Champion of Champions Shoot, 18 July, 2016.

I woke on Saturday morning to a dismal and cold rainy day. Not a good start! Arriving at the range a couple of hours later and opening the club house, I found a note from Dmitri asking for help down in the butts. Headed off to meet him, only to see him returning having doing some maintenance by himself. I was too late.

Range Offcie on dutyAs Roseville is still duty club there’s plenty to be done. Time to put the rest of the flags out. Thankfully the school boys were practicing at 300M so those four flags were up already. Others helped with getting both our normal club equipment to the mound and butts and also the District gear in place as well. Ian Palmer did the first Butt’s Officer to be relieved by Allan Humbert. A boring, but necessary job.

By noon, the weather had cleared and although cold, there was a gentle wind and there were long glimpses of sun. As there was 16 competitors they were divided in to two squads. Unfortunately Gosford were unrepresented in target rifle. Each Club Champion shot on their club’s targets at each of the four ranges. Roseville represented by Phill Hodder (TR Senior), Angus Martin (TR Junior) and Graham Coote (F Standard).

Despite everyone’s best efforts shooting started by DRO Doug Bowen on time at 1pm!

300M. There were signs of first range jitters amongst the Senior shooters with dropped points and uncharacteristic large groups. Leading the charge was Richard Jones (Manly) 49.5, Geoff King (Hornsby) 49.4, John Alp (North Sydney) 49.3, Phill 48.4 and Adrian Bonanni (Hornsby RSL) 47.3. Juniors were headed by Angus 46.3 from Calum Mansfield (Manly) 40.1.

Now to F class. Standard: Graham blitzed the field with a well executed 60.5 (58.8mm group) followed by Adrian Siebel (Hornsby RSL) 58.5 (89.5), John Leask (North Sydney) 57.5 (115.1), Terry Howell (Gosford) 57.3 (80.7) and Alan Ashworth (Hornsby) 56.3 (94.5).IMG_3566a

Standard Junior: Harry Brotherhood (Hornsby RSL) 56.3 (120.9) ahead of Mariette Rigby (Gosford) 52.1 (175.7).

F-Open: Alan Bowyer-Tagg (Hornsby RSL) 60.4 (58.8) leading by a count back from Phil de la Rue (North Sydney) 60.4 (59.0).

500M. Targets are intermittently in and out of shadows making sighting difficult. Despite that the shooters seemed to settle down to business. Phill kept two bull sighters (coincidentally his maximum grouping) and a dodgy line cutting ninth shot resulted in him leading with 50.7 (227.8) from Geoff 50.6 200.5, Adrian 50.5 (194.3), Richard 49.4 (259.9) and John 49.3 (200.8). Calum 48.3 (291.7) leading Angus 47.4 (313.3).

F-Std: Terry 60.6 (107.8), Adrian 60.5 (with a marvellous 82.1!), Graham 59.5 [caught by wind?] (124.1), John 59.3 (138.6) and Alan 55.1 (204.2).

Junior: Harry 57.4 (162.8) just beating Mariette 57.2 (206.1).

F-Open: A reversal with Phil’s 60.5 (95.1) beating Alan 59.7 (128)

700M. The sun is getting lower now and often at this time of year it is a real problem, particularly at longer ranges. Thankfully this year there is a large cloud covering it. Clapping was heard from the left most target when John put in a fantastic 50.10 (199.1). Phill cut a bull sighter, thus improving by ending on a super centre for 50.8 (228), Richard 50.6 (425.6), Geoff 50.5 (392.9) and Adrian 49.4 (399.6). Angus fired a fine 50.6 (325.7) beating Calum who lost one to the wind 49.5 (367.1).

F-Std John took out this range 60.7 (190.6) from Adrian who had the tightest group 60.6 (156.4), Graham 60.6 (202.6), Terry 60.5 (207.1) and Alan 58.5 (265.6). In the Juniors it was Mariette’s turn 58.5 (238.5) followed by Harry 56.3 (332.7).

F-Open: An extremely tight group by Phil gave him the range with 60.6 (154.3) while Alan had troubles including an expensive miss 50.2.

This is how everyone went in to the final range:

300 500 R/T 700 R/T
Geoff 49.4 50.6 99.10 50.5 149.15
Phill 48.4 50.7 98.11 50.8 148.19
John 49.3 49.3 98.6 50.10 148.17
Richard 49.5 49.4 98.9 50.6 148.15
Adrian 47.3 50.5 97.8 49.4 146.12
Graham 60.5 59.5 119.10 60.6 179.16
Adrian 58.5 60.5 118.10 60.6 178.16
Terry 57.3 60.6 117.9 60.5 177.14
John 57.3 59.3 116.6 60.7 176.13
Alan 56.3 55.1 111.4 58.5 169.9
300 500 R/T 700 R/T
Angus 46.3 47.4 93.7 50.6 143.13
Calum 40.1 48.3 88.4 49.5 137.9
Harry 56.3 57.4 113.7 56.3 169.10
Mariette 52.1 57.2 109.3 58.5 167.8
Phil 60.4 60.5 120.9 60.6 180.15
Alan 60.4 59.7 119.11 50.2 169.13

A pretty tight competition in Target Rifle and F Class Standard with several in each class within striking distance of the leaders.

800M. The heat is on. This will test each of the shooter’s ability in keeping calm and concentrating on just the current shot. Phill keeps two bull sighters, a good safety move. Part way through and Ian Palmer whispered in my ear that Geoff had dropped two inners! That meant that he was in with a chance, but so were others. In the end Phill prevailed scoring 50.3 (455.6) and third at that range. Richard first at 800M 50.4 (416.7), John also 50.4 (406.5) Geoff 48.4 (388.1) and Adrian 48.0 (534.9). Angus showed his true colours with a magnificent 50.8 (339.5) from Calum 48.2 (439.0). A terrific way to finish.

IMG_3559b IMG_3560b

F-Std: Graham cemented his lead with a terrific 60.6 (an extremely small 138.5), then Terry 59.5 (206.9), Adrian 58.3 (273.2), John 57.4 (353.2) and Terry 55.2 (317.7). Harry gained a further point on Mariette, 56.4 (376.3) and 55.0 (348.5) respectively.

F-Open: Phil topped with a great 60.8 (169.2) with Alan 7 supers behind 60.1 (237.8)

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Don't worry, he survived..

Don’t worry, he survived..

The final table looks like this:

300 500 700 800 TOTAL
Phill 48.4 50.7 50.8 50.3 198.22
John 49.3 49.3 50.10 50.4 198.20
Richard 49.5 49.4 50.6 50.4 198.19
Geoff 49.4 50.6 50.5 48.4 197.22
Adrian 47.3 50.5 49.4 48.0 194.12
Graham 60.5 59.5 60.3 60.6 239.22
Adrian 58.5 60.5 60.6 58.3 236.19
Terry 57.3 60.6 60.5 59.5 236.19
John 57.3 59.3 60.7 57.4 233.19
Alan 56.3 55.1 58.5 55.2 224.11
300 500 700 800 TOTAL
Angus 46.3 47.4 50.6 50.8 193.21
Calum 40.1 48.3 49.5 48.2 185.11
Harry 56.3 57.4 56.3 56.4 225.14
Mariette 52.1 57.2 58.5 55.0 222.8
Phil 60.4 60.5 60.6 60.8 240.23
Alan 60.4 59.7 50.2 60.1 229.14

Thanks to all those who helped set-up and take-down the range, manned the butts, acted as scorers and supported all the Club’s Champions. Thanks also to Dmitri and others who ensure our targets are in top condition, to the NSDRA for hosting the event, and to Adrian, our District Statistician.
IMG_3589aIt was a shame that there wasn’t a bigger attendance from all clubs to witness a great contest by all shooters and to celebrate the winners and all competitors.

I am proud to be a member of our club, the winners of three prestigious grades and particularly proud of my son. Well done Phill, Angus and Graham.

Uncle Mike

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