3 ¾) 99 ¾
S Williams TRA 94.09 (3 ½) 97 ½
N Webster FSB 104.3 (10 ¾) 95 ¾
I Bower FSB 104.2 (10 ¾) 95 ¾
J Coghill TRB 85.03 (8 ½) 93 ½
A Ogilvie FSB 103.1
L Harris FSB 89.1
J Eppleston FSA 54.3-Rtd
R Gibson TRB Rtd-41.01

by John Coghill

All scores/plots can be found Here.