Roseville Rifle Club Australia

Archive for April, 2015

Approximately 50 shooters took part in the 93rd Mudgee DRA Open Prize Meeting over the Easter long weekend on Saturday 4^th and 5^th April 2015. Roseville was well represented with Mark Buchanan, Phill Hodder, Tim Walter, Gary Faulkner and Michael Cuda making the pilgrimage west to compete in this annual event. Tim’s son Ian Walter also joined the group to provide moral support and enjoy all the fruits that Mudgee had to offer.

Saturday morning saw storm clouds descend over the range with persistent rain plaguing shooters throughout the day.

Despite the inclement weather, Mark started strongly in A Grade TR on Saturday at 500yds scoring 49.6, followed by 50.6 to take 3^rd position in the second match and finishing with 49.4. Day two at 600 yds saw Mark score highly with 50.4, 50.6 and another 50.6 to win the last match and take second position for the day’s aggregate. Mark finished the weekend in second position for the grand aggregate with a total 298.32, only narrowly missing 1st position to West Wallsend’s Duncan Davies who scored 300.40. Mark also took out 1st place for the Veteran’s category.

Phill started strongly in A Grade TR on Saturday at 500yds, only dropping 2 points, with 148.13 in the daily aggregate, followed by 144.12 for Sunday’s aggregate at 600 yds and finishing overall with 292.23.

Also in A Grade TR, Tim shot 141.9 in the aggregate on Saturday and 141.8 on Sunday, however towards the end of the weekend he discovered that his rifle had a loose butt plate that had been causing problems with his hold. Tim finished the weekend 282.17.

In F Standard A Grade, Michael took third place in the second 500yd match on Saturday with 60.5, however Orange Rifle Club’s Brett Bond took first place with 60.8 and dominated most of the matches throughout the weekend. Day two at 600 yds saw both Gary and Michael break Brett Bond’s winning streak – tricky winds during the last match on Sunday caused havoc with most F-Class shooters, however Gary took first place with 58.6 and Michael third place with 58.2. Michael scored 59.4 and 60.4 in the earlier matches on day two and took 1^st place for Sunday’s aggregate with 177.10, narrowly beating Brett Bond with 175.18. Michael finished the weekend in 3^rd place in the grand aggregate with a total of 348.17 closely followed by Gary in 4^th position with 344.22. The grand aggregate winner was Brett Bond who scored 353.38

Three Rosevillians traveled overseas to the Apple Isle and competed in the 118th Tasmanian Queen’s at Campbell Town 65km’s south east of Launceston. Tim and Phill traveled by air and Mark by land and water to compete in this event at the windswept sheep grazing range. We stayed in the small town of Ross only 9km’s away which has one main street, a Post Office, 3 bakeries and various other small tourist shops and an information center.

The conditions for the Davis Lead Up Shoot were not considered favorable with high, very changeable cold winds from the right which changed direction and strength very quickly.

There were some initial high scores but that soon stopped and by the end of the second day, where if you got a low to mid 40 you were doing OK!!

Mark gained 3^rd place for 600y with a 47.3 and another 3^rd at 700y with a 47.0. Phill managed 1^st place at that 700y with a 49.4! Mark finished Day 1 of the Davis in 3^rd place 188.9, Phill 9^th 180.11 and Tim 16^th 171.8.

Day 2 saw Mark again get a 3^rd place with his 42.0 at 1000y, the days agg saw Phill in 4^th place on 82.4, Mark 9^th with his 79.3 and Tim 15^th on 75.2. The Roseville placings for the Davis Agg were Mark 4^th 267.12, Phill 7^th 262.15 and Tim a valiant 16^th 246.10.

Dawn broke on the first day of the Queen’s with a calm and clear day, the wind had dropped and was more consistent, care still was needed to watch for inevitable drops offs and changes of direction. Owing to the calmer conditions the 50’s flowed with ease with every range of day 1 and most of day 2. Mark shot very well at the second 500y with a 50.9 for 1^st place! The day 1 agg saw Mark in 4^th with 195.20, Phill 10^th with 192.16 and Tim 16^th on 188.12.

Day 2 of the Queen’s started with equally pleasant weather which improved during the day, there were times where it was nearly getting hot in the sun!! Phill started off well in the first 700y with a 50.6 for 1^st place, Mark gained 3^rd place for the 1^st 800y with his 49.4 and Phill 4^th with 48.5. The end of Day 2 saw Phill in 7^th on 189.14, Mark 12^th on 188.12 and Tim 15^th 184.11.

There was some light drizzle early in the morning of the last day which cleared up in time when shooting commenced. Temperatures were higher again and the wind eased. Mark was again 3^rd with a 50.4 at 900y and 3^rd at 1000y shooting a 48.2, and Phill 4^th on 50.3 at 900y. Mark tied for 1^st place in the final days agg with Grahame Berman with 98.6! Phill got 5^th for the agg on 97.7 and Tim finished 17^th on 93.3.

Now to the Queen’s final placings. Mark finished a very credible 4^th place on 481.38 behind the eventual winner and local shooter and CRO Mark Walters who shot an excellent score of 487.40, Phill 6^th on 478.37 and Tim 16^th on 465.26. The Grand results for the Roseville shooters were Mark 3^rd with 748.50, Phill 6^th on 740.52 and Tim 17^th with his 711.36

Full results can be found at http://www.nraa.com.au/tasmanian-queens-prize-meeting-results/